Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-13
TlzE FATE OF PAROLED CoNFEDE.
RATE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS.

Upon the surrender of the Confederate
armies in the spring of 1865, certain terms
were granted the vanquished, magnanimous
in their character, under which the surren-
dered were permitted to return to their
homes, and be protected against molestation
SO long rs they obeyed the laws and observed
the conditions of their paroles. In some
localities, especially in this. State, many in
dividuals bearing these paroles were faboring
under indictments for treason. conspiracy,
ETC. The war closed, resistance to the
authority of the Government ceased, and
they returned to their homes to be confronted
with State prosecutions. UNFOLDING the in
tegrity, and good faith Of the Government
towards these people, the President gave in
structions that those holding such paroles
should not be arrested or molested. One
ofthe conditions Of all these paroles was that
they should remain and be of force until the
bearer was duly exchanged. . Exchange has,
by the nature of the case, now become I'M
possible, and an interesting question arises,
how long the government viii feel author
lied or bound to consider the paroles as
binding upon itself or the individuals and
operate as protection against their arrest
and trial by the civil authorities Most if
not all of those who were not specially ex-
cepted in the Presidents amnesty preclalna-
ton of 10Th May, have ayailed7 themselves
Of its provisions, and to such the parole is
of no further use Many of the excepted
classes have, upon application, received spe-
cial pardon by the President But there re-
main quite number who have been unable
to take the benefit of the Amnesty or to OBJ
tain special pardon. The fate Of this class,
is still undecided, and the question above
suggested may become one of very serious
moment 10 them. ro.;i~oq 'A d..
The Attorney General of the United
States in communication 30 the President
respecting the trial Of Mr.. Davis which we
published yesterday, throws seine light upon
it. Referring to this class he says: .,asI
3 "whiIe think that those parties have no ulti-
mate protestipn from prosecutions for high tres-
son. l have thought that Il would be a violation
Of the paroles TO prosecute those persons for
nent has proclaimed that the rebellion has been
suppressed" .f u oaF a' aAul
= So soon, therefore rs "the political power
of the Government proclsmes that the rebel
lion has been suppressed" the paroles, in The
opinion Of the Attorney General, will be no
longer binding upon the Government, and
those holding them may be indicted, arrest
ed and tried for high treason. As to wheth-
er the government VIII Jeef called upon to
institute such proceedings we only have the
personal views of the Attorney General, who
says in the same letter: . saoiiihae ssolr
q should regard II as sdireful calamity If many
whom tho sword has spared. the law should spare
also"
But il would seem that since the power
and authority. of the Government had been
so thoroughly vindicated, and those lately
in resistance had submitted with such mani
fest sincerely and good faith, and had con- |
Quoted themselves with so much prm,riety
and quiet, the country could drive no ldbIic
benefit by bringing to the block the head |
Of the offenders, We trust that such may |
be the conclusion Of the President, who has |
shown SO much Of magnamity and kindness |
TOWARDS the Southern people So 80