The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-09-08
The President dfsd Rebel !SUttOfs
for Pardon.

lOJ' Il UFtOHs
1t must be manifest to the chivalry who
have been importunlng an'l almost brow
beating the President with their claims for
pardon, that he is not q man who is likely
to be coerced into action in opposition to
his Judgment The scene at the White
House OH Tuesday. when the late tire-cat-
ers had generous piece of the Executive
mind, is thus described in the Washington
Republican of that evening:
''Some fifty persons were present. most
of them seeking pardons. y Mr.. keitt OF
South Carolina (not Lawrence NJ, he hay
ing been killed bv Il loyal bullet at Fort
Wagner) approached the President. and
informed him that he desired a pardon.
What have you doner asked Mr.. john
son. i opposed secession until my State
decided to 90 with it. never joined the
army. | did nothing to bring on the re-
bellion,' was the reply. You reioined
the President. are like all the rest YOU
did nothing. Now he added, my eX-
pcriencc Is. that the men who didn't join
the rebel army. but who acquie>ed i'll re-
bellion. were the most ml>chicvous and
dangerous men We had cannot pardon
Won. sir Mr. kcitt made several other
efforts Among other things he reminded
the President that he had come all the
way from South Carolina and had been III
Washington some time: that hotel living
here WAS very hi-h, and that altogether
I his daily expenses were eNiravagantly
large, and that hc would like 10 gel away
aS soon Il he could 90.
! The President responded that the hard
ships of which he complained We're The
direct results OF the rebellion: that he did
moi bring Oh. or contribute 10 hrin" on
tie rebellion: that he WAS not responsible
for and could not extricate Mr. kritt from
the difficulties he complained of. nor hast
Ell his pardon ON account of them. Tho
President WIS firm. His answer WAS 4
inllitv Exit kcitt \ Mr. Birch. mem-
her of the late rebel Legislature of Nir-
eini:.. next approached the President and
applied Tor Il pardon. Similar question:
Wee put to him by the President "a were
a>kcl Mr. kciii From the answers il
appeared that Birch ill nothing. only. a,
Il member oi the Nlr-inia legislature. III
obedience 10 instructions. he voici that
Virginia should >ccelc from IL Union ot
the nitcd States. That l. all ne did
that WIS nothing The President re-
fused 10 pardon him. Exit Birch- Nexi
came Il rebel clergyman who asked the
President To gram him a pardon. What
Great sin have you co:amittcd that Won
come here in clerical robe- and crave En-
ccutivc pardon :! wa> Il rchrl.' WI,
the answer. and desire vour E.Nccllcncy
Ia pardon mc that | may hc restored t,
citizenship and he able fo support and ike
under the government of the Unite,
State You rebel preachers responded
the President. 'havc done the .cvernmcn
4 great deal of harm. You have pro
claimed drviii>h doctrines and mi>led III,
people lou forget iilu il w,,S your duiI
TO yield obt'llcncc 10 tile powers that bt.
You must rc~t awhile upon the stool q
repentance decline 10 wrant Won par
don nj present Exit rrb, clergyman.
The President then remarked. address
ing the entire crowd in the room. thai il
WAS 4 little singular; thai most OF the non
combatant> who had come here from tn,
South inr pardon ;,->rrt that they dill moth
ing. were opposed 10 the rebellion al th,
heglnnin@. only acquic-cci, and thought
the rebel government ought 10 have sur
rendered earlier and stopped blood~hed
vet not one of them took advantage OF III,
amnesty proclamation Offered by Mr. Lin
coin. IN ;lct which would have shown sin
cerity on their part and contributed ~ muel
:, towards >;ivin. the enormous expcnlitur,
of life AMI treasure Il will grant IL,
more par,ions for The present was til,
emphatic conclusion Of the President. anl
turning to Col. Browning. he directed hin
10 issue the order TO the Attornev-licn.'