Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-08-14
Sf|istellaueuus &eading.
THE KU.KLUX PROSECUTIONS.
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM GEN. KERsHAW
r.>prN Anu,1at 1874

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM GEN. KERsHAW.
CAMDEN, s. c., August 1873.
MAJ JAMES F. HART-Dear Sir: In &C
cordance with the request Of citizens of York
and other counties concerned, communicated
through yourself in person, l proceeded to
Washington on the 23rd ultimo, and the day
following waited on Acknowledgement Will
liams, in company with Hons. W. D. Porter
and R. NJ. Sims-your commissioners-and
Hon. Plato Durham, of North Carolina, and
Major S. A. Durham, of Marion county in
this State, who met US at Washington, and
warmly interested themselves in promoting
the success of our negotiations.
Mr.. Williams received us with kindness
and courtesy, and promptly assured US that
the Government entertained and had already
acted upon policy that looked to the relief
of those implicated in, or charged with viola
tions of the enforcement acts, with the excep-
ton of those charged with participation in
acts of violence resulting in loss of life, or
other cases of special aggravation, Of which
excepted cases he believed there were very
few. He seemed readily to accept our assur-
ances that the ends of the enforcement laws
had been fully attained in South Carolina, and
that the organizations which they we're intend
ed to suppress did not now exist, and would
not be permitted TO revive, because our own
people were fully alive to the necessity Of
protecting society against the consequences
which they knew would inevitably follow any
such revival.
We were also encouraged by Mr.. Williams
in our purpose of presenting the subject to
the President in person, in pursuance Of which
design, Messrs. Porter, Sims and I went to
Long Branch, where we were promptly and
courteously accorded an interview at an early
hour Saturday morning, with result which
to us appeared very gratifying, if not satisfac-
tory.
The President spoke earnestly, freely and
kindly, readily accepting such suggestions as
it seemed to US proper to make as to the mode
of expressing his purpose of leniency, so as
best to allay the anxiety Of those interested.
He said substantially
l. That he would direct the discontinuance
of the prosecutions pending here, except where
they involved the ingredients of active partic-
ipation in murder or other violent outrage.
2. That no new prosecutions for past ofenses
would be commenced, except in that class Of
cases above excepted.
g. That refugees returning, would not be
molested, unless Of the above excepted class.
T. He proposed, in order to restore perfect
confidence to those whom he intended to re-
lieve, to designate the excepted persons by
name
s. That all under sentence would be par
doned at once, except active participators in
murder or other violent outrage, as above
excepted, or those against whose release some
good, specific cause might be assigned.
g. That the excepted class might, and
probably would, receive further consideration
hereafter.
7. That he would write at once to the At
torney-G General, conveying to him the proper
instructions.
Assuring the President that such policy
would be productive of the happiest effect, we
took our leave and returned to Washington,
where we again saw the Attorney General.
We stated to him the substance Of our inter-
view with the President, and he informed us
that he had received a note from him, from
which he read paragraph, which seemed to
embody the points as above indicated.
Mr.. Williams took no exception to the pol
icy expressed by the President, but said it
was what he had before understood to be the
determination of the Government in relation
to this subject in South Carolina and some
other States that it was not practicable to
name the persons to be excepted from the
proposed acts of clemency; that he had not
the necessary information before him, and
might do great injustice to individuals, should
he attempt it; that he would, however, en-
deavor so to indicate the excepted class that
no one concerned could fail to determine his
position in relation thereto.
We handed Mr.. Williams a note, hereto
fore published, the purpose of which was to
draw from him officially written declaration
of the clemency proposed to be extended, and
received his answer the next day, which was
Immediately published.
We have felt, in regard to this letter of
Mr.. Williams, that the expressions used are
so general, and its tone so guarded, that unless
explained, it will fail of effecting all the ben
eft which we had hoped from its promulga-
ton. We have felt that it was due to the
unfortunates most nearly concerned that they
should have the opportunity of considering it
in the light of the verbal declarations of pol
icy and purpose which it was intended to