The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-08-02
". l.. PORTER.
j. l.. kEESHAW,
W. L. NJ. SIMS.
DEPARTMENT or JUSTICE

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
WAsHINGTcS, July 81, 1878.
~ Wessrs Porter, k-rsiilm .uri Sims.
1uShinyto,, D. c.
GENTS: Your letter o; yesterday, in
tended 10 elicit from me u public ex-
preston Of the policy of the Government
IN relation to prosecutions End prisoners
under Enforcement Acts, is received l
have to say in answer, as indicated in
bis conversation With you, the President
has communicated to me what l have
heretofore understood to be his wish,
that the persons accused and convicted
OF offences under said Acts should be
treated with as much leueucy Us posi-
bic. without prejudice to the ends for
which they were prosecuted. 1t must,
however. be distinctly understood, that
th:s action by the Government is not
prompted by any doubt aa to Necessity
Or validity OF snlu Acts, or the necessity
and justice If the convictions nlreu,iy
had under them to prevent and punish
hlSh crimes. but by the belief that the
hu AiuS klans have, through sn!l con-
vlc:lons, been almost if no. altogether
broken up, and that those who were con
cerned or sympnthiz-l with them have
como to seq the folly, wickedness aLl
danger Of such organizations.
You have been pleased to say to me,
and similar assurances have been given
by Others seeking the same object, that
executive clemency ut this time ou IL,
klux cases would tend to remove many
cases OF uneasiness and irritation now
existing, unl conduce generally to the
pubic peace and tranquility. The pro.
posed action is taken in reference to
Lfch xrikh {h,f f,l I. h.
these assurances will be verified. You
are informed that the prosecutions now
pending In the courts for violation of
Enforcement Acts will be suspended or
discontinued. and Instructions to that
effect have already been given several
District Attorneys, but there may. be
exceptional cases OF grea. agglavation
where the Government will insist npon
conviction aud punishment There are,
however, but few OF such cases now
within my knowledge Persons who
have absented themselves on account OF
their completely, or supposed completely.
IN ku Aiux offences, are at liberty to re-
turn. and unless their crimes bring them
within tho above exceptional cases, they
will not be prosecuted. Many of those
sentenced to Imprisonment for suoh
Offences have already been pardoned,
and the cases of the others are under
consideration, and will probably be dis.
posed Of III like manner, keeping in
view tho proper relation between their
punishment and the nature of their
guilt.
10 avoid amy misconstruction OF these
proceedings. perhaps it is necessary for
me to say, That all conspiracies an,i out
RACES i'll violation OF said Acts, hereto.
fore committed. will be prosecuted with
all possible cnergy aud vigor, md 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
stnutia!ly, they are intended to protect
citizens Of the United States in the DOS.
session and enjoyment OF their political
and civil rights, guaranteed to them by
the luto amendments to the Constitution
aud tho President, whose duty it is to
see that the laws are faithfully executed.
would be recreant to that duty, if he did
not so administer the Government as to
afford to all citizens the equal protection
of the laws. l have added theso sugges.
tions to the information for which Won
ask. with u sincere hope that, by th. ex
crcise Of mutual recognition Of cnch
others rights, by all classes OF people
no further necessity will arise for their
protection aud enforcement under said
Acts, through the action of the Genera
Government. Very respectfully,
GEO. Ii. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.
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