Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-11-29

receiver one appear hlter huOtner IN
Picketts behalf, not only from him, but
from officers in the army who had known
him before the war.
Q Do you know whether he has been
pArdoned YETI
A. do not know. was not in favor
of his pardon, nor was | in favor Of his
being tried by military commission.
| think his great anxiety was TO receive
some assurance that he would not be
taken and imprisoned for the offenses
alleged against him as a commander in
North Carolina. BE wanted to be able
to go TO work aud make living. IL is
likely | may have recommended that he
be given assurance that he would not be
arrested and imprisoned; do not think
that | signed recommendation for his
pardon You have no right TO ask what
my opinion is now.
Q. Was he an active rebel officer2
A. Yes, sir. He was charged with
executing a number of North Carolina
rison under Gen. Vessels, of North
Carolina These men had gone there to
escape rebel conscription, or, it may be,
had deserted from the rebel army and
were tried as deserters and quite num-
Der of them executed. Pickett was in
command at the time, and a good deal
was said as TO his having approved the
proceedings. French was an active
rebel officer, and served in the field He
[Gen. Grant had not heard of him much
in the field, but he was on the James
river when Mcclellan was in command.
O. Did you ever advise the pardon of
Lee2
A. Yes, sir General Lee forwarded
his application for amnesty through me,
and forwarded it to the President, ap-
proved. / do not recollect having had
any conversation with the President on
that subject l think it probable that /
recommended the pardon of General
Johnston Immediately after the surren-
der of his army on account of the address
he delivered to it, which | considered in
good tone and spirit. | recolect speak
ing of that, and saying that l should be
glad if General Johnston received his
pardon on account of the manly manner
iI which he addressed his troops
To the Chairman-I supposed his par.
don would have good effect do not re-
member that | spoke to the Secretary of
War on the subject.
To Mr.. Eldridge-I remember going
at one time to see the President with
General Hillyer, but it was relative to
war appointment he wanted. | do not
recollect that the conversation went be.
yond the range of stating what knew
about Hillyer. | think met Hillyer
once or twice afterward when the Presi
dent was present, but have no recollec.
tion of any conversation with the Presi.
dent on the subject of general amnesty,
or on the subject of amnesty at all.
have never recommended general am
nesty, and never was in favor of it until
the time shall come when it is safe to
give it,
To Mr. Williams-I do not recollect Of
ever having had any conversation on the
subject of universal amnesty. Could
not have recommended such thing,
because never was in favor of it until
the time shall come when it is safe.
O. You state that you differed with the
President as to two points in this procla-
nation, but that his views were after
ward changed State when the Presi-
dents mind underwent change.
A. 1t would be very hard, reckon, to
fix it; but it was along in the summer of
1865, not more than two or three months
after the North Carolina proclamation
of May 29.
To Mr.. Woodbridge-When said that
the Presidents views underwent
change, l meant that while l was contend
ng for the rights which these rebel
Daroled soldiers had, he was insisting on
t that they should be punished.
To Mr.. Eldridge-Any correspondence
ever had with the President is official,
md can be furnished. | had to make |
requent Endorsement on the subject of |
he rights of those paroled prisoners.
The only correspondence that | could |
rave on the subject of amnesty was when
recommended for pardon, as in the case
# French and others, of all of which / |
Iept copies and will furnish them. /
the North Carolina proclama-
ion, which was the first one giving
,tate government was present when it
gas read, and it was in the direction |
7anted. was anxious to see tempo
ary government there, aud | did not
rant to see anarchy.
Q Did you give any opinion in favor
f that proclamation
A. / did not give any opinion against
t. | was in favor of civil government
ntil Congress could meet, and establish
government there. l did not want all
haos left there, and no form of civil
overnment whatever. / was not in
lvor of anything or opposed to anything
articularly. / was simply in favor Of
aving government there. did not
retend to give my judgment as to what
should be; was perfectly willing to
ave it to the civil department. asked
o person what should do in my duties
Il was willing to take all the RESPONSE
lity; and did not want TO give my
ews as to what the civil branch of the
should do.
O Some of those Governors were
ilitary officers, and held rank in the
'my7
A. That was during the rebellion. Mr..
)hnson was military Governor in Ten
sssee, and General Hamilton in Texas.
o not recollect that there we're any
her military Governors. The others :
ere provisional or military Governors.
looked upon them equally as provi-
onaL T
By Mr.. Thomas-You have stated
,ur opinion as to the rights and privi
yes of General Lee and his soldiers.
. you mean that to exclude any politi-
] rights2
A. l have explained that did not ?
lere was no difference on this point ?
tween President johnson and me but v
ere was as to whether the parole gave c
an any rririlaras on rirhta q