Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-31
TIE KUKLUX KLAN BROKEN UP.
The Attorney General on Prosecutions
and Prisoners Under the
Enforcement Act,

The following correspondence explains itself
WASHINGTON, 30th July, 1873.
Hon. Geo. H. Williams, attorney General.
SIR:-After our conference with you. we pro-
ceeded to Long Branch, and were promptly
accorded an interview with President Grant,
which was in all respects cordial and salts
factory.
The President expressed views of clemency
similar to those previously expressed by YOU
and said he would address you a note, defining
the present policy of the government in relation
TO the prosecutions and prisoners under the en-
forcement act.
We beg to renew the suggestion already made
that the purposes of the government in the
premises be made public, SO that all concerned,
parnenariy refugees, may haze s,, spthentc in-
which they may be able to govern themselves.
Such Official announcement Will, in our OPP n
ion, produce great sense of relief
We are, with great respect, your obedent
servants, W. ID. PORTER,
[Signedl j, b. KERsHAw,
K. NJ. SINS.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WASHINGTON, July 81. 1873.
Aessrs. Porter, Kersha~ and Sims, Washington,
d. c.:
GENTLRMEN:-Your letter of Yesterday, in
tended TO elicit from me public expression of
the policy of the government Sin relation to
the prosecutions and prisoners under the en-
forcement acts" is received.
have to say in answer, as indicated in his
conversation with you, the President has COM
municated to me what have heretofore under
stood to be his wtsh-that the persons accused
and convicted of Offenses under said acts should
be treated with as much lenity as possible,
without prejudice to the ends for which thew
were passed. 1t must however, be distinctly
understood that this action by the government
is not prompted by any doubt as to tie necessity
or validity of said acts, or of the necessity and
justice OF the convictions already had under
them to prevent and punish high crimes,
but by the belief that the kukIux klans
have, through said convictions, been almost, it
not altogether broken up, and IL at those who
were concerned in or sympathised with them
have come to see the folly, wickedness, and
danger OF such Organi cations.
You have been pleased to say to me, and sim
liar assurances have been given by others seek
ing the same object. that executive clemency
at this time in the kuklux cases would tend TO re-
move many causes of yReasiness and irritation
now existing, and conddce generally to the pub
| lie peace and tranquility, and the proposed ac-
ton is taken in reference TO such cases with the
verified.
You are informed that the prosecutions now
| pending in the courts for violations of the en-
| forcement acts will be suspended or discontin-
ned, and Instructions to that effect have already
been gwen to several district attorneys; but
there may be exceptional cases of great aggra-
vatlon where the government will insist upon
conviction and punishment. There are, how
| ever, but few of such cases now within my
knowledge. Persons who have absented the m
selves on account of their completely, or SUP
posed completely, in kuklux offences are at
liberty to return, and unless their crimes bring
them within the above named exceptional cases
| they will not be prosecuted. Many of those
sentenced to imprisonment for such offences
nave been already pardoned, and the cases of
probably be disposed of in like manner keen
| ing in view the proper relation between their
punishment and the nature of their guilt.
To avoid any misconstructioD OF these proceed
lngs 1t Is perhaps necessary for me to saw tina
| all conspiracies and outrages in violation of
SAID acts hereafter committed will be prose-
cnttd with all possible energy and vigor, and it
is to be understood that the government does
not intend to abandon said acts, but to induce,
II possible, willing obedience to their reason
able requirements substantis lily they are
1nttndt TO protect citizens of the United States
in the possession and enjoyment Of their
political and civil rights guaranteed to them by
the late amendments to the Constitution; ami
the President whose duty it is to see that the
lawsare faithfully executed, would be recreant
to that duty, If he did not so administer the
government, as to afford to all citizens the
equal protection of its laws.
i have added these suggestions to the infor-
nation for which you ask, with a sincere hope
that, by the exercise of a mutual recognition OF
each others rights by all classes of people no
further necessity will arise for their projection
and enforcement under said acts through the
action of the general government.
Very respectfully,
GEO. H. Williams, Attorney General.
SECRETARY RoBEsoN leaves on the $40 train
this p. m. for New York, whence he will
proceed TO Rye Beach, n. H., to remain du-
ring the month of August
VICE PRESIDENT WILSON IMPRoyING,-A
letter from Natick, Mass, the home of Vice
President Wilson, received yesterday BY a
prominent official in the Treasury department,
states "that the Vice President has improved
ana am Is IN better spirits His physicians say that
MS case Is yielding to treatment, and that
everything has worked exactly as they wished"
They predict his entire recovery.
REWARDS FOR DETECTION d VIoLApoRs
OF THE REVENUE LAws.-Commissione Doug
lass to-day issued the following circular:
Under and by virtue of the provisions OF the
thirty ninth section of an act entitled Gan act
10 reduce duties on imports and to reduce inter
nal taxes, and for other purposes" approved
June 6, 1872, which authorize the Commits
sioner OF Internal Revenue, with the approval
OF the secretary Of the Treasury, to paw such
sums as may in his judgment be deemed neces-
sary, not exceeding one hundred thousand dol
lars, Tor detecting and bringing to trial and
punishment persons guilty of violating the in
ternal revenue laws, or conniving at Violations
OF the same, in cases where such expenses are
not otherwise provided for by law, do hereby,
T Trm une approval OF the Secretary of the
after the first dav of August, 1879, by persons
other than officers of internal revenue that
shall lead to the detection and punishment of
persons guilty OF violating the Internal revenue
laws, or conniving at the same, whether such
punishment be by tine, or other pecunary
mu,ct or penalty, or by forfeiture of property,
such reward as the Commissioner of Internal
revenue may deem suitable, but in no
case exceeding ten per centum of the
net amount of the fines, penalties, forfeitures.
ana taxes, which, by reason of said information
shall be recovered by suit or otherwise and ac-
tually paid to the United States, or of any sum
which shall be accepted in compromise BY the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue and re-
ceived by the United States. In
cases In which property seized, being Of the APP
praised value Of $500 or less, is disposed Of BY
the collector under the provisions Of section IS
OF the act OF July Is, 1866, as amended, the GER
tifcate OF the collector to that fact win be re-
ceiyed, and also ITO the fact that the person
claiming the reward is the person who furnish
ca the information leading to such forfeiture.
Inc rewards hereby offered must be understood
10 De limited In their aggregate to the sum ap-
psoprlated therefor, as above stated" This
oner VIII apply to cases in which the informa-
non has been or shall be given on or after the
10th day of July, 1873. ~
DEATH OF CHILD FROM SrRAxeuLArIos,
S ,,s Herman yesterday held an inquest at
iio Weet goth street, on the body Of BENJAMIN
Lewis, a child three years Of age, who died
rom strangulation, caused by piece Of meat
nd