New-York tribune., 1868-06-26

and held rank in the Armyi A. That was during
the Rebellion; Mr. johnson was Military Governor
IN Tennessee, and Gen. Hamilton in Texas; do not
recoilect mat there were any other Military Gov
eW0rs; the others wore Provisional or Military Gov
ernors looked upon them rs equally provisional.
Bg NJ. ThomO8-Q. You have stated your opinion
as to the rights and privileges of Gen. Leo and hiS
soldiers; dld yOu mean that to include any political
ugltsf A. have explained that did not. There
was no difference OF opinion on this point between
President johnson and me, but there was rs 10
whether the parole gave them any privileges OF
rights.
~ lir. Eldrdqe-Q. He claiming that it did not
and yOu that II did A. He claiming that the time
must come when they could be tried and punished
and claiming that the time would not come, except
by violation OF their paroles; claimed mat 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 |
believe that il is conceded by everybody that
had that right; know that Mr. Lincoln conceded 1t
at the time.
Eg Nl Bout1rc1l-Q. How recently has the Presi-
dent expressed 90 You the opinion that Cen Lee or
others, who had the benefit o parole should be tried
and puuishedR A. Not since abOu. two years
O.. Have YOU al any time heard the President make
amy remark in reference 90 the admission OF members
of Congress from the Rebel States into either House
A. | cannot say positively what have heard him
saw on that subject. have heard him say as much,
perhaps in his published speeches last summer as
ever heard him say at all upon that subject; 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 members n majority, why would they not
be the Congress of the United StatesI nave healu
Pg Vr. UiIiqms-Q. When you say the North"
You mean the Democratic party OF the North or, IN
other words the party iayorng MS honc{ g. a.
of the admission of the South. i did not hear nm
say that he would recognize them as Congress. |
thew not be the Congess?7 1heard him say that in
one or two speeches; do not reCollect whore
By Mr. Boui,reU-Q. Have. you heard him make a
Il 20, fltaf al owl lpr Nge |
heard him say that aside from his speecheS-ln con
versation. Cannot say Just when 1t was probably
about that same time.
maj or suggestion concerning the egalltY OF Con
Cress with the Southern members excluded! a. lie
auded 10 that subject frequently on his tour to Chi
cago and back last summer His speeches were gen
erclly reported with considerable accuracy cannot
recOllcct what he said except IN general terms but
read his speeches at the time and they were reported
with considerable accuracy. do not TeCollect nav
ing heard him say anything private on that subject
specially. Ineycr heard him allude TO the ENecuiNo
Department of the Government. never healu MN
make any remark looking to the controversy between
the Executive and Congress. -,
By Mr. MqI8hoH-Q. / understood you to say that
Won were very anxious at the close of the war that
civil governments should be established IN some
form, and You so advised the President A. so
stated frequently IN his presence but advised no
particular form of proceeding. -
| O. Were YOU present when this North Carolina
proclamation was read IN Cabinet a. would not De
certain but am of Opin0On that the hlst tihe
heard it read was in presence Of tie President and
the Secretary of War only. - =.
O. Did YOU assent to that plant A. did not dis
sent from il 10 was a civil matter. and although
was anxious to have something done. ! did not IN
tend to dictate plan; do not think expressed
any opinion about II at the time; looked upon II as
simply q temporary measure until congress ehoUu
meet and settle the whole question: and that IT dld
not not make much difference how 1t was done so
that there a form OF government there; tlink
was present at the time by an invitation OF either
the President or the Secretary OF War; suppose l
was free to express my views; suppose the QDcct
a., III. AI
gest any change; do not think ! was asked my
views: know that if had been asked the question
] would have assented TO thar OF almost anything
else that would have given stable government therei
in reference 10 the opinion gave the IIesldent or
the Amnesty Proclamation, think have testified
pretty fully told the President i disagreed with
him on the clauses excluding volunteer generals, and
as to the $4,000 clause do not say anything as TO
the rest of 1t, whether 1t was 100 lenient OF 700
stringent; can state what / thought about II. but
not what l said about 1t; know that lmine-
diately after the close OF the Rebellion there
was a very fine feeling manifested IN the south. ana
/ thought ought 10 take advantage oi u as soon
as possible but since that there has been an evident
change there. | may have expressed my views to
the President. / do not TecOilect particularly. go
not SuppOse that there any persons engaged IN
that consultation who thought OF what WAS beng
done AT that time as being lasting any longer than
until Congress would meet and either ratliy that or
establish some other form OF government KNOW III
never crossed my mind that what was being done
was anything more than temporary Understood
this TO be the view Of the President ana OIL everybody
else. did not know Of any difference OF opinion on
the subject. He was very anxious To have Congress
ratfy his views. Mr.. Lincoln, pnOr 10 MS a6s;ssila-
tiOn, had inaugurated policy intended 70 restore
those governments. / present once before ms
murder when plan was read. The plan adopted 10y
Mr. Johnson was substantially the plan which had
been naugurated by Mr.. Lincoln as the basis for his
fnture action. / do not know that 1t was verbatim
the same. / think the very paper winch heard READ
twice while Mr.. Lincoln was President was the one
which was carried right through.
O. What paper was that: A. The North Carolina
proclamation.
Temporary TO be either confirmed or new govern,
ment set up by Congress A. Yes, and UNDERSTOOD
Jobuson's to be so too; that was my impression; l
never heard the President say the plan was to be
tempOTary but / was satisfied everybody looked dt
il as simply Temporary until Congress met.
Q. You stated that the North Carolina pIocama-
tlUn was continuation of the project submitted by
Mr. Lincoln; | wish to inquire Of YOU whether yOu
ever compared them to ascertain whether they were
the same Ur not : a. No Sir never compared them;
took them 10 pc the very, very same paper; they
were substantially 30 same, il not the very same.
On July 20 Gen. OiaIs being recalled, said he had
had conversation with thU President in company
with Gen. Hillyer, but that nOrilng important had
transpired Gen. Grant also testified in reference to
tbe MARYLAND election troubles. The President had
determined TO use the military power in behalf of
Gov Swami: but Gen. Grant called his attention TO
the law on the subject which changed his views and
determination evidently. Some troOps-about 500
were sent to Baltimore TO be used III case oI riot.
Their services were not needed.
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