The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-21
The release OF 6. G. clay.

| The following are the meInOfanQa III
the case of G. G. Clay, Jr., of Alabama.
Lieut.-Gen. Grant recommends the
release of Clay because he thinks he
may safely be left at large on
parole or by amnesty. The manner OF
Clay's surrender is sufficient guarantee
for his obedience of any parole that
might be taken by him TO appear when
called for. He recommends his release
on parole not to leave the limits of his
State without permission, and to sur
render himself to the civil authorities
for trial when called upon.
Hon. Henry Wilson has no hesita-
ton in recommending the release OF
Clay upon parole, and has no doubt
that he will be forthcoming when his
presence is required by the Government.
Hon. Thaddeus Stevens says that he
would try Clay as n belligerent un-
less he was in the, conspiracy to assas-
sinate Mr.. Lincoln, which he does not
believe; he would confiscate his prop
erty and let him go.
r. j. Walker has known Clay many
years, and pronounces him incapable
of the crime of Mr.. Lincoln's assassi-
nation. When his escape was certain
he surrendered himself in the hopes OF
securing u trial. Among hundreds of
loyal men who have conversed with
him, none believe Clay guilty of COM
plicity in the assassination. There is a
general desire that If not pardoned he
may be paroled.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJ'r. GEMS.
OFFICE, WAsHrNGToN, April II, 1866. J
Afdtor- Gen. NJ A. Mites, Commanding, &C.,
Fortress Monroe, Va.
ORDERRD-Tnat Clement G. Clay, Jr., is
hereby released fLom confinement, and per-
miLted to return to and to remain in the State
OF Alnblma, and 10 visit such other places in
the United States Us his perSonal buSinES IS
may render absolutely necessary, upon the
following conditions, viz: lg
That he lake the oath or allegiance to the
United States and give his parole OF honor to
conduct himself as a loyal citizen OF the
same, and 70 report himselfin person at any
time and place to answer any charges that
may hereafter be preferred against him by
The United States.
BY order of the President of the United
States. E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant General.
Tne Chicago Republican has the fol-
lowing comments on this proceeding:
Our readers will notice that this doc
ument bears no mark of having re-
ceived the assent of the Secretary of
War, as it doubtless would have done
had he been willing TO atfix his name
to it.
Jefferson Davis is the only prisoner of
this class who is still held in contine-
ment. We see no reason why he should
not be released on the same terms as
the others, and that event will proba-
bly, not be very long postponed.
1t is but a few days since the Presi-
dent declined to furnish Congress with
the evidence which duplicates Clay in
the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln on the
ground that it was of too serious ma
lure to be made public at that time.
That being the case, it would seem that
it must have been too serious to allow
of the discharge of the accused.
The ceremony of administering the
oath of allegiance to Clay, which is
provided for in this oESier, indicates
that he is not again to be arrested. a
criminal who is ever to be tried for
treason, murder, or any other capital
offence, is not subject for the oath of
allegiance, which is required only of
those who are set ut liberty for good
and all.