The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-12-05
IMPEACHMENT TESTIMONY,

We present below extracts from Gen
Grant testimony and also from that of
Gen. Banks. The questioning Of Grant
was some parts of it insulting in the ex-
treme When it was discovered that he
believed in the right of Congress to settle
matters, instead of the President, Ell
dredgc asked the same questions over and
over again, seeking to get some kind of
an avowa out of him in favor of the
Presidents policy. This question was
asked in regard to rebels five or six times
Question-''You held that so long as
| they kept their parole of honor and
obeyed the laws they were not subject to
be tried by courts ?"
AnsWer-''That was my opinion. [
will state here that [ am notqute certain
whether | am being tried, Or who is being
tried, by the questions asked "
Mr.. Eldridge-'I am not trying any
body"
X
Here is what he thought of the pohti-
cal rights of rebels:
Question-'Did the President insist
that Gcn. Lee should be tried for trea-
son p
An~wer-''He contended for it. -
Question-:And you claimed that the
parole which Gen. Lee had given would
be violated in such trial?'
Answer-'I did | insisted on it that
Gen. Lee would not have surrendered
his army and given up all its arms if he
supposed that after surrender he was
going to be tried for treason and hanged.
| thought we got 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 the laws. That was the considera-
ton which [ insisted upon we had rece1y-
cd. ;"
Question -s'Did the President argue
that question with you?''
Answer-''fhere was not much argu-
ment about it. 1t was merely assertion. "
Question -'After you had expressed
your opinion about it, did he coincide
with you?'
Answer -"No, sir; not then. lie
afterwards got to agree with me on that
subject. I,teuer claimed that the parole
gnUc these prisoners aay political rights
,ohaterer l thought that aoas matter
entirety aoih Congress, over chach Ihad
no control; that simply as general-in-
chief commanding the army, [ had
right to stipulate for the surrender on
terms which protected their lives. That
is all [ claimed. The parole gave them
protection and exemption from punish
ment for all offences not in violation of
the rights Of civilized warfare, SO long as
their parole was kept"
GRANTS IDEA ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION.
By Mr.. Woodbridge-Question-
understand your position to be this: !: that
you did not assume to originate or lnau
gurate any policy, but that when any
question came up and your opinion was
asked as to what the Prerident was going
to do, or had done, you gave an opinion p
Answer-''That is it exactly, and [ |
stood it. Ihare atacuys been attentire to
,oith other people's | was always ready |
army, but [ never was willing to originate |
matters pertaining to the civil Govern
ment of the United States. When was
asked my opinion about what had been
done [ was willing to give it. | originat- |
ed no plan for civil Government [ only I
gave my views on measures after they |
had been originated. | simply expressed |
an anxiety that something should be /
done to give some sort of control down /
there. There were no governments there.
When the ,cdr ,oas ocer 1 acanted to see
some governments established, and ,canted I
to see 1t done quickly. [ did not pretend
to say how it should be done, or In what |
form [ confined my uueStionS entirely |
to war and peace"
UNIVERSAL AMNESTY OPPOSED.
81 have no recollection of any conver-
sation with the President on the subject
of general amnesty, or on the subject OF
ed general an,'acSty, aud NfYer ;Yds N