Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-04-27
Release Of Clement G. Clay from Fortress
Monroe.

| Correspondence New York Herald
FORTRESS MONROE, April Is, 1866.
Mr.. c. c. Clay was this morning released
from Fortress Monroe on his parole By
the conditions of bis parole he is allowed
to 90 anywhere in the United States on
private business, but must make the State
OF Alabama his residence, and hold him
selfin readiness at any time to obey any
summons made upon him by the Gov
ernment Preliminary to receiving his
parole, he was also required to take the
oath of allegiance. Gen. Miles showed
him the official order from President
Johnson, countersigned by the Secretary
of War, giving him his parole, and also
the conditions upon which the same
would be granted him. With these con-
ditions he expressed himself satisfied,
and upon his signing the oath of ale
glance he was Informed that he was al
lowed to leave the fort at his option, 10
90 where he pleased If any prisoner
was ever glad to be set free and have
again opened to him the glorles aud free
dom of the great outer world, from which
he had long been excluded, that prisoner
was Mr.. Clay. He could not find words
to express his qualification. 1t was with
the utmost difficulty he suppressed his
emotions of joy and thankfulness, and
for some time his articuations were con-
fused and indistinct He thanked Gen.
Miles for the courteous treatment he had
always received at his hands, He thanked
the officers who had been his custodians
for their many and uninterrupted civili-
ties. He thanked those who had waited
upon him He was full of thanks to
everybody He felt himself in fact
new man, and his looks and actions
showed it. But he was in no such hurry
as Mr.. Mitchell to turn his back upon
the fort that had so long held him pris-
oner within its grim, gray, granite walls
He has remained inside all day. 1t is
probable that he will leave tomorrow,
when his wife is expected here to meet
him. uaE t'
On the 22d of last May, Mr. Clay was
admitted prisoner here. His long i'm
prisonment shows its painful traces. His
face is much thinner, his walk is less
erect, and his hair and whiskers show a
profuse sprinkling of gray To his wife
the principal credit is given of securing
him his freedom. With that beautiful
devotion of woman, so sublimely charac-
teristic of the sex, when their hearts and
feelings are interested, she has spared
no effort in his behalf There are none
here who think the clemency in his be-
half misdirected. The fact of his volun-
tarily giving himself up prisoner, all
the antecedents of his past lite, the very
unconspicaous part he played in the war
of the rebellion, his conduct as a priso-
ner, and the well-ielt assurance that he
will be forthcoming at any moment the
Government may want him, form the
basis of this belief. He will leave warm
friends behind him His frankly com
municative nature and dignified and
pleasing courtesy of manner have
evoked for him strong attachments. As
the privilege of seeing jeff Davis was
conceded to Mr. Mitchell on his depar-
ture, so Mr. Clay hoped he would be al
lowed the same privilege; but the privi-
lege was denied him, and he goes away
without the benefit and pleasure of part
ing word with his former military chief
tain and co-prisoner of nearly year
standing. One reason Of refusal may be
possibly because the former Richmond
pastor Of jeff Davis has been all day
with the latter administering the sacra-
ment and giving him his usual monthly
instalment of religious reading and sa-
cred counsel. OF the three important
State prisoners brought here near year
ago, JEFF. Davis now remains alone. HIS
turn must come next When that next
will be, and under what circumstances,
lies hid in the impenetrable future.