The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1873-08-01
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,

WASHINGTON, July 81, 1873.
Messrs. Porter, Kershaw u Sims:
GENTS: Your letter Of yesterday, in
which you desire to elicit public cX-
preston of the policy ofthe Govern
ment in relation to the prosecutions
and prisoners under the enforcement
acts, is received
| have to say, in answer, as indicated
in conversation with you, the Presi-
dent has communicated to me what
have heretofore understood to be his
WISH that the persons accused and
convicted of oilenses under said acts
should be treated with rs much leni-
ency as possible, without prejudice to
the ends for which they were passed.
1t must, however, be distinctly I'M
derstood, that this action 10y the Gov
eminent is not prompted by amy doubt
as to the necessity or validity of said
acts, or of the necessity and justice III
ready had under them, to prevent ana
punish high crimes but by the belief
that the KukluX Klans have, through
said convictions been broken up, ana
that those who were concerned III them
or sympathized with them have come
to see the folly, danger andwickedness
of such organizations. You nave been
pleased to say to me and similar as
surances have been given by Others,
seeking the same object, that Excel
tive clemency at this time in kukluX
cases would tend to remove many
causes of uneasincss now existing, ana
conduct generally to the public peace
and tranquility, and the proposed ac-
ton is taken in reference to such cases
with the full expectation that these as
surances will be verified. You are IN
formed that the prosecutions. now
pending in the courts for violation OF
the enforcement act will be suspended
or discontinued.
Persons who. have absented them
selves on account of their completely
or supposed completely in the kukluX
oilenses, are at liberty to return, ana
unless their crimes come within lhe
above named exceptional cases, they
will not be prosecuted.
Many of those sentenced to imprls-
Onment for such otienses have been AZ
ready pardoned, and the eases OF the
Otbors are under consideration, ana
will probably be disposed or i'll IKE
manner. Keeping in view the proper.
relation of their punishment TO the ma"
ture of their guilt, and to avoid any
misconstructiOn of these proceedings,
it is perhaps necessary for me TO sry
that all conspiracles ana GutraScs II VI
olntion of these nets, hereafter COM
mittcd, will be prosecuted with all pos
sible energy and vigor, and it Is TO DC
understood that the Government, does
not intend to abandon said acts, but TO
induce, ifpossible, willing obedience
to their reasonable requirements,
Substantially they are Intended TO
protect citizens of the United States in
The possession and enjoyment of their
political and civil rights guaranteed
them by the late amendments to the
, Constitution; and the President, whose
duty it is to see that the laws are faith
fully executed, would be recreant to
that duty if he did not so administer
Government rs to afford all citizens the
equal protection Of the law.
I have added these suggestions to the
Information for which you ask with
sincere hope that there may be mu-
tual recognition Of each others rights
by all classes of people, SO that no fur-
ther necessity will arise for their pro-
lection and enforcement under SAID
acts, through the aid OF the govern
ment. Very respectfully,
GEO. A. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.