New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-25
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GEN. GranI have stated those views to the President
frequently and as have sald he disagreed with me In
those views He insisted on 1t that the leaders must be
punished, and wanted to know when the time would
come that those persons could be tried told him when
q. Did you consider that that applied TO JEFF Davis,
| A--No. Sir, he did not take any parole.
Q. He did not Esurrenderf S. No, Sir 1t applied to
no person who captured only to those who pa
Q. Did the President insist that Gen Lee should be
urea iOr treasOnl A. He contended for it.
q And you claimed TO him that the parole which Gen
lee hsd given would be violated In such trial A. did
his army and given up ali their arms he supposed thar
after surrendeTng he going to be tried treason
for be Ives Of eW Te got yery gI9d &c., e9Gvaen,
getting themselves under control bound by their Oahs
obey the laws That was the consideration which in.
O. Did the President argue that question with youi
There was not much argument about it, IL was merely
@ AfteryOu had expressed your opinion about it, did
he coincide with yOui A. No SIR not then. He after
ward got TO agreeing with me that subject. never
claimed that the parole gave these prisoners any political
right whatever thought that that was a matter en-
trely with Congress- over which had no CONTROL that
simply as Generalinchief, commanding the army, had
tected their lives That is all claimed The parole gave
them protection and exemption from punishment for all
oenses not in violation Of the rules OF civilized warfare
SO long as their parole was kept
O. DO you recoect at what time yon had these CONVEX
satons Can you state anypaitcular tlme up to any
| particular time when they tnishedl A. The
conversations were frequent after the Inaugural
ton of Mr. Johnson cannot give lifetime. He seemed
would say that the leaders OF the Rebellion must be pun
ished and that treason must be made odous He cared
nothing for the men IN the RANKS the common men, he
would let them for they led into 1t by the leaders
G. Vas that prior or subsequent to his proclamation
| A. Ii was subsequent think
O. Do you recoleet any time urging the President to
go further In granting amnesty than head gone IN his
proclamation A. Just said before, Icould not see any
reason why the fact Of volunteer rising to the rank OF
General should exclude him any more than any other
that mans the world was no reason Tor ms
being excluded from amnesty, but recoect atterwad
vfn N no Pres 4
that particular and was wrong. -,
Q. Was that said to you in Conversations A nave
heard him say il number Of times; he said it 10 me, and
he said II In my presence at the time that deesaons
@. What persons do you recoect as being present AT
these conversational mean, what Southern inenf A.
he talked TO delegation from Richmond in that way;
do not know Of any other; never changed my views II
see why the fact OF having risen to the rank OF
! General should be reason fof excluding him
O. Did you not advise the President that u was proper
and right he should grant amnesty A. do not think
said anything on that subject only looked on the proc
lamaon as one which he was Determined 10 issue ana
as a thing susceptible to amendment or Improvement
Dd you not give your opinion at al taas amnesty
know that was in favor Of some proclamation OF the
sort and perhaps may nave sald SO IL was Necessary
TO do something to establish governments ana cVl law
there wanted to see that done, but do not think ever
! pretended TO dictate what ought 10 be done.
O. Did you not advised A l don't think ever did.
have given my opinion perha96s as 20 we@ 5 p s
than that very anxious 70 see something done
! To restore civil governments In those states.
|
as 70 what should be done l. do think did after
matters done willing to express an opinion for
| or against particular clauses.
O. suppose the President called you for advice
those questions A. say was in favor and so ex,
pressed myself Of something being done 20 restore civil
rule there Immediately as near as 1t could be done under
Q. Did You suggest anythinei A. No. Sir.
By lr. WOodbTidge-Q understand your position TO be
this That you did not TO originate naugurae
any policy but mat s wdea ny uesSSe e Ss
going to do had dOue You gave an opinion A. mat
Is II exactly ana presumed te NlOe -, 1 81
duties and tried not TO interfere with other peoples
was always ready originate matters pertaining to the
army but never was willing TO originate matters per
tanning TO the Civil Government Of the United states;
when asked my opinion about what had been done
was willing TO give II; originated plan, and sug
gested no plan for Civil Government; only gave nay
| views on measures after they had been originated
simply expressed an anxiety that something should De
done 10 give sort OF control down here there were
wanted TO see some government estaphe, anu ~
To IL done quickly did not pretend to say how II
| should be done. or in what form.
Bg Mr. EIdridge-Q eonfine my questions entirely to
war and peace. In expressing the opinion that some
suggestion OF what ought 10 dOne A. No, Sir; will
state here that before Mr.. Lncons assassination the
question about Issuing Vi svine SUI anu
and what done then was continued after MI john
! son came INTO office.
A. 1 present think twice during Mr. Lincon's Adj
pared was read after his assassination IL continued night
along and there with Mr.. Johnson
subject OF the proclamation which say was up before
Mr. Lncon's death and was continued afterwards A.
say have given my opinion particular passages OF IT,
O. Tell us what conversation you had with the Presl-
dent the subject as far rs you recolleet nave
said twice, as far as can reeOleet disagreed
establishing Provisional Governors there; that was
question which knew nothing about ard which do not
recolect having expressed opinion about the only
opinion recOllect having expressed on that subject az
an was the Secretary OF War; thought there would be
some difficulty in getting people down there TO accept Of
fees but found aferward they were ready enough 70
BIZ The chairpan.-Q. II understand you correctly,
only opinion you expressed and the only advice that
question and not in reference the civil sdei A.
Nothing further than that was anxious that something
should be done TO restore some sort OF Government
O. But you no advice as 10 what should be done
a. gave no advice as to what should be done -.
that subjects A. have had repeated conversations WITH
the President but cannot specify what those converse
O. Did you recommend certain Generals OF the Confed
crate army the President for pardon who fell within
A. Yes Sir; recommended Gen. Longstreet think, a
year and half ago. and although cannot reeoect the
name OF anybody else think recommended several
O. Do you recollect recommending j. G. French. a
graduate OF West Point A. Yes Sir.
O. What part did he take in the Bebelhonf A. lie was
O. Was he a graduate of West Pointi A. He was,and
classmate OF mine. -
O. DO you recolect recommending the pardon of Geo.
Q. What part did he take in the Confederate service
| A. He was 4 General he took no very conspicuous
| O. Was he graduate OF West Pointi A. l think So
| but not a clasSmate OF mine. .
.. Was there any special circumstance In his case
which you considered A. Yes Sir. dd that az the IN,
stance OF Gen. Hunter and special favor 10 hl anu
| did IL because &c affected Inheritance Stuafts
wife was a sIanch consistent Union woman throughVuI
the war Notwithstanding her husband was III Tue eoei
army. think she went South. sne was as ue
voted 10 the Union any woman whose husDanu
was on side. There considerable property, III
MARYLAND which had not been confseated which ne IN
herited and thought that his wife and his children were
entitled that property Gen. Hunter thought so 700
| Nv raoD m
Stuart. -.
o. Were these circumstances presented President
as reason for his pardon :. A. do not know that they
were or were not; merely signed a recommendation
O. Did that contain the statement you have giyent A
| Ia AL Ii rIlIk