The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-09-19
A CARD FROM GEO. w. MORDECAI.
RALEIGH Sent Eth 1858

MESSRS. Observation-Disclosures as have al
ways been to appear in public prints, an Edito-
rial in the Standard Of this morning requires
that [ should do so in vindication of my charac-
ter, against which direct imputations have been
made as to the facts and circumstances attend
ing the procurement of my pardon from the
President.
shall, therefore, briefly state all the facts as
they occurred, and / am satisfied my statement
will be confirmed in every respect by DIR Haw-
kius, WV. Seaton, ESQ, and DR. Cottman, of
Louisiana, to whom beg leave to refer.
On reaching Washington, having but few nc
quaintances there, I waited on my old friend
and acquaintance, Mr. Seaton, who, though re-
tired from public life, very readily consented to
accompany me to the President, and appointed
the hour of twelve o'clock to meet at Wizards
On reaching the hotel Mr. Seaton met with an
old friend, DR.. Cottman, of Louisiana, to whom
he introduced DR.. Hawkins and myself, and
who, he informed US, was we'll acquainted with
the President, and would render US any service
ia his power. DIR. g. kindly consented to &C.
company US. We first went to the office of
the Attorney General to look for our papers,
that being the only place of deposit in the city.
The clerk very politely and diligently searched
for them, but they were not to be found. Mr.
VIM. S. Mason, whom l met there, heard NE
observed that there was private register kept
by clerk in one of the departments, from whom
he could ascertain whether they had been for
warded, to which replied I would be very glad
if he would do SO, but he said it could not be
ascertained until after dinner
DR. Cotman thereupon insisted that should
sit down and write another application, stating
as shortly as possible the facts of my having
made an application, and that the papers were
not to be found. Being furnished with pen,
ink and paper, ], did so, ana wrote an appca-
tion Of which the following is copy:
To His Ercellency, Andrew Johnston, .Presi-
dent OF the United States of An,erica:
The petition Of George W. Mordecai, of the
City of Raleigh, and State of North Carolina,
aged sixty-four years, respectfully sheweth that
he handed in his application for pardon about
one month or six weeks ago, to Gov Holden, Of
North Carolina, and was informed that his APP
plication had been forwarded to Washington
that he came on for the purpose of finding his
application, but upon examining the papers in
the Office he has not been able to find the is
very anxious to have the same acted on as speed
lily as possible, and now desires to renew his ap-
plication. He comes within the thirteenth ex-
ception of the Presidents proclamation, and
prays that the Executive clemency may be ex-
tended to him. GEO. ". MoRDEcAI.
Washington, Aug. 1lth, 1865.
also wrote similar one for Dr. Hawkins
We all then went to the Presidents where we
found the Cabinet in session, aud remained
there until four clock before we could obtain
an interview. informed the President of the
object Of our visit, that we had been informed
that our papers had been forwarded, but upon
examination they were not to be found in the
proper office, and that by the advice of friends
l had prepared another one which / handed to
him. Neither DIR. Hawkins. nor myself said
anything about the action of the Governor upon
our application, for we had no right to know,
and did not know what tbatsaction was. The
President, upon the papers being banded to
him, observed that they had not the oath of
amnesty attached, and directed that should be
done. We did SO, and the next day the papers
were handed to him. He endorsed them, and
we were directed to take them to the Attorney
Generals Office, where requisition was made
out for both OF Us, and our pardons were issued.
| should, perhaps, state that We accidently
met DIR. Powell in the east room at the Presi-
dents on our last visit We were introduced
to him, and the usual civilities passed, the DR..
politely rendering his services to US; but as we
had no occasion for them, he was not called on,
and we saw no more of him.
As some insinuations have been made about
bribery, deem it due to DR. Hawkins and my
self to state that We had no Intercourse upon the
subject of our pardons with any other persons
than Mr. Seaton and DIR Cottman, and their high
character renders it unnecessary to say that no
improper means were used by us in procuring
them.
regret Dr. Hawkins absence prevents my
submitting this statement to him for bis concur
renee, and request ITS immediate publication in
your paper as act of justice to him as we'll
myself. GEO. W. MORDECAI.
A vacant or9sr ~ IL fNel T,lor n,kE.Ll