The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-08-17

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Colonel Whitley, Chief of the Detec-
tive Force has addressed the following
letter to Aorney General Williams:
"NEWYoRK, August 9th, 1872.
"Sr:-N have :he honor to acknow-
ledge the aceipt of a communication
from your!Department, under date of
the I'd iIhnt, enclosing copy of
letter FROM G. erritt Smith, Esq, ad-
dressed to Ahe President, in relation to
those conviciinthe Albany penitentiary,
who were snvicted Of violation OF the
En- 'orcemenfActs, nj requesting me
to go to A5aly and make thorough
invcstigatiognto the condition of these
prisoners, ah report to the Department
my views a,to the expediepco of excr-
cis;ng Exccuive clemency in regard to
any of them. In accordaucc with your
request, L Eoceedcd to Albany on the
7th instant, fs the purpose of fulfilling
the duty assiaed.
AS meas of conducting my On
quirics in tanner best adapted to ar
rive n, all Sacts in the case, and al
SO to lead the 1isoners to express them
selves as freel5as possible. | deemed it
best to see eac)of the parties cparatcly,
without any bowlcdge upon their part
as to my offieil character or the objcc;
of my visit. In this received the
fullest aid of sIr. Lois D Pillsbury,
head keeper obs prison. who brought
each prisoner In separately, with the
simply remark p each that this gentle
man desires to t.sk with you.
The prisoners were mainly frank and
communicative. Some of them aye very
poor and unlcamed, and have left 4g.o
families behind them, and while acknow.
ledging that they were members of the
various orders Of the organization, known
under the general head of Ku-Klux
KIN, they had been justly sentenced as
such, plead IN extenuation that they
had joined the ,rder without full
knowledge of its lims and objects, and
had been melted ID deeds Of violence by
their leaders, whs had managed to es-
cape fom the couf try, leaving them TO
bear the responsibility and the punish
ment Of their misdetds.
A number of item stated that they
had been compelled to join the order to
save themselves and their families from
the vsitations Of the Klan. Others had
entered into its ranks under the sup
position that II wasa society organized
for mutual pr teciion, but learned
subsequently, that lis real designs were
the determination of the negro race and
the driving ont Of sath OF the whites as
were in favor of The political equality
and social elevation ofthe blacks These
scvcrally expressed tn. heartiest contri-
zion Ior their miSdeeds and stated that
the organization was one inimical to the
best interests Of society, and that the
Government was fully justified in break
ing it up
In farther c1tcnuation ofhaying been
members Of the order they stated that
the operations of the Ku klux Klnn
were widespread, embracing within its
folds men of superior Intelligence, tc
whom they had been accustomed to look
for advice and counsel, and when they
did not suppose would lead them into
any combinations thai contemplated
personal violence and even murder, il
these were necessary for the accomplish
ment of its ends. They were told tina
it was a good institution to put down
some mcanness in the country, and they
accepted the statement implicitly. Up
wards OF forty examinations were made
in the manner above stated, neithe
prisoner knowing that any one but him
self had been called out, and none o
them being aware, as before observed
oe my official position, o. the object o
my visit.
There was singular uuanimity i
their statements and general express
ion ofregrct that they should have bee
drawn into an order differing SO cn.irel
in the object which they supposed
had in view when they joined it. i