Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-16

bany penitentiary:
% BLEEcKER STREET, New YORK,
August 8, 1872.
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
celpt OF a communication from Your depart.
ment, under date Of the I'd inst, inclosing copy
of letter from Gerrit Smith, Esq, addressed to
the president in relation to those conyicts in tbe
Albany penitentlary who were convicted of vio-
lations Of the enforcement acts, and requesting
me to 30 to Albany, make thorough investi-
cation into the condition of these persons, and
report TO the department my views as to the
eXpediency Of exercising executive clemency in
regard to any of them.
In accordance with your request | proceeded
to Albany on the 18th inst. for the purpose of
fulfilling the duty assigned me.
AS a means OF conducting my inquiries in a
manner best adapted to arrive at all the facts in
the case, and also to lead the prisoners to ex-
press themselves as freely as possible, | deemed
ii best to see each of the parties separately
without any knowledge upon their part as to
my official character or the object of my visit
In tins received the fullest aid of Mr. Lewis
d. Pillsbury, head keeper of the peDitentiary
who brought each prisoner in separately with
he simple remark to each that "this gentlemen
desires to talk with you"
The prisoners were mainly frank and commu-
NEGATIVE Some of them were very poor, I'M
learned, and have left large families behind
them; and, while acknowledging that they were
members of the various orders of the organiza-
ton known under the general head of "Kuklux
Alan, and that they had been justly sentenced
as such, plead in eXtenuation that they had
Joined the order without full knowledge of its
aims and objects, and had been melted to deeds
OF violence by their leaders, who had managed
to escape from the country, leaving them to bear
the responsibility and the punishment of their
misdeeds.
number Of them stated that they had been
order n atraf III orac n1,,
and families from yistatiOns of the khan others
mad entered Its ranks under the suppOsition that
it was a society organized for mutual pro.
lection, but learned subsequently that its real
designs were the determination of the negro
race and the driving out of such of the whites
as were in favor of the political equality and
social elevation Of the blacks. These seyerally
expressed the heartest contrition of their mis-.
deeds; stated that the organization was one in
imical TO the best interests Of society, and that
the government was fully justified IN breaking
il up
bers of the order, they stated that the opera.
tions of the khan were widespread, embracing
within its folds men of superior intelligence. 10
wh0mI they had been accustomed 10 look for
advice and counsel, and who they did not sup
pose would lead them into any combination that
contemplated personal violence, and even mur.
der, if these were necessary for the accomplish
ment of its ends. They were told that it was a
good institution, one ito 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 but himself had been
called out, and none of them being aware, as
before observed, of my official position or the
OBJECT OF my visit. There was a singular unau-
Unity in these statements, and general express
SION OF regret that they should have been drawn
INTO an organization differing so entirely in the
they Joined It,
In reply TO the general question, "What were
the objects Of the organization?" the answer was
almost invariably;
when we Joined the order we supposed il 10
be society established for mutual protection
but after having been fully initiated discovered
it to be for political purpose, which purnose
was embodied in an oath in which we swore no
oppose the radical party in all its forms and
prevent the negroes from voting Il was his
great deception that misled us, and which has
brought us into our present condition"
The condition Of these prisoners. the hearty
adherence expressed for 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 extreme poverty, all
appeal strongly for mercy.
My views as TO the expediency of restoring
any Of them TO society through the exercise Of
executive clemency are clearly in favor of such
a course with some portion of them, and be-
heye II may be done in some of the cases not
Only win great safety, but fully in the interest
Of public good
~ those to which intend respectfully to call
,nu1, altehuoh, the prisoners appear not only
| lruiy fepeniant, but absolutely ashamed of tLe
course which they seem 10 have unwiftineiy
| pursued. '' """''''"sN
They express themselves as anxious 10 return