Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-08-07
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
WAsHINGTo..::, J JulY 81, 1878. ]

.Ncsws. Porter, HcrshaaO and SIMS,
Washington, Il. c.:
Gents our letter Of ! yesterday
intended to elicit from. me public
expression Of the policy Of the Gov
ernment in relation to prosecutions
ami prisoners under enforcement acts,
is received. l have 10 say in answer
as indicated in his conversation with
you, the President has communicated
to me what ] have heretofore under
stood to be his wish, that the persons
accused and convicted Of otfcnses un
der said acts should be treated with
as much leniency as possible, without
prejudice to the ends for which they
were prosecuted. 1t must, however.
be distinctly understood that this ac-
tion by the Government is not prompt
ed by any donbt as to necessity o:
validity Of said acts, or the necessity
and justice Of the convictions already
had under them to prevent and pun
ish high crimes, but by the belief that
the Ku-Klux Klans have, through
said convictions been almost, il moi
altogether broken up, and that those
who were concerned or sympathized
with them have come to see the folly,
wickedness and danger Of such or
carnations. You have been pleased
to say to me, and similar assurances
have been given by others seeking
the same object, that executive Glenn
ency at this time on K.u-Kiux cases
would tend to remove many cases Of
uneasiness andirritation now existing,
and conduce gen rally to the public
peace and tranquility. The proposed
action is taken in reference to such
cages, with the full expectation that
these assurances will be verified. You
are informed that the prosecutions
now pending in the Courts for viola
ton of enforcement acts, will be sus-
pended or discontinued, and instruc-
uons to that effect have already been
given several district attorneys, but
there may be exceptional Gases Of
great aggrayation where the Govern
ment will insist upon conviction and
punishment. There are, however,
but few of such cases now within my
knowledge. Persons who have ab-
sented themselves on account of their
completely, or supposed complicit,
in Ku-Klux ofenses, are at liberty to
return, and unless their crimes bring
them within the above named cxcep-
tional cases, they will not be prosecu-
ted. Many of those sentenced to i'm
prisonment for such ofenses have.al-
ready been pardoned, and the cases
of the others are under consideration,
and will probably be disposed Of III
like manner, keeping in view the
proper relation between their punish
ment and the nature Of their guilt
To avoid any msconstruction Of these
proceedings and it is perhaps neces-
sary for me to say that all conspra-
cics and outrages in violation of said
acts, heretofore committed, will be
prosecuted 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,
if possible, willing obedience to
their reasonable requirements. Sub
stantially they are intended to pro-
tect citizens of the United Ssates in
the possession and enjoyment of their
political and civil rights, guaranteed
to them by the late amendments to
the Constitution. and the President,
whose duty it is to see that the laws
are faithfully executed, would be re-
creantto that duty if he did not so
administer the Government as to
afford to all citizens the equal protec-
ton of the laws. l have added these
suggestions to the information for
which You ask, with sincere hope
that by the exercise of mutual re-
cognition of each others rights, by
all classes Of people, no further ne
cessity will arise for their protection