The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1865-06-23

B1uneer It @fntotrat,
Saint Paul, Friday, June %, 1855.
General Robert Z. Lee and Alexan
der III. stephens Asking for Pardon
The following is a Washington dispatch
Of the 10th to the Chicago Tribune:
Among the petitions received by the Presi
dent to-day, asking special pardon, is that
Robert <. Lee, late commander of all the rebe
iorcee, and that of Alex. b. Stephens, late Vic,
President of the late Confederacy. Mr.. Steph
ems enters at length into ON apology or vindi
cation of the action he has taken. Among th,
reasons which led him to excuse the cause o
the rebellion, he refers to the fact that the New
YORK Tribune, known to be o powerful and in
euential supporter of the Republican Admins
sration. advocated the rights of the Southern
people to independence. Mr.. Stephens inferred
nom This that independence would be conced
eo TO the South without war. He acknowl
edges that the question has been decided for.
ever and he desires hereafter to be considered
good and loyal citizen of the United States
M. stephens document covers some twenty
pages.
a. These applications for pardon are made
in accordance with the invitation extended
to the excepted classes in the amnesty
proclamation, coupled with the assurance
that it would be literally extended as may
be consistent with the facts of each case
and the peace and dignity of the Onl'eo
States.
In the case of Gen. LEE, although
pardon may not be Immediately granted,
no one expects that he will be punished
for treason, or can be, without breach OF
faith that would shock the world. Our
country will not be disgraced by violating
any of the conditions on which he surren-
dered in order to wreak vengeance upon
him. The express terms of LEES capitu-
lation we're:
This (the surrender) done, each officer and
man will be allowed to return to their homes,
not to be disturbed by United States authority so
long they observe their parole und the laUs IN
force aohere they reside.
These conditions were framed and pro-
posed by Gen. GRANT, aud accepted by
Gen. LEE, and We believe they will be
faithfully observed by the Government,
which is debarred from claiming that it
was no party to these stipulations, and
consequently is not responsible for or
amenable to them. There stands the rec
ord, clear and indisputable, however disa-
greeble to reflect or look upon, and can
not be gainsayed nor ignored. By not re-
pudiating the action of Gen. GRANT, the
President proclaimed to the country and
the world, that he would indorse them.
Gen. LEE and others may have merited
the severest punishment, but we cannot
now mete it out to them. For the sake
of our name before the world, we ought to
keep faith. For the sake of future peace,
and for the sake of regaining to ourselves
the confidence and good will of the South
ern people, so that we shall be one people
in fact as well as in name, We should re
member and regard the solemn pledges we
gave them.
We trust the application of ALEXANDER
H.'SrEPHENs, for pardon, may be favora-
bly, considered by the President, and that
his application, containing the reasons
shat led him to espouse the rebel cause,
ay be given to the public. One of the
reasons he gives is the fact that the New
York Tribune, a leading supporter of the
government, advocated the right of the
Southern people to independence. To re-
fresh the recollection of many, who may
question the truth of Mr. STEPHENS as
Sertion, we reproduce some extracts which
appeared in that journal before the inau-
guration of Mr.. LINCOLN:
From the Tribune, Nov 2, 1861
II the Cotton States shall become satisfied
that they can do better out OF the Union than
in It. soe insist on letting item 20 tn peace. The
right to seccde may be revolutionary one, 6ul
II erists aeyertheless We must ever
resist the right of any State to remain in the
Union and nullify or defy the laws thereof To
sithdrd,o from the Union Is quite another matter,
seAeneucy a considerable portion Of oar Unioss.
shall deliberately resose to go out. shall resist
0l coereive measures designed TO Eeep 1t in. We
hope never to live in q republic whereof one
section Il pinned to another by bayonets.
Frsn the Tribune Nov. s6. 1860.
If the Cotton States unitedly and earnestly
wish to withdraw peacefully from the Union, ,0e
think they should and scoald be allowed TO co. Ans
attempt to compel them By force to remain ,oosad
Ss contrary to he principles enmciated in the i'm.
mortal Deciu ation Of Independence, contrary
to the fundamental ideas on which human
liberty Is based.
From the Tribune, Dec. II, 1860.
If it Che Declaration of Independence ;us.
tilted tho secession from the British empire OF
three millions of colonists in l776, ,ce do ao
SO uAy Il u,ould not Justify the secession of jfcs
nuilI;cns of Soulhrons from the Union in 1861.
From the Tribune. Feb. sS 1s61.
Whenereyer is shall become clear TIA. as.
great body Of tie Southern people hare 6scom,
concsus;ssfy alienatsd from the Union, ana
anyious TO escape from, IL, WE WILL DO OUR
BEST TO FORWARD THEIR VIEWS.
Neither the utterances of the Tribune
nor the sentiments of Mr.. CHASE and
other prominent supporters of the Admin
;strst;on which were generally understood