The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-12-07

very good equivalent for the lives Of few
leaders in getting all their. arms and getting
themselves under control, bound by their oaths
to obey tho laws! That was tho consideration
which insisted upon we had recei, cd. ',iQ.
@: Did the President argue that question
with you 9.ll'a 4iti 81 n0i.n4a[ r.
a. There was not much argument about It.
1t was merely 'assortionio Gz.a 40 s'rr IL
Q. After you had expressed your opinion
about it did he coincide with you2 IN
A. No, sir, not then. He aitcrward got to
agreeing with me on that subject I never
claimed that the paroles gave these pris-
oncts any political right whatever Ithought
that that was matter entirely with Congress,
over which. [ had no control; that, simply as
Gcncral-in- Chief, commanding the army, I had
"a right to stipulate for the surrender OH terms
which protected their lives That is all 1
claimed. The parole gave them protection
and exemption from punishment for all often
ccs not in violation of the rules Of civilized
warfare, so long as their parole was kept
Q. DO you recollect at any time urging the
President to go further in granting amnesty
than he had gone in his proclamation?
"A. ust as I said before, could not see any
reason Why the fact Of volunteer rising 70
the rank of a general should exclude him any
more than any other grades. With reference
to the $4,000 clause, l thought that mans
success in the world was no reason for his be-
ing excluded from amnesty, but recollcct
afterwards saying to the President that /
thought he was right in that particular and l
was wrong.
@. Did you not give your opinion at all that
amnesty ought to be granted to these people to
any extent?
A. know that was in favor of some pro-
ciamation of the sort, and perhaps I may have
said SO; it was necessary to do something to
establish governments and civil law there I
wanted to see that done, but do not think |
ever pretended to dictate what ought to be
done t'i
Q, Did you not advise
A. don't think did. I have given my
'oTiEiiop, p.phaps, os to what has been done, but
| do not think I advised any course myself,
any more than that was very anxious to sec
something done to restore civil governments
in those States.
o. Did you ever give your opinion atall to
the President as to what should be done /?
a. do not think did after matters were
done was willing to express IN opinion for OF
against particular clauses.
O. Did you suggest anything ...
a. No, sir.
by MIR. Woodbridgc-Q. l understand your
position to be this That you did not assume
to originate or inauguTatc any policy, but that
whqp ,plpG any question came up, and your opinion
was asked as to what the President was going
to do or had done, you gave an opinion?
q That is it exactly, and presumed the
whole Committee so understood me; have
always been attentive to my own duties, and
tried not to interfere with other peoples; I
was always ready to originate matters pertain
ing to the army, but | mover was willing to
originate matters pertaining civil government
OF the United States when, / was asked my
opinion about what had been done was will
ing, to give it; I originated no plan, and
and suggested no plan for civil government;
only gavc my views on measures after they had
been originated; I simply expressed an ankle
ty that something should be done to give some
sort 6f control down there; there were no gov
crnmcns.ss there :yhcn the war was over, and 1
wanted to see so,..c government established,
and wanted to SEQ it done quickly did not
pretend to say how it should bo dvse or in
what form.
Twill state here that before Mr. Lincoln 5
assassination tho question about issuing pro-
clalnaton of some sort and establishing some
sort of civil government there was up, and
what was done then was continued after Mr..
Johnson came into office.
@. Did you give your opinion on that, after
it was done?
a. [ was present, think, twice during Mr.
lIincon's administration, when proclamation
that had been prepared was read; after his
! assassination it continued right along, and was
there with Mr.. johnson.
Q. Tell us what conversation you had with
| the President on the subject, as far as you re-