The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-04-20

The terms which Gen. Grant proposed
to Lee seem to be misconstrued into a
greater lenisy than they really proifer to
the defeated rebels. As We understand
Gen. Grants conditions, he simply rec
ognized Lee, his officers and men as pris
oners of war, paroled them, and granted
to the officers the military courtesy Of re-
tanning their side-arms aud personal ef-
fects. The first two propositions are no
more than has been conceded since 1861
to every captured rebel. The last, wheth-
er or not it be thought excessive polite
ness to traitors in arms, is too unimpor-
tant to quarrel about.
The pledge that leach officer and man
will be allowed to return to bis..home, not
to be disturbed By the United States au
thority so long as they observe their pa
role and the laws in force where they re-
side" does not amount to an amnesty
Gen. Grant had no right to promise an
amnesty for political cffenses-though it
may lie presumed he acted in the present
instance with the knowledge, and can
have. IT necessary, the sanction of the
President.
But this and another clause are TO be
taken together. 1t is stipulated: ssThe
officers TO give their individual paroles
not TO take up arms against the Govern
ment of the United States until properly
exchanged, and each company or regimen
tai commander to sign a like parole for
the men of bis command Therefore,
the paroles subsist till the paroled prison.
ers are exchanged, and the immunity
from disturbance by United States author
ity Continues during their parole, and no
longer. So that there is nothing in this
agreement bindn & either Gen Gran. q
the Government alter the prisoners shall
have been declared exchanged. Their
parole then expires, their character as
prisoners of war ceases. and they may
subsequently, be dealt with as the Law d.
rects, and the executive authority shall
order.
This we explain. in order to relieve
Gen. Grant from the appearance of hav-
ing assumed Presidential functions. and
released from the penalties of the law
those officers whom The law expressly re-
fuses to exempt-all above colonel.
We call attention also to the revelation
OF character which Lees letter OF April
9Th makes. That lie not manly or sol.
dierly letter. Grant had written, asking
the surrender Of Lees army, and Lee had
replied, asking the terms to which Grant
reloined that Lees soldiers we're not TO
take up arms again till exchanged. Lee
then says: | did not intend to surrender
my army. and don't think need: but
for the sake of peace. am willing to talk
about it. Why not, if he had been true
in anything, deal frankly with his con-
queroF But, even in the last hour of his
humiliation and defeat, he is tho same
Lee who, during the four years be has lift
ed his sword against his country, has
sanctified every bulletin and dispatch with
hypooriticaI appeals to the God whom he
de6ed. Lees fame IS soldier seems TO
have blinded many eyes to his treason !;
but this last eaupaign ought to convince
his most idolatrous admirers of his in.
feriority to Grant in every respect. Grant
puts the subterfuge asids with dignity,
and Lee has finally no resource bat 10
confess his want ofsesources, and accept
the profered .erms.-[Independent.