Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-29
what ought to be done2

Of civil government there, was up; and
what was done then was confirmed after
Mr.. johnson came into office.
Q. Did you give your opinion on that
after it was done2
A. i was present, | think, twice during
Mr.. Lincoln's administration, when a
proclamation that had been prepared was
read. After his assassination it con.
tinued right aiong, and | was there with
Mr.. Johnson.
O. Did you give President johnson
your opinion on the subject Of the proc.
lamation, which you say was up before
Mr.. Lincoln's death, and was continued
afterward 2 A
A. / say have given my opinion on
particular passages of it.
Q. Tell us what conversations you had
with the President on the subject as far
as you recollect
A. ! have said once or twice, as far as
/ can recollect, that disagreed with
two clauses of the proclamation. As to
the plan Of establishing provisional gov
ernments there, that was a question
which know nothing about, and which
do not recolleet having expressed any
opinion about The only opinion
recollect having expressed on that sub.
ject at all, was to the Secretary of War.
/ thought there would be some difficulty
in getting the people down there to
accept offices, but found afterward they
were ready enough to take them.
By the Chairman
@ If | understand you correctly, the
only opinion you expressed, and the
only advice that you gave, were in
reference to the military side of the
question, and not in reference to the
civil side2
A. Nothing further than that | was
anxious that something should be done to
restore some sort of government
@ But you gave no advice as to what
should be done2
A. l gave no advice as to what should
be done.
Mr.. Eldridge-State the conversation
you had on that subject.
A. have had repeated conversations
with the President, but can't specify
what those conversations were any more
than have already done.
Q. Did you recommend certain Gene
rails of the Confederate army to the Pres.
ident for pardon who fell within the ex-
emption2
A. Yes, sir; / recommended General
Longstreet, / think year and half
ago; and, although / cannot recollect
the names of anybody else, think | re-
commended several others.
Q Do you recollect recommending j.
G.. French, graduate of West Point2
A, Yes, sir
Q What part did he take in the rebel
lion
A. He was Brigadier General
Q Was he a graduate of West Point ?
A. He was, and classmate of mine.
Q. Do you recollect recommending the
pardon of G. H. Stuart2
A. Yes, sir. i
Q. What part did he take in the Con-
fed service
A. He was a gentleman, and took no
very conspicuous part,
Q. Was be graduate of West Point Z
A. think SO; but not classmate of
mine.
@ Was there any special circumstance
in his case which you considered ?
A. Yes, sir; l did that at the instance
of General Hunter and as a special favor
to him and | did it because it affected
an Inheritance. Stuarts wife was
staunch, consistent Union woman during
the war, Notwithstanding her husband
was in the rebel army. think she never
went South; she was as devoted to the
Union cause as any woman whose hus-
band was on our side. There was con-
siderable property in Maryland which
had not been confiscated, which he iu-
herits, and / thought that his wife and
his children we're entitled to that pro-
perty; General Hunter thought so toe.
Ny recommendation was not out of any |
favsr to General Stuart.
@. We're these circumstances presented |
to the President as a reason for pardonY |
A. | do not know that they were or
we're not. | merely signed a recommen.
dation.
O. Did that contain the statement you
have given?
A. / do not recollect whether it did or
not. | do not know that | stated the
to the President.
@ Do you recollect signing the recon-
mendation of M. d. Ecton, rebel Brig.
adler General2
A. No, sir; don't recollect there being
iuch a gentleman in the rebel service
@ The report in the House is that he
vas pardoned on the recommendation of
General Grant and John Hancock
A. do not recolect any such person
IS John Hancock, or the gentleman
,anpd
Q Do you recolect Lloyd ]. Dean
BeaD2
A Yes, sir.
Q. Did you sign an application, or
make recommendation for his pardon
A. / do not think that the record will
how that / recommended his pardon,
,ut / am not sure. | know that he sent
lis application through ne, with the re-
uest that should send 1t to the Presi-
ent with some Endorsement as to his
eneral character, which was as high, up
o the breaking out of the war, as any
mans could be.
Q Were you acquainted with him !
revious TO the breaking out OF the war
A. Oh, yes, sir, for many years. Z
ont think / recommended him, but /
ray have done so.
Q. Do you recollet P d. Roddy, said
D be a rebel Bngadier General2
A. Yes, sir. l do not recolleet what {
" Endorsement was in Roddy's case,
ut / know that if | had it to do over
gain l would recommend his pardon
cry quickly. and / presume did SO. /
{ he IS not pardoned yet, | would be (
cry glad to sign a recommendation for
i'm now.
@ Do you recollect any other officers
the rebel army who we're recommended c
.r nardon nv vou 4