American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-09
Letter from Governor Foote,

nneSSee trlenQS VINO llSteneu 10 MS speech
es in 1861, with more than ordinary in
terest Mr.. Foote is a sedsible man, and
like the Prodigal Son, has come to his
proper mind. He is more to blame for
going into the rebellion under the leader
ship of Davis, than many others we're
Foote never had any confidence in the
talents, integrity, or patriotism of Davis,
and we have heard him so declare, both
publicly and privately"
MONTREAL, July Sth, 1865.
To His Ercellency Coz. BronloV:
SIR trust that you will see some apol-
ogy for the present letter in the circum-
stances which surround me. Some very
good friends Of mine, always heretofore
devoted to the Union cause, have thought
that [ could with pIopriety make appli-
cation to President johnson for release
from the pains ond disabilities incurred
by me in connection with the late armed
| feDelllOn Ill tHe DDuIH, anu l. nave uobS
so accordingly, in frank and respectable
letter, in which, without unmanly servil-
ity or sycophantic adulation. | have call
ed his attention to the leading particulars
of my own case, and requested him to act
upon the facts presented in such manner
as he might deem right and proper, in
view oil the high public responsibilities
resting upon him. have made no effort
30 invoke special sympathy in my favor,
regarding the whole question as to the
manner in which, as well as the extent to
which executive clemency should be ex-
ercised, as depending upon principles Of
public policy alone.
discover, and am glad to learn, that
in the State of Tennessee, you will be
looked to for advice in regard to all appli-
cations arising there. This is, in my
judgment obviously right in itself, and |
have heretofore greatly misunderstood
you character if in the performance of a
duty equally grave and delicate, you are
not found acting both with wisdom and
magnanmity
Whethe or not it would be prudent to
release me from the penalties which |
confess myself to have incurred, pepends,
as | suppose, mainly upon what has been
my course heretolare. | venture to hope
that on this subject you are already very
fully informed. aid Of any special en-
quiry which you may deem it requisite to
make, | have ventured to send you the
letter which | addressed to President
johnson a month or two since, whi ch,
though written. I confess, when | was
not in very good humor with Mr. Hun
ter. embodies statement of facts which
you will find te be in all respects strictly
accurate.
1t would be wrong in me not to say on
this occasion, that | have long since been
satisfied that in yielding my sanction to
the war so needlessly and madly commen-
ced in 1861, by the secession leaders of
the Cotton States a war in the ortyina
tion of which | had as little hand as any
man in North America committed
most grievous and censurabie bluqder;
blunder which l Immediately perceived
on reaching Richmond in 1862, but which
it was then too late to correct. All must
now see the true policy of the South, at
ter Mr.. Lincoln's had occurred, (mainly
in consequence of the absurd and factious
course of those who controlled the action
of the Charleston Convention in 1860 }
was to strive by purely constitutional
methods, in connection with our Northern
| conservative allies, to ward off the dan
gers then supposed to be menaced. The
| unwise course pursued in Withdrawing
from Congress, seeding from the FEEDER
al Union establishing new government
at Montgomery, and commencing war
against the Federal Government, | con-
demned strongly at the time; but injudi-
ciouslo and weakly yielded to the general
feeling of sympathy towards our South
ern fellow citizens, who at the time were
evidentlp about to be overwhelmed by su-
perior numbers, and gave my assent to
the o-operatiue policy ultimately adopted
by the State of Tennessee. So soon as
discovered the mistake which | had made,
labored to prevent as far as in my pow
er the fearful consequences which have
since been so fearfully realized. l do not
yretend to justify my conduct !. but if af-
ter maturely considering all the circum-
stances of the case, yeu should judge it
safe to interpose with President johnson
in my behalf, you will place me under
special obligations. You are aware, l
hope, that none Of the oppressive and
cruel conduct put in exercise toward
yourself and your Union friends in Ten