The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-09
SINGULAR LETTER or COLONEL RUSH c. HAWKINS ON THE
TERMS or LEES SURRENDER AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.

To THB BDITUH OF THE HUBALD.
NEW YoRk, Oct. Q, 1885,
In account q the Pt,sburg Convention contained
in your Of yesterday my name was mentioned in
oussinG the humaans granted to the rebels 1t
Appomatox Court House. and General Grants letter sx-
planning the legal effects OF that surrender 10 abuse
then am guilty Of the charge Of abusing General
Grant" the letter written to General T. Lee from
the Headquarters Armies United States June2o 1894"
needs explanation, - the following extract, which
10 entitled to the most serious consideration, will
show
Your desire 70 avail yourself Of the Presidents am
for With the request that in the event il b acted
has been received and forwarded 10 the Secretary Of
ain my opinion The ccsss and men psroicd q 1pp.
mattox Court House, and since upon the same terms
e cannot % sd sor treason 90 long g they
standing Good faith, we'll true policy, dictates
that We should observe the condition or thss convsn
ssucon Of that convention subsctng the oosr % trc
for treason would produce feeling o. Insecurity IN the
might even regard such infracton Of terms By the
government a an entire release from al obligations
b. me met With The hearty approval q he Prssidsns =
TIE time s.d e the cosssEy gesssiy The action Of
Quash al indictments found against parosd prisoners Of
war; and 70 dss. from The further prosecution Of them
\
n General Grant II right etreason cannot b made
sdioas traitors punishsd" That portion or our con-
stuton which defines treason and IL punishment can
not Be enforced aganss armed tsaitor bat remains
dead letter. while protested treason naunts is bloody
defiance IN the face Of IN outraged country General
Grant means 70 have asdesood that the armed rebels
around whom he threw the protecting cloak Of military
parole cannot be tnsd By military commIssion Or in.
people Who think that this chief otc nee Or our
army, who, when he arranged the terms Of surcn-
der. went e far q possible towards compromising
Try generally" approved bis action know Of q sass
that was the ooers and soldiers q The volunteer army
Let rs take up the case OF T. Lee, who Is tho rep
ard" sar. gentleman IAN Of I he scu;R snd .sso,sns
to rsbe pariancs tho scul OF honor and 'ahs Chris
tsn senismans What claim has this perjurrd traitor
10 these high sounug titlcsf Did not his country edu
cato and elevate him 10 an honorable posstonf And
when bis services were needed 70 help turn the hand
Of the from the life Of that country did he
forsake and lead the army or assassns against ~
About 1.-THE Christian gentleman" you perhaps have
o. sn sse oGy 80
where more than thirty Ave thousand Of soldiers and
sailors were cruelty and deliberately murdered By starvs-
Was near some Of the scssss Of these barbarian boron
uttered 30 far a. know, one word Of prosesi
g sh - an order or sra y sssss s
Hves or thousands Of our scldIsrn This y the
ton a. the hands q our commandsf-in Chief HAD
these rebsls conducted their rebellion 20 hcnoraby 20
humaney that they entitled 10 the extraordinary
conditions siven them By General osanti 1919 s
thsre would have been dcuIty about trying irAtos
for treason want 70 at least traitor tried
vcted and erecused % that future generations may
know that there ID such crime known 70 our laws
treason, and that u can be punished
would not punish the whole rsce OF rebels except By
kcepns them out Of place and pows! until such time ss
they shall obey present laws stop shooting Union peo
pie, and ray the constitutional amendment; and when
they conduct themselves like good Law abiding citzens
then will b time 10 lei them help make the lass OF
the country, but not before With General Grants In
tentious and motives have nothing 70 do u N with
bis acss ana the effects OF some OF those acts that pro-
pose 70 deal have known Of any conspiracy 10
attack him. I DO not know that General Butler 10
on the Presidential track" and am not his follower
or the follower Of anybody else Thus far IN life have
always taken the upwauantabs liberty OF thinking for
end OF my earthly existence. RUSH HAWKINS