The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-24

WASHINGTON, September le, 1872.
Alexander Il. Stephens, Esq, Graz ndsutls,
s1R-In nave received your letter of the 9Th
ultimo, addressed to the President aud by him
referred 10 me, In which you ask that d par
don may be granted to all OF those prisoners
now suffering in penitentiaries under sentence
of courts In several states OF tne Union i9r
violation of The act Of Congress generally
known as tho Ku-Klux act, or for violation OF
the enforcement acts of Congress under proc
ecutions founded upon the last named act.
You represent that you are not acquitted 10
the slightest degree with the nature or cnar'
acter Of the charges brought against them,
nor with the facts upon which the conVlctlon
application seems to be based chiefly upon an
impression that all the convictions rest upon
PROSECUTIONS for offences committed before
the passage of the Ku-Klux act, to which
Won subjoin as additional considerations that
some OF the parties are old and infrm, and
nave suffering families, together with en-
opinion that the purposes of The government
have been accomplished and tnat no one nas
any serious apprehenslons OF any TURNER dis
%turbapces. have not examined the cases
with particular reference to the time when the
offences were committed; but as most, Ii mol
all the convictions were for consplracies,
which are continuing crimes, l take It FOL
granted that the parties convicted were found
guilty either Of entering into conspiraeies aftef
the passage of the act or participation alter
that lime in c%onspiracies previously formed:
I ana duly sensible OF the suferlDgs produced
by the Imprisonment of the persons upon
whose behalf you appeal for clemency, and
sympathize with their families n friends;
bnt the guilt OF some Of the parties is 80 great
and go clear that I cannot, with q due regard
for the administration OF the law, recommend
them as you desire for an indiscriminste
pardon. Contrary to your opinion, well.in.
formed persons in those localities where the
Ku.Klux organizations are said to exist, In
form me that they have grave a~pprehensions
that other disturbances will occur, especially
If there is less vigor than heretofore shown by
the government In the punishment Of lRWless-
ness and crime. "-i
Some time since the attention Of the Presl-
dent was called to those prisoners from the
Southern States confined In the Albany Peni-
Tertiary, and q reliable officer was forthwith
dispatched to examine their cases, and bis
report thereon was, in some respects, favora-
BILE; but, as soon as the TACT was known, GER
tain Journals circulating among those most
likely 10 be affected by such representations,
declared that the sole object of the Presidents
action was to influence votes In the approach
Ing election, and more than intimated that
Ku-Klux outrages hereafter would 60 IN
whipped of justice. I can assure you that the
acts Of Congress In question impose upon the
President an unpleasant duty, and one whfoh
he would, Ii consistent with his official obliga.
lions, gladly avoid; and I know it would afford
him great satisfaction II the Ku-k:u4 ano
other similar associations would disbsnd them
selves and, instead of cultlvating the passions
of hatred and revenge, cultivate peace ane
good feeling among all classes OF the com
munity.
I am happy to learn, as I do from varlou!
sources, that crimes by the Ku-Klux are les'
frequent than heretofore, 10 consequence o
which thereis a growing feeling OF securlt.
among peaceable citizens, and this improved
condition Of things, I think. Ia due to apropel
enforcement OF the law; and while l am bount
to say that 80 long as these crimes contlnu!
the offenders will be prosecuted With all posi-
BILE promptltude and vlgor. l have no neslta
ton In adding that when the President ls sat
isied that the danger from Ku-Klu1 violenci
has ceased, and that such unlawful assocla
lions have been abandoned, he Will be read!
to exercise Executive clemency In all cases II
the most liberal manner. The cases OF those
who are In prison will be examined In du'
time, and to such as are found to have beeI
the ignorant dupes and victims Of designing
men, as Is alleged to be true In some cases, !
Is probable that q pardon will be granted; bu
the charge that some of these convlcts hav,
been guilty of shocking barbarlties, and Ii
some Instances murder, renders 1t neceesar,
to make q separate Investigation and decision
In each case. Very respectfully,
GEO. q. WILLIAMS, Attorney General.