Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-08-14
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
Washington. July 81, 1879

To Messrs Porter, Kersha,u and Sims:
GENTS: Your letter of yesterday, intended
to elicit from me public expression of the
policy of the Government "in>relation to the
prosecutions and prisoners under the Enforce
ment Acts" is received. Ihave to say in an
swer, as that indicated in his conversation with
you, the President has communicated to me
what I have heretofore understood to be his
wish, that the persons accused and convicted Of
offenses under said Acts should be treated
with as much lenity as possible, without preju-
dice to the ends for which they were passed.
It must, however, be distinctly understood
that this action by the Government is not
prompted by any doubt as to- the necessity or
validity Of said Acts, or Of the necessity and
Justice of the convictions already had under
them to prevent and punish high crimes, but
by the belief that the ku-klux klans have,
through said convictions, been almost if not
altogether broken up, and that those who were
concerned in or sympathized with them have
come to see the folly, wickedness and 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 elem.
ency at this time in the ku-klux 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 expectation that these as.
surances will be verified You are informed
that the prosecutions now pending in the ecourts
for violations of the enforcement acts will be
suspended or discontinued, and instructions to
that effect have already been given to several
District Attorneys, but there may be excep-
tional cases of great aggravation where the
Government will insist upon conviction and
punishment. There are, however, but few of
such cases now within my knowledge. Per-
sons who have absented themselves on &C
count Of their completely, or supposed COM
plicity, in ku-klux oaenses, are at liberty to
return, land unless their crimes bring them with
in the above named exceptional cases, they will
not be prosecuted. Many of those sentenced
to Imprisonment for such offenses have already
been pardoned, and the cases of the others are
under consideration, and will probably be dis
posed of in like manner, keeping in view the
proper relation between their punishment and
the nature of their guilt.
To avoid any misconstruction Of these pro-
ceedngs, it is perhaps necessary for me to
say, that all conspiracies and outrages in vio-
lation of said acts, hereafter committed, like
those heretofore punished, will be prosecuted
with all possible energy and vigor, and
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. Substan-
TALLY, they are intended to protect citizens Of
the United States in the possession and enjoy
ment of those political and civil rights, guar
auteed to them by the late amendments to the
Constitution and the 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 its laws.
l have added these suggestions to the infor-
nation for which you ask, with sincere hope
that, by the exercise of a mutual recognition
of each others rights, by all classes of people,
no further necessity will arise for their protec-
ton and enforcement under said Acts, through
the action of the General Government.
Very respectfully,
GEO. II. WILLIAMS,
Attorney General.