The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-14

81 communication rtm your department., under |
srsSsnf the SspH 81 In
!!iaIy who xsIe convicted o. Violations q he En-
male thorough investigation I into &c the con
dltlon " those persons and report to
psdsscy 81 sxercslns SeT Executive % oiemeney
70 Z q them In s ss WIN ns yGS or
adapted to arrive at ali the facts in the case, and
freely as possible deemed it best TO see each q
the Iarties separately, without any knowledge on
Of S N rscsysa fullest aid
LOUIS d. Pillsbury, Head Keeper of the Penitentk
cary, who brought each prisoner in sepa.
The prisoners were mainly frank and communi-
@ ames tS S anG while
acknowledging that they were members OF the vart-
era head Of Kn Kax Kian and that they sS bsen
Justly fenced SUCH pleaded In extenuaton that
they had Joined the order without . Nal knowledge
deeds ~ Violence S Sy their leaders, Who had
managsd to escape from the country, leaving them
TO pea the responsibility and the punishment Of
WHY THEY JOINED rnR SOCIETY.
nss lumber Of them stated that they had been com;
1ams hes nom visitation OF the Khan. Others had
into It's ranks under the snppostion that IT
earned subsequently that Its zeal designs were the
determination Of the negro race and the driving
litical equality and social elevation q the blacks
These severay expressed their contriton for their
70 me BEST Interests Il society and that the
| government was fully Justified In breaking IL up
IN ortasr 81 YIN raons OF the
Khan were widespread embracing within It's folds
% "a
| and whom they did not suppose would lead them
into any combination that Contemplated personal
sary for the accomplishment Of its ends
| They were told that it was Q good institu-
and they accepted the statement implicitly. About
forty examinations were made in the manner above
but himself had BEEN called out and none Of them
being aware, az before observed, my 0niclal po-
Or the s Of my % There &
drawn into an organization differing 80 en-.
trely In the object which they supposed 1t had In
WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD ABOUT 1T.
objects q the ors S the answer was almost
| invariably "When we joined the order we supposed
having BEEN ay D mi
| to be for a political purpose, which purpose was
embodied in an oath, in which we swore to oppose
the radical party In all its forms and prevent the
negroes from voting. It was this great deception
that msled Us and which has brought us into our
present condition."
REPENTANCE AND HOPE.
The contrition manifested by many OF these
prisoners, the hearty abnorrence expressed by
them for the acts into the commission Of which
they claim they were betrayed by INSCRIPTIONS
and designing men Of more enlightened minds
their general want OF Intelligence and their ex-
views to the expediency of restoring any Of them
to society through the exercise of Executive Glenn
| ency are clearly In favor of such a course with
some portion Of them, and believe it may
| be done In some Of the cases not only
with great safety, but fully In the interest Of the
public good. In those to which intend respect
fully to call your attention the prisoners appear not
only truly repentant but absolutely ashamed OF the
| course which they seem to have unwittingly pur
sued. They express themselves as anxious to re-
turn to the peaceful pursuits Of industry whenever
abiding citizens in their respective communities.
Mr.. Whitley here appends q list Of those whose
pardon he recommends, with specifications Of the
| extenuatng circumstances in their cases.