Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-12-03
Grants Testimony Before the Impeach-
ment Committee

! UNIV . 1eAt dtttt ttbE. QtHtfdt - I dtlt
evidence clearly demonstrates that
from the beginning to the end he BIAS
pursued uniform and consistent
course, neither turning 10 the right
nor to the left ct the Executive
will but insisting always on a strict
fidelity TO duty. The evidence coy,
ers and explains Grants position on
number Of points Thus
/. That previous to his becoming
Secretary Of War be had been pres
ent at no cabinet meeting, except
when some military question in which
he, as General Of the army, was in
terested. was under consideration
2. That be had rec commended Il
number OF Confederate officers for
pardon, including General Lee. That
he had always insisted that, By the
terms OF Lees surrender, no rebel sol
der who surrendered should be pros
ecutcd or punished for ter2son a.
long as he observed the conditions Of
the parole. That the parole oulv
exempted him from legal prosecu>
tons, except for offences against the
laws of civilized warfare, but il no
way restored him to political rights
orfprivileges. That heahad opposed
Johnson exception Of those rebels
worth $4,000 from pardon, because
he did not see why man with $40,
600 w;.s any more a rebel than one
who was worth $4,000 or any less
sum.
B. That Andrew Johnson for some
time,after being President, denied this
construction Of the terms OF Lees
surrender, and was impatient to pro,
coed to the trial and punishment Of
all the military leaders Of the rebels
lion, dispjte their safeguards under
their paroles.
4. That the policy Of Johnson in
providing II Temporary civil govern
ment in each of the rebel states, until
Congress could meet and proUide q per~
manent organization, was but the exc
cution Of plan matured by Mr.. Lin
coin aud interrupted by his death
So far as Grant can remember johns
sons original scheme was substan-
italy the same as Lincoln's.
s. That he (Grant) was extremely
anxious for some ktnd of civil govern
ment established in the conquered
states, to protect life and properly,
and prevent anarchy, until Congress
should have time to act and he was
not particular as to the sort Of pro-
viSional or Temporary arrangement
might be He had not advised the
particular plan adopted by Johnson,
nor had his advice been asked All
that he approved was, the estabiish>
ment Of civil authority without dc
lay or loss Of time.
6. That all the measures taken for
civil governments by the President
were in their nature temporary, be
cause the p0lrer to establish permanent
qorefameatS there raS rested IN cons
gress On this vital point General
Grant said
~ have always been attentive to
my own duties, and tried not to in
terfere with other peoples was
always ready to originate matters
pertaining to the army, but never
was willing to originate matters per-
tanning to the civil government Of
the United States. When | was ask
ed my opinion about what had been
done | was always willing to give it.
| originated no plan and suggested
nc plan for civil government. only
gave my views on measures after
they had been originated. | simply
expressed an anxiety that something
should be done to give some sort Of
control down there. There wore no
governments there. When the war
VAS over | wanted to see some gov,
crnments established, and wanted to
see it done quickly | did not pre-
tend to say how it should be done or
in what form. | confined my opin-
ions entirely to war and peace.
al rccollcct the North Carolina
proclamation, which was the first
one giving state government, |
was present when it was read, and it
was in the direction l wanted | was
anxious to see a temporary govern :
ment there, and | did not want to
see anarchy. | did not give my
opinion against it. | was in favor of
civil government until Congress could
meet and establish gorerNment til re. |
did not want all chaos left there, and
no form Of civil government whatev>
er. was not in favor of anything
nor opposed to anything in particu-
lar was simply in favor of having
government there did not pre-
tend to give my judgement as to
what it should be. | was perfectly
willing to take all the responsibility,
and did not want to give my views
as to what the civil branch Of the
government should do"
Q. "Were you present when this
North Carolina procla NATION was
read ?"
Il would not be certain, but am
Of the opinion that the first time
heard it read was in the presence Of
the President and Secretary of War.
q Did you assent TO the plan ?
A. Il did not dissent from it. Il
was civil matter, and, although
was anxious that something should
be done, | did not intend to dictate
plan. | do not think / espresso
any opinion about it at the time
i0oted upon t Is simply q Temporary
! measure until Congress should meet an.
settle tts ca0le question, an that Il a,
net make mueh di9erence h03o It lra
done, So that there ieas q form Of COZ
ernmeat | think | was present q
the time y invitation Of either th,
President or Secretary Of War.
supposed | was free to express my
views | suppose the object wa
that | should express my views if
could suggest any change. | know
that, ii had been askedsthe question
/ yx-Oull bayn ascauto1 - +Io- 4,