The New York herald., 1865-05-20

Letter from Nenry 8. Footo to President
Johnson.
MoxrRuAi. Nav Is. 1885

oOm0 oSp0Ct0
myself yst In others involves considerations Of moment
importance to the whole Of that vast country whose
chief execatiys magistrate you now are. shall be a.
dsavor 70 employ language which viii BE- regarded both
By yourself and By others alike courteous and kind
and hope TO be recognized ~ desiring nothing in
the way Of impunity for alleged political offences n
10 now just terminating, save such - tho great
mass Of my Southern fellow countrymen shall be also
allowed 70 enjoy left the South in January last solely
behind me from tho srievous calamities which have
since upon them, and which then felt could only
Ky ossus for the
this end have been most jealous and untirng though
thus far, ! must confess they have resulted only in
6oth OF obloquy and Of hostility among extreme men
alike In the North and in the South and in exposing me-
in addition to large amount of physical discomfort and
Having thus promised, proceed to say that on the
day previous 70 my leaving the city OF New York for this
place, tho following communication from Mr. Stanton
handed to me at the headquarters Of General Dix
Major General JonN 4. DIx:-
letter asking leave Of the Prsidsnt to 60 to California has
beer received and the ppsSa%Gn 10 E The President G. n
s1y % ss s Ss s @
Not desiring to add In the least degree to the present
dguietude Of the country and yet deemng not alto
ccs of that extraordinary Star Chamber tribunal now
holding Its dark sessions in Washington city-(such
tribunal, will add, as has not been known before in any
country pretending TO be free for two hundred years
resolved 10 within the British domnions where
am and where all subjected to polti al prosecution
in other lands yet secured safe asylum from op
preston elsewhere so long they may conduct them
selves with circumspecon and propriety. IA
1t is true, sir that did ask about ten days ago TO DO
made known to you, had four Children eight grand
children, an only sister and humorous relatives and
friends bosdcs all of whom are very dear to me- and in
whose society had hoped to be permitted TO spend the
remainder Of life now somewhat protractcd in quiet
and repos,, after apubc which has been pecu
liary Marked in ali its stages, with turmoil, excitement
and conflict My just and reasonable application for this
purpose has been most decidedly negatvcd and In Ian
guage mus, say, not altogether so complaisant as
Chesterfield Palmerston would bo expected TO en-
poy such occasion as would seem in the least
things do no. feel inclined to complain II you, sir,
marvel that l should have. been graciously al
lowed 70 escape present trial BY going into OK.
abrupt and scornfu Language which your War Secretary
has thought consistent with his official dignity to
use since he is responsible in this regard to yourself and
10 the country whose he Is understood TO
sent and not at all 10 myself in particular. could
scarcely have reasonably expected to be very defeen
TALLY or kindly treated by funconary who has not
Diogehestic and snubbing kilograms against disn.
gushed military ofhcers(ieneral sherman), who had
Just filed the civilized world with his fame WARRIOR
a statesman and philanthropst and who had moreover
secured claims TO the universal admiration and esteem
ing that while more uniformly successful even than
Alexander Napoleon in the winning OF splendid mill
tary victories upon great and prlous battle fields Caesar
himself had never displayed in a grandcr and more im
posing manner the high virtues Of cemency and magma
nimy towards subducd andsfallen foe. To be sure,
General Sherman has advantage all ordinary
when made the subject Of Mr. stautons hypcrcriti
cal mnlevoencc for he claim the consolation which
springs from knowledge Of the truth that
lie who surpasses subdues mankind
Must look down on tho hate Of those below.
Having the fullest evidence Of the general love and
respect Of his countrymen everywhere he has no rea
to fear that, in relation ~ himself u will ever bc
- An car,e towering in his pride of place --'
Was by mousing owl hawked at and killed
Our modern Dogcnes, who would seem to have ins
agned that his own precious sunshine had been moro
less obstructed by che of the hero or
hundred battles, b sulkly sneakng back 10 his
own tub baled and disconnected, having been taught
this aluary lesson from which it is to be hoped he win
less profit that II is not always safe for upstart
insolence to snarl at The heels Of its superior.
will here add that ID Is perhaps, upon the whole, not
little fortunate for me that have nof been received by
the Washington authorities In my character Of voln
tary and sclf-accreditea minister Of peace with more
striking indications Of respect and sympathy since had
been acously treated In that quarter, should,
in all probability have been suspected by Of those
whom left behind me in The South last winter of having
sought to personages in power In Washington for
purely selfish purposes perchanse, for the at
tainmcnt Of ends yet more unworthy
' me % nov sy ~ fo ~ ~ y1ur % m's1 I, W. .nar @
mittcd to return to the United States and undergo trial.
before jury of the country upon any charges which II
no Tine In crossing the Canadian border aud
confronting my accuscrs before Of accus
toned tribunals of criminal justice.
In former aud happier days, Mr. President, had the
honor Of serving with IN the national Congress-
being then Representative and scnaor We were
never upon intimate terms indeed held familiar
intercourse either socially politically which suppose
must now recognize as to some extent on my part cir
cumsance Of personal III fort am gratined To re-
member though that there at the period referred to
much snlitudc in our general political opinions and In
our votes upon the floor of Congress We both supported
preeid Wc both
Mexican war policy the famous Monroe doctrine, as
ably expounded in Mr.. Pok's mcssagcs, and pre-
snted the stcrncst opposition TO what known
as the wilmot proviso We both warmly ad-
voca,cd Mr. Clays celebrated compromise mca-
Nebraska bin brought forward and then again the
Lecompon tuition bill though not then in Congress-
iopposed them oo,n, on tne roundtuhat they were
voted these questions am not precisely informed
When In Is6O sectional faction In the South, abettcd
and sustain by certain slippery and neutrality-suspicious.
of the North, succeeded in modifying the democratic
Presidential PLATFORM giving thereby TO that platform,
for the rs time In history aggressive aspect in
regard 10 slavery did unite with them believing
and openly predicting that this would be fatal
20 the unity Of the democratic parywoud separate the
South most unpropousy from lrr natural political alic
bring about tho clectono sectional President from tho
North and thus supply TO the secession leaders of the
South the opportunity, for which thoy had been
so long sighng, OF withdrawing the slayehold ng
Siatcs from the federal nion, nt the hazard
OF ono Of the bcodicst wars which has ever occurred
am panied to remember, Mr. President, that y2 advo-
Gated the modified democratic platform, and both spoke
and voted for Bro kinridgc and Lane which did rot
do for the stated did moi suspect you of doing
these things with view to disunon and have novrr 80
charged Whom Mr. Lincoln asccrtancd TO have been
elected to the Presidency YOU and concurrcd again in
asserting that being elected according to the forms Of
The constitution that cvcut could moi Justify the with
drowal of the southern States from the Union You do
not as Southern Senator withdraw from Congress, as
others d. aud am sure you acted wisely III not DONG
When afterwards The state Of South Carolina, o.
! thought most udiscreety, adopted ordinance OF
secession, | openly condemned her conductj you did
| likewise. When the people OF Georgia called cOnveh
! ton Tor the purpose oi deciding whothef thcy
would 5cccdo, In limitation VI thc eSalDDc o South Caro-