Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-11-01

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well, who is now confined in The Albany
Pcnitcntiary:
ALBANY PENITENTIARY.
October 14th, 1872.
To fhc Edi0r IF tie Charlotte OGSeIrf..:
My attention has been called TO the fol-
lowing article, copied from the New Y 'ork
Herald, as am Informed, by number of
The State papers:
kT-KLrA PRISONER WANTS To STUMP
FOR GRANT.
1t has transprcd that Richa3d ShotwelI.
one OF the leaders Of the Kll-klux-Klan in
North Carolina, and now confined in Tie
Albany Ienitentiary, proposed to 4 promi-
ncnt member Of Congress that if the Pl.esi-
dent would pardon him he would cheer
1tilIy take the stump and labor for The slc-
cess OF the Republican candidates. and de
nOuncc the ku-kluN organization. Find
ing that hc was disposed to plead for par
don, it WAS proposed to ask if he would
give evidence against the principal leaders,
suck as Ransom, Vance and Mcrrimon.
This ShotWcll declined with 4 defiant air,
and said he would die rather than betray
, anybody-applicatiO for The pardon was
, therefore refused. When Gerrit Smith
visited Siotwcll, two months ago, he said
he found linn defiant and unwilling 10
accent Il pardon on any condition.
/ presume that | am the person alluded
to in the above, although the writer. hay-
! ing set TO tabricate n falsehood, has not
thought it worth while to give even the
name correctly. The entire statement is
without foundation. l scOrn TO refute the
lmputation of having offered TO barter my
principles for q pardon; but for the sake Of
my friends l will merely say that L have
never applied for pardon, nor made any
r ia n TlroyOiDnDf IOpTabp;. nf Con-
greSs, nor to any one else. Having been
! illegally arrested, falsely accused, unfairly
! tried, and uDjusuy EcntenCed to the full
| severity OF an unconstitutional law, have
! long hoped (and shall continue TO hopeD
that future developments and the subsI-
dence of bitter passions would lead to the
restoration Of my liberty us an act Of
! justice rather than one Of executive clcm-
| ency.
The last paragraph Of the UerdidS NOR
cedu wrongs me in tWO-told degree by
imputing to me piece Of silly and thcatri-
cal brag9adocio in refusing to accept lib-
eIty on any condition, on the one hand;
and again aifording the President q fair
excuse for declining to hear any future az
plication in my behalf.
Mr.. GeIitt Smith appears to be the orig
inator of this calumny. 1t may not lie
improper, therefore, to briefly state the
facts in the case. Mr. Smith visited tie
Peniteutiary on the Sth of July, and let it.
be known that he came from "High AT
thority.' in the interview with me lie
was very courteous. and / answered all his
inquiries with courtesy and franknesS.
After acknowledging that i had been Il
! Grand Chief Of the klan, ana was well
acquainted with its designs, | assured him
that it, and our people generally, had been
greatly misrepresentcd, not only by the
Radical press, and Irresponsible corrcSpon-
dents, but also by the circulation OF So
/ called confessions" and ''testimouy," i'll
vented by periHrcd vagabOnds, or cxtoried
from intimidatcd witnesses. | cmphaii-
! cally denied that the klan WAS 4 conspira
cy against the Government, or against the
/ negroes, or against any class of people, on
; account OF their political opinions. Re
I Verting to the Government prosecutions. !
! called his attention to the fact that there
! were several cray haired Old men Cf Gn
years and upwards doomed to years OF
: toll in this pcnitcntiarv, over "A thouSanl
/ miles from home, tOr no other offence than
/ having sought to prcser7e ordeE-iR. theic
communities, and TO Shield tler wives
and daughters from the brutal passions of
white and black desperadOcs, etc, etc..
: Mr.. Smith seemed surprised and shocl1cads
at my statements, and strongly expressed
! his intention TO intcrcadc with the Presi-
! dent in their behalf. learn that lie full
filed his promise, and recommended three
! out Of the four whom lie saw, rs lit sub
iectS for clemcncy. But lie grossly mis-
represents me. Nothing was said Of par
don during the interview cX ,ept a volun-
toer offer on his part to write to Il certain
| Republican Judge i'll my favor: for which
L thanked linn, bGt thought il hardly
worth while for him to be 4. that trouble.
although should hr glad to have his own
personal influence. Great was my aston
ishnlent therefore, 10 hear OF his letter 10.
Grant, aud am forced to conclud.. that Il
, is Il part Of a scheme to exclude me from
the benefits OF amnesty. Hence this state
ment Of facts. logging tile indulgence "f
the public tor 80 lengthy an intrusion Of
my private m>iOrtuneS,
am, Mr.. Editor, Respectfully.
RANDOIpH A. SlIOTWYTI