The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1873-08-07
DEPARTMENT OF JusTIcE,l

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 81, 1873.
Messrs. Porter, Kershaw and Sims, Wash
ington:
GENTs-Your letter Of yesterday, intend
ed 10 elicit from me a public expression ol
the policy of the Government IN relation %
the prosecutions and prisoners under the
en- forcemeut acts, Is received. have 10 say
in answer, as indicated ia the communica-
ton with on, the President has com uul-
Gated to me what | have heretofore under
stood 10 be his wish. that the persons ac-
cused ana convicted OF ohenses under the
said acts should be treated with as much
Ieniency as possible, without prejudice a.
the ends for which they were passed.
IL must. however, be distinctly under
stood that this action OF the Government j.
not prompted by any doubt as to the neccs-
sity or validity of said acts, or OF the neccs-
sity and Justice of the convictions already
had under them to prevent and punish high
Crimes but by the belief that the ku NuX
clans have, through the said convictions
been broken up; and that those who were
concerned in, or sympathised with them 10
come to see the folly, wickedness and dam
ger of such organizations.
You have been pleased TO say to me, and
similar assurances have been given by
others seeking the same object, that EX-
ecutive clemcncy at this time I'm ku kluN
cases would tend to remove many causes OF
uneasiness and irritation now existing, and
conduce generally TO the public peace and
TRANQUILITY; and the proposed action Is
taken in reference to such cases, with the
full ex pection that these assurances will
be verified. You are informed that the
prosecutions now pending in the courts for
violations of the enforcement act will be
suspended or discontinued, and Instructions
10 that effect have already been given 10 the
several District Attorneys, but there may
be excectional cases OF great aggravations
where the Government VIII insist upon con
Viction and punishment. There are, how
hnf fnW 4
knowledge. Persons who have ahsented
them selves on account of their completely,
or supposed completely In the Ku kluX
ofIenses are at liberty to return, and unless
their crimes bring them within the above
named exceptional cases, VIII not be pros
ecuted. Many of those sentenced 10 inn
prisOnment for such Otlensas have been par
doneT, and the eases Of the others are un-
der consideration, ana they Will probably
be discharged in like manner, Keeping in
view the proper relation between their
punishment and the nature of their guilt.
70 avoid any misconstructiOn of these pro-
ceedings. il is perhaps necessary for me 70
say, tn At all consplrlcie and ouirages IN
violation OF said acis hereafter committed
will be prosecuted with all possible energy
and VigOr, aud it is 60 be understood that
the Government does not intend to ADAM
don the said acts, but induce, il possible, a
willing obedience to their reasonable re-
quirements. Substantially they are intend
ed to protect citizens OF the United States in
tlIe possession aud enjoy mcnt of their polit
ical and civil rights, guaranteed to them by
the late amendments 10 the constitution. and
the President. whose duty IL is To see that
the laws are faithfully executed, would be
recreant to that duty if he did not 50 adj
minister the government as to afford tO all
citizens the equal protection Of its laws.
nave added these suggestions to the in
formation for which you ask, with a sim
cere hope that they may lead To- an exercise
1 ~ lin Of .asaH
rights, by all classes of the people, and that
no further necessito will arise Tor their pro-
lection and enforcement, under said acts.
through the aid of the Government.
Very respectfully,
GEO. ii. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.