The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-26

! perry. General dnnter thought SO TOO.
| My recommendation was not out of
any favor to General Hunter.
Question-Were these circumstances
| presented to the President as a reason
| for pardon? Answer-I do not know
that they were or were not. 1 merely
signed a recommendation.
| Question-Dld that contain the state
ment you have givenf Answer-I do
not recollect whether IL did or not. I
do not know that stated the circum-
stances to the President.
Queslion-Do you recollect signing
the recommendation of M d. Ecton, a
rebel Brigadier General? Answer
No, sir; don't recOllect Of there being
such u General in the rebel service.
Question-The report In the House is
that he was pardoned on the recom-
mendatlon OF Gen. Grant and John
Hancock. Answer-I do not recOllect
any such pers on as John Hancock or
the Genera named.
Question-YOu recolIect Lloyd J.
Dean IDEALLY Answer-Yss, sir.
Question-Did you sign his applica-
ton or make a Recommendation for
his pardonf Answer-I do not think
the record will show that recommend
ed his pardon, but am not sure. I
know that he sent application through
me, with the request that 1 should send
it to the President, with some indorse-
ment. My recollection is that 1 made
some Endorsement as to his general
character, which was as high up to the
breaking out OF the war as any mans
could be.
Question-Wersy you acquainted with
him previous to the breaking out OF
the wari Answer-Oh, yes, sir; for
many years. don't think 1 recon-
mended him, but may have done SO.
| QuestIOn-You Tecollect P. d. Roddy,
said to be II Brigadier General! An
swer-Yes, sir; 1 do not recolleot what
my endorsement was in Roddy's case;
but 1 know that il l had to do It over
again, would recommend his pardon
very quickly, and presume did SO.
II he Is not pardOned yet l would be
very glad to sign \ recommendation
for him now.
Question-Do you recollect any other
officers OF the rebel army who were
recommended for pardon by you? An
swer-No, sir; cannot mention any.
You have already gone over bigger
list than thought had recommended.
do not think recommended General
Pickett for pardon. recollect receiv-
ing letter after letter from him, and let
ters were sent 10 me time and again in
his behalf. He WAS especially uneasy
lest he should be tried by Military
Commission on account OF some men
who were executed in North Carolina.
uO uON E6CDlltCN ever ldNluB haAAGA
to the President about hun. will fur
nish whatever IL in my office about him.
received one appeal after another in
Pickett's behalf; not only from him but
from officers in the army who had
known him before the war.
Question-Do you know whether he
has been pardoned yet? Answer-l do
not know. l was not in favor of his
pardon, nor was i in favor of his being
| tried by a military commission.
| think his great anxiety WAS TO receive
some assurance that he would not be
tuken up and Imprisoned for offences
| alleged against him AS commander in
North Carolina. He wanted to go TO
work and make a living. 1t is likely
may have recommended that he be
| given assurance that he would not be
! arrested and Do not think
that signed Il recommendation for his
pardon. You have no right to ask what
my opinion is now.
ouestion-Was ne an active rebel Of
icer. Auswer-Yes sir; he was charged
with executing number OF North Car
olina refugees who were captured with
Il garrison under General Vessels, OF
North Carolina. These men had gone
there to evade the rebel conscription,
| or iL may be had deserted from the
rebel army, and were tried as deserters
and quite a number of them executed.
| Pickett was in command at the time,
and a good deal was said as to his hav-
ing approved the proceedings. French
was an active rebel officer, and served
in the field. He General Grantl had
not heard of him much in the tield, but
he was in the James river when Nc
| ClelIan was in cOmmrnd.
Questionable you ever advise the
pardon of Lee? Answer-Yes sir; Gem
eral Lee forwarded his application for
amnesty through me, and forwarded
il to the President for approVaI. 90
not reCollect having had any cOnYerSa-
tIOn with the President on that subject.
/ think it is probable that L recommend.
ed the pardon of General johnson i'm
mediately after the surrender OF his
army, on account OF the address ne de-
liyered to II, which 1 considered In good
tone and spirit. Irscollect speaking OF
that, and saying that 1 should be glad
II General Johnson received his pardon
on account of the manly manner In
which he addressed his troops.
To the ChairIuan-Isu supposed his par
don would have good effect. Do not
remember that 1 spoke to the Secretary
of War on the subject.
BY Mr.. Eldridge-I remember going
at one time to see the President with
General Hillyer, but 1t was relative to
war appointment he wanted. L do
not recollect that the conversation went
beyond the range of stating what L
knew of Hillyer. think met Hill
yer once or twice afterwards, when the
President WAS present, but have no
recollection of any conversation with
the President on the subject of general
amnesty, or on the subject OF amnesty
at all. 1 have never recommended
general amnesty, and never was in Ia
Yor of IL until the time shall coms when
II is safe TO give 1t.
By Mr.. WIllIams-I do not recollect
ever having had any conversation on
the subject OF universal amnesty.
could not have recommended sucn
thing, because never was IN favor OF IL
until the time shall come when IL u saIe;
Ouestion-YOu state that you differed
win the President as to two points in
his proclamation, but that his views
afterwards changedH State when the
Presidents mind; underwent chAnge.
AnsWer-It would be very hard,
reckon, to fix II, but It was along In the
summer of 1865, not more than Two or
three months after the North Carolina
proclamation of May 10th.
By Mr.. WoodbridEe-When L said
that the Presidents views underwent a
change 1 meant that while was con.
tending for the rights which these rebel
paroied soldiers had, he was insisting
on il they should be punished.
By Mr.. Eldridge-Any correspond
ence 1 ever had with the President Is
official, and can be furnished. had TO
make frequent indorsements on me
subjects of the rights Of these paroled
prisoners The only correspondence
that could have had on the subject OF
amnesty was where l recommended
men for pardon, as in the case of French
and others, of all of which 1 kept copies,
and will furnish them. Ilrecollect the
NDrth Carolina proclamation, Which