The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-08-14

.. ~, ,ASd1NGTON, august l5-EvcnlnQ
Colonel. Whitley, chief OF the detective
force, has addressed the following letter
to Attorney General Williams:
NEW YORK. August 8, 1872. Sin: 1
have the honor to acknowledge the re-.
ceipt OF communication from your de-
partment, under date of the I'd instant,
enclosing the copy Of letter from Ger
ritt Smith, Esq, addressed to the Preei-
dent, in relation to those conviots in the
Albany penitentiary who were convicted
of violations Of tho enforcement Acts,
and requesting me to 20 to Albany,
make thorough investigation into the
condition of these prisoners, and report
to the department my views as to the
expediancy of exercising executive Gle
mency III regard to any of them. In ac-
cordance with your request, I proceeded
to Albany on the 7th instant, for the
purpose OF fulfilling the duty assigned
me.
AS q means of conducting my inqui-
rles IN manner best adapted to arrive
ut all the facts in the case, aud also to
lead the prisoners to express themselves
as freely as possible, deemed it best to
see eaon OF the parties separately, with
out any knowledge upon their purt as to
my Official character, or the object of my
visit. In this, [ received the fullest aid
OF Mr.. Louis D. PilIsbury, head keeper
OF the penitentiary. who brought each
prisoner in separately. with the simple
remark to each that ''this gentleman dc
sires to talk with you"
Tho prisoners we're mainly frank and
communicative. Some of them are very
poor and unlearned, and hare left large
families behind them; and while ao.
knowledgihg that they were members of
the Various orders Of tue organization
KNOWN under the general head of Ku
-kiux' 'Klan, and thnt they had been Just
ly seneented as such, plead, in extenua-
ton, that they had Joined the order
without, full knowledge of its aims
and objects, and had been incited to-
deeds of violence by their leaders, who
had managed to escape from. the country,
leaving thami to bear the responsibility
anuithe punishment of. their misdseds.
A. number OF them stated that they had
been compelled to join the order to save
themselyes and families from visitations
OF the khan; others had entered into it's
ranks under the supposition that it was
a society organized for mutual protec-
ton, but learned, subsequently, that it's
real designs were the determination of
the negro race, and the driving out of
suoh OF the whites as wore in favor of
the political equality and social elevation
of the blacks.
They severally expressed the heartiest
contrition for their nisdeeds, and stated
that the organization was one inimicul
to the best Interests of society, and that
the Government was fully justified in
breaking 1t up. 10 further extenuation
OF having beon members of the order.
they stated that the operations of the
Ku Klux Kian were widespread, en-
oracing within its folds men OF superior
intelligence, to whom they had been
accustomed to look for advice aud coun-
sci, and whom they did not suppose
would lead them into any combinations
that contemplated personal violence,
and even murder, if these were necessary
for the accomplish of it's ends.
They were told that it was a good insti.
tuition, to put down meanness in the
country, and they accepted the statement
implicitly.
Upwards of forty examinations were
made In the manner above indicated,
neither prisoner knowing that any one
put himself had been called out, and
none OF them being aware, as before OBJ.
served, OF my official position, or the
object Of my visit. There was aingu.
Lar unanimity in their statements, and a
general expression of regret that they
should have been drawn into an oreani
zation differing 80 entirely in the object
which they supposed it had in view when
they joined it, In reply to the general
question, what were the objects OF the
organization. the answer. was almost in
variably. "When we joined the order, we
supposed it to be society established
for mutual protection, but after having
been fully initiated. discovered it to be
for political purpose. which purpose
was embodied in an oath, in which we
swore to support the Radical party in all
it's forms. and prevent the negroes from
voting. 1t was this great deception that
misled us, and which has brought US into
our present condition."
The contrition manifested by mapy of
these prisoners, the hearty abhorrence
expressed by them for the acts into the
commission of which they claim they
were betrayed by unscrnpulous and de-
signing men, of more enlightened minds.
their general want of intelligence, and
their extreme poverty, oil appeal strongly
for mercv. NV viavyo 40 ~ fI,a o~uaIa: