Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-03
OK A PILGRIMAGE OF PARDON.
BY JOHN HAPPY.


After dodgi e about proniiscuously for a period
Of four uncomfortable years. alternately the whist
ling of angry bullets and the inqusitive and scru-
tnizing gaze of cruel conscriptors the undersigned
awoke at last about the grand cuIrhination 70 dis
cover that his agility an artu dodger had finally
to be put to most ingenious exercise to come out,
even at the diminutive end of the horn. At my
years man is not apt to be taken unawares but
confess TO degree of bafled self possession when
the Amnesty Proclamation in all It's significant i'm
port first smote upon my conscience. ] began to
feel as though had played away four years in
game of political Faro, and ''handed in my
checks" to old Time the remorseless dealer, with
becoming amiability, and proceeded among others
OF the Faithful on Pilgrimage after Pardon to
the great Mecca of successful asprants to Congress-
ionsl distinction. Unanimously appointed delegate
70 reconstruct the Union, by a convention of ad-
miring fellow-citzens i proceeded in company
with five respectable bales of Cotton q to deffay
expenses, to Washington, ria Mobile and the
Crescent City. To say that that Cotton was
entangled in the meshes Of redtape, about the Gulf
Department but lily expresses the reality Shipped
by permission of the higher authorities apprecasne
the patriotism of the motive 1t fell into the hands
OF subalterns who would have kept me to this
blessed hour working itl through, if had not
placed 1t in the charge Of q shrewd Boston broker
who was Hush enough 10 make an advance. Reach
ed Washington about the time the swarm of Par
donseekers had swelled to, the, magnitude of
'large and highly appreciative audience around
the executive gateway.
Had personal interview with the Chief Mapis
trate, and asked him for a small Pardon if he had
any more left. Chief Magistrate wanted to know
what position had in the Rebel army The an
swer was faint somewhat hesitating, and little
shaky-I said: "Quartermastern Chief Magistrate
chuckled and turned his head to conceal sardonic
smile. "My ancient and venerable friend" be
SAID, III You think that your Department of the
Rebellion endangered the Union cause, your inno-
cence is pardon in ITSELF" | scornfully refuse TO
interpret the meaning of that cruel satire. re.
tired, only to meet my distinguished and seedy
friend, the Honorable lKwort Ker struggling at
the doorway outside with three Pardon Agents of
the Legal persuasion, two Confederate Congress
men who had voed for the suspension of the
habeus corpus, five large land-holders who hadn't
"a d-n Niger left on his plantation" and Yam
kee blockade-runner, who chad been Union man
from the first" ali scrambling to get 10 at once
Finally, Keg, getting above the shoulders of his
competitors, was thrust by the press Of the crowd
like shot out OF shovel INTO the Executive pres
ence, and the doors closed behind him with a bang
felt no little uneasness at the thought of my fell
low-compatriots mental condition closeted alone,
with that merciess magnate. 1t was of brief dura-
tlon There wasa noise insideanSa tumbling over of
chairs, the doors flew open and Keg appeard flying
close proximity to his coat-tail OF what happened
before his violent ejectment have never been able
toglean the fragment Of an idea. Upon that sub
ject my astute contemporary is religiousy and mys,
teriously reticent
Well, we are are back once more in the classic
shades of Deaderick. Tortured cat-gut screams
as agonizngly as of yore, and sold Robertson
hows as lavishy as in the olden time, and golden
Keg is surrounded by groupe of his admiring-
constituency. He talks largely and patronizingly
Of .bs Pafdon," the incorrigible old reprobate and
would fam create the impression that he comes I'M
der the twepty-thousaud dollar clause The policy
OF which is obvious in the prevailing scarcity of
greenbacks and at time when lest little credit
for Peach aud Honey, amounts almost to military
necessity.
"But yer can't vote eff sc is pardoned, ole fell"
ventures sovereign in the crowd-othis Leg
islatur done DISTINGUISHED ye.n .~
vote h. is the reoinder of this irate and
s0edy old iunconary, ats voen too much as Is got
us all into this internal scrmmage-and if it want
for votep, and dn loose yoten at that that ar on
constitutional -4oclyment 'ud never a come ter
lifeF Upon this, a proposition for "drnks" was
Sssented to by reclamation, and ersunt omnes.