The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-09-16

HIN AnDucutlOn for PufdOu--The
Manner i'm which he Proceeded
A Semi-OfiiciRI EItntement. 81
Some days ago The Chicago Tribune
stated that General Lee had applied for
pardon in "volumlnous document
denying his guilt" Mr.. Dana, editor
of the Chicago Republican, and late AS
sistant Secretnry of War, replies by
saying that Lees duplication is not
yoluminous, but very brief one, con-
tanning only some forty or fifty words.r
He says further thnt he has never
Heard of any of Lees friends who
claimed that his surrender involved
pardon. The utmost that any one has
ever claimed about it is that it guarRn-
tees his personal security, so long as he
obeyS the lnwS in force at the place
where he resides. But this is not par
don, because il leaves him without any
civil rights and liable to trial and pun
ishment for his great political and mill
taTy crimes, should he ever commit any
infractiOn of the laws in question:"
To all of the above the Richmond
TVhig replies thus:
In regard to the particulars of Cen
eral Lees application for pardon, about
which much that was purely imaginary
has appeared in print, we haYe some
reason, in no way derived from General
Lee, for thinking that something like
the following are the facts. Upon tho
appearance of President Johnson's
Proclamation of Amnesty, or not long
thereafter, General Lee determined to
avail himself OfitS invitation to apply
for special amnesty. Whether in COM
ing TO this deternination he was actu-
ated by motives of interest or by u de-
sire to influence those who would be
governed by his example, there is no
occasion for us to express an opinion.
We happen, though, to know that Gem
eral Lee never failed to dissuade those
who, considering Themselves prescribed
by being excepted from the amnesty,
any such purpose into execution. He
urgently cOunselled all who approached
him on the subject to remain in the
country, encouraging them to hope
that, by acquiescence in the new con-
dition of affairs, and an energetic effort
TO retrieve the fallen fortunes of the
State, Virginia could again be made
the abode of prosperity and happiness.
His application for pardon, if we are
not mistaken, had been prepared, and
was about to be transmitted to WASH
ington, when a snper-serviceable Judge,
holding a Federal court Mt Norfolk,
caused an indictment to be- found
VI OLuGE
distinguished gentlemen, for treason.
Thereupon General Lee, instead of for
warding his applicati on to Washington,
enclosed it to General Grant, with a
note calling his attention to what had
been done at Norfolk, and remarking
that, If according to his General
Grant's) understanding of the articles
of Capitulation, he General Leel was
liable to Indictment and prosecution
for treason, then he did not feel mt lib
erty to make the application for pardon.
But II General Grants understanding
was the reverse, then General, Lee
would be obliged to him IL he would
forward the petition TO the President.
General Grant, If we have not been
misinformed, responded to General
Lees note promptly, and in the most
complimentary and friendly terms,
enclosing a letter he lad addressed to
I Washington inforwarding the petition,
! taking the ground that, under the terms
of the surrender, the proceeding at
| Norfolk was wholly inadmissible. This
| brought to a sudden close the plan oi
| Judge Underwood to make his name
| immortal by associating 1t with u trial
\ in which Robert Il. Lee occupied the
prisoners dock, and Mt the snme time
brought General Lees petition before
| the President in the mode most agree.
able to himself and most honorable To
his successful antagonist. as
i we do not youch for the literal accu-
racy of this narrative, but have nc
doubtof its substantial correctness.