The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-01
THE KU.KLUX PARDOAING
BUSINESS. we ~ q
The Attorney General ARnouuces
the Presidents Foley II

The Attorney General Announce
the Presidents Policy
WASHINGTON, July 81.-Attoney Gen
eral Williams has written the following
letter In answer TO the South CArolinl
gentlemen, whourge The Ku'Klux par
dons: ,r.7,r, ...I ID. -a... N,
y. WAsHrNGToN, July 80.
EGasrS. Prter, KerGAap d Sons, HGGRiag-
ton, D. G.: "r 2
GRETLKAIKN:-Your letter Of to-day
intended 10 elicit nom me Q public ex
preston Of the policy Of the Government
In relation to the prosecution Of the pTiS
oners under the enforcement act 10 reCeiV
ed. Ihave to say in answer, that o. In
dicated In his conversation with you, thC
President has communicated 70 me what
/ have heretofore understood to b bid
wish, that the prisoners, accused and con
victed Of offences under said act, ahould
be treated with as much lentty q pos
aible, without prejudice to the ends foI
which they were passed. It must, how
ever, be distinctly understood that this &C.
tion by the Government d not prompted
BY any doubt as TO the necessity or Va
lidity ol said acts, 0T Of the justice Of the
convictions already had under them "a
prevent and puhlsh high crimes, but by
the belief that tho KEK Klux KlAns have
through said convictions, been almost, Il
not altogether broken up, and that those
who were concarned In or sympathized
with them, have come TO see the folly
and WickedneSs Of such organizations
You have been pleased to say 70 me-and
similar assurances have been given BY
others seeking the same object-thst eX!
ecutiVe clemency at this time In Ku.Klu1
cases would tend TO remove many causes
of uneasiness and irritation now existiBgi
and conduce generally to public peace
and tranquility; and the proposed action
Is taken with reference to such cases, with
full expectation that these assurances
will be verified. You are informed
that the prosecutions now pending
in the courts for violations Of the enforce.
ment acts will be suspended or discon-
tinued, and instructions to this effect have
already been given 10 several District
Attorneys, but there may be exceptional
cases Of great sggravRtiOn, where the
government would Insist upon conviction
and punishment. There are, however,
but few such cases within my knowl'
edge. Persons who have Absented them
selves on account oil their completely In
Ku.KluX offences, can now return and
unless their crimes belong within the
above named exceptional casea they will
not be prosecuted. Many Of those sen.
fenced 10 imprisonment for such offences
have been already pardoned, and the
cases Of others arc under consideration
and will probably be disposed Of in like
manner. Keeping In view proper cita4
tiOn between punishment and the natures
of guilt, and 10 avoid any misconception
Of these proceedings, Ii is perhaps necea'
sary for me 10 say that all conspiracies
and outrages or violation oil these acts
hereafter committed, like those that
have been heretofore punished, will
be prosecuted with all possible energy
and vIgoF, and Il is 10 be understood that
the Government does not intend 10 abR1l-
don the said acts, 10 induce, II possible, q
willing obedienceto their reasonable re-
quirements. Substantially they are in
tended to protect citizens Of the United
States in the possession and enjoyment Of
those political and civil rights guaranteed
them by late amendments to the C0nsutu.
tion; and the President, whose duty II is
10 see that the laws are faithfully
executed, would be recreant 70 that
duty Il he did,not 90 administer the Gov
ernment as 10 afford 70 all citizens equal
protection To its laws. have added
these. suggestions as information for
which you aRl, with the sincere hope that
BY the exercise Of mutual recognition Of
each others rights by all classes OF people
no further necessity will arise for their
protection and enforcement under said
act through the action Of the General
Government. Very respectfully,
[Signedl GEO, d. WILLIAMS.