The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-09-16

rolled at Appomattox Court House, and
since, upon the same terms given to Lee,
cannot be tried for. treason SO long as thew
observe the terms Of their parole. This is
my understanding. Good faith as we'll rs
true policy dictates that we should observe
the condition of that convention. Bad fai 81
; on the part of the Government, or cor
struction Of that convention subjecting Off
GERS to trial for treason would produce a
feeling of insecurity in the minds of all pa
rolled officers and men. II so disposed, they
might even regard such an infraction of
terms by the Government as an entire release
from all obligations ON their part.
81 will state further that the terms granted
by me met with the hearty approval of the
President, at the time, and of the people
generally" l,-. --l-,s-
1t may he remembered that the convention
bat Appomattox Court House, by which Gen.
2Lee surrendered the army of Northern Vir.
glnia, received the "hcarty approval" of
President Lincoln, and was one of the closing
acts of his illustrious life.
Here is. Gen. Grants endorse69At upon
Gen. Lees application to the President for
pardon:
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES,
June IA, 1865. II
Respectfully forwarded through the Se,-
rotary of War to the President, with,,arnest
recommendation that theapplication of Co..
Robert E. Lee for amnesty and pardon may
be granted him. The oath of allegiance re-
quired by recent order of the President to
accompany application does not accompany
this for the reason, as am informed by Gen.
Ord, the order requiring it had not reached
Richmond when this was forwarded.
u. S. GRANT,
At Lieutenant General"
I desire to call attention to General Grants
testimony before an important investigation
committee of Congress. General Grant,
speaking of his interviews with President
johnson during the summer of 1865, said:
81 frequently had to intercetlc for General
Lee and other paroled officers on the ground
that their parole, so long as they obeyed the
laws OF the United States, protected them
from arrest and trial. The President at that
time occupied exactly the reverse grounds,
namely, that they should be tried and pun
ishcd. He wanted to know when the time
would come that they should he punished
told him not so long as they obeycd the
laws and complied with the stipulation.
That was the ground that took. The con-
yersatiuns were frequent after the Inaugural
ton of Mr.. johnson. I cannot give the time.
He seemed to be anxious to get at the lead
crs to punish them. He would say that the
leaders in the rebellion must be punished
and that treason must be made odious. He
cared nothing for the men in ranks-the
common men. He would let them go; they
were led into it by the leaders He claiming
that the time must come when they could
be tried and punished, and claiming that
that time could not come except by vio-
lation of their parole claimed that gave
them no political privileges, but that had
right, as military commander, to arrange
terms of surrender which would protect the
lives Of those prisoners"
Here is General Grants evidence before a
committee of the House of Representatives,
and believe that all reasonable and UMPIRE
judiced men will agree that he has shown
himself to be man of the highest integrity
and honor, and a firm and reliable friend of
defeated and yanquished Southern soldiers
So far as his personal honor and character
are concerned, even the breath of SANDER has
never dared to speak against them above a
whisper, and not without looking to see
what honorable man might be present to re-
pei the accusation.
General Grant is now the chosen standard
bearer of the great Union Republican party
of the United States. His fame as mil
itary chieftain has long since extended
throughout the American and European con-
tinents. His wisdom and sagacity, his great
respect for the people, and his high regard
for national honor, eminently fit him and
qualify him for the noble and exalted position
he is destined to occupy in our great and
glorious Union. Il'
Though the scorner may sneer at, and witlings
defame him, Ti -..l
My heart swells with gladness, whenever name
him." t.e -. .e r 4r