The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-12-20

the men in the ranks-the common
men. Speaking of the Amnesty Proc
lamation, | could not see any reason
why the fact of volunteer rising to
the rank of General should exclude
him any more than any other grades.
With reference to the $4,000 clause |
| thought that a mans success in the
world was no reason for his being ex-
cluded from amnesty, but recollect |
afterWard said to the President that
i thought he was rightin that particular
lar and / was wrong. Hooked on the
proclamation as one which he was de-
termined to issue, and as a thing sus-
ceptlble to amendment or improve
ment; | have given my opinion, per-
haps, as to what has been done, bat |
do not think [ advised any course my
self, any more than that | was very
anxious to see something done to re-
store evil governments in those States.
have always been attentive to my
own duties, and tried not to interfere
with other peoples was always ready
to originate matters pertaining to the
army, but | never was willing to orig
mate matters pertaining to the civil
government the United States; when
| was asked my opinion about what
had been done was willing to give it !;
| originated no plan, and suggested no
plan for civil government; | only gave
my views on measures after they had
originated; | simply expressed an anX-
give some sort of control down there !;
there were no governments there when
the war was over, and | wanted to see
some government established, and wan
ted to see it done quickly; | did not
pretend to say how it should be done,
or in what form. | will state here that
before Mr.. Lincoln's assassination the
question about issuing proclamation
of some sort and establishing some sort
of civil government there, was up, and
what was done then was continued af-
ter Mr.. Johnson came into office.
Ihave recommended for pardon Gen
Longstreet, Gen. j. G. French, George
H. Stewart, P. d. Roddy, Gen. Lee
and Gen. Johnston. | was in favor Of
the North Carolina proclamation Civ
ing that State a government. | was
in favor of that or anything else which
looked to civil government until Con
greSS could meet and establish govern
ments there; | did not want all chaos
left there and no form of civil govern
ment whatever; | was not in favor of
anything or opposed to anything par
ticularly; | was simply in favor Of
having government there; | did not
pretend to give my judgment as to
what it should be; was perfectly
willing to leave it to the civil depart
ment; | asked no person WhatI should
do in my duties; was 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;
| cannot say positively that | have
ever heard the President make any
remark in reference to the admission
of members of Congress from the Rebel
States / have heard him say-and |
think have heard him say twice in
his speeches-that if the North carried
the elections by members enough to
give them, with the Southern men,
bers, a majority, why would they not
be the Congress of the United States.
| have heard him say that several
times. | mean if the North carried
enough members in favor of the ad-
mission of the South. | did not hear
him say that he would recognize them
as a Congress. | merely heard him
ask the question, "Why would they
not be the Congress ," | heard him
say that in one or two speeches.; do
not recoiIect where. The President
alluded to the subject of the legality Of
Congress frequently on his tour to
Chicago and back last summer. His
speeches were generally reported with
considerable accuracy; cannot recol-
lect what he said except in general
terms, but read his speeches at the
time, and they were reported with CON
siderable accuracy.
| did not dissent from the North
Carolina plan of reconstruction, at the
meeting of the Cabinet in which it was
discussed. did MT intend to dictate
plan. did not think expressed any
opinion about it at the time; | looked
upon it simply as a temporary meas
ure until Congress should meet and
settle the whole question, and that it
did not make much difference how it
was done so that there was form Of
government there think | was pres
ent at the time by an invitation of
either the President or the Secretary
Of War suppose | was free to express
my views; | suppose the object was
that | should express my views, if L
could suggest any change; | did not
think [ was asked my views; | know
that if had been asked the question,
| would have assented to that or al
most anything else that would have
given stable government there; in ref
erence to the opinion, | know it new
er crossed my mind that what was be-
ing done was anything more than tenn
porary. | understand this to be the