Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-18

erty to be parked and stacked, and turned
over to the officers appointed by me to
receive them. This will not embrace the
side arms of the efficers nor their private
horses or baggage. This done, each ofh'
Ger and man will be allowed to return to
his home, not to be disturbed by United
States authority so long as they observe
their paroles, and the laws in force where
they may reside.
~. s. GRANT, Lieut. Gen.
"General =. E. Lee
ave are not left to conjecture why
these liberal terms were accorded. We
are not certain that General Grant him
self has not admitted that his object was
to remove every inducement to guer-
rilla warfare.* His friends have fire.
ouently confessed that such was his mo-
tive, and we copied an article last week
from the New York Times to this effect
and expressly conceding that 1t was
wise stroke of policy as well as grand
act of magnsnimity. General Grant
knows that there never would have been
peace; that Southern men, with arms in
their hands, never would have surren-
dered them on the condition that they
were to exchange position with their
slaves.
"Quibbles may be raised about mil
itary capitulation, embracing political
rights, etc. But Gen. Grant knows the
full intent and whole scope of that capit-
ulation, and he knows it would never
have been agreed to by the Confederates
on the terms of Radical reconstruction.
We appeal to his honor-which is more
concerned in the matter than ours is
He has testified to our faithful observ-
ance of the condition imposed; heis now
in position to exact a like compliance
on the other side.
"'Tbat we do not pervert the meaning
of the cspitulation, we subjoin the views
of the French Courier des Etats
whose editor, being foreigner and un-
biased by our domestic factions, may be
supposed to speak in the impartial tone
of posterity. We give as accurate
translation as we can:
"The charge of inconsistency and
moral weakness is imputed to General
Grant, based on his acceptance even OF
the Presidency at the hands of the
Republican party. What, in fact, is the
act by which the policy Of that party
is especially characterized The despotic
and destructive laws of reconstruction,
which impose on the vanquished
tyrannical yoke, which treat them as
subjugated enemies, which four years
after The end of the war hold them still
with foot upon their necks, in contempt
of the very treaty signed at Appomattox
courthouse-which treaty imposed no
other conditions to fall and entire re-
cancellation than the laying down arms
by the vanquished and the dispersion of
their forces. Now, the signer of that
treaty was no other than Gen. Grant;
and It is the violation of his own parole,
the setting at naught his own sacred en-
gagements, which he signs with both
hands, in acquiescng in the suppression
of rights conceded by him to the CO.
signers of the treaty of pacitication.
Seen. Grant may have considered that
heretofore it was only his duty to guard
the capitulation in its purely military
bearing, as he did when be protected Gen.
Lee from the loyal fury of Mr.. johnson
now bis role is enlarged, and the whole
subject falls within his purview.
1--WE conceive there is no want Of re-
ssect to Gen. Grant in thus frankly ex-
pressing our sense, and that of all Con-
federates, as to the responsibility resting
on him as soldier and a gentleman, in
this regard. He has only to recHr to the
sweeping and comprehensive words of
the terms of surrender not to be dis
turbed by the United States authority.
Not merely the military, but any author.
ity of the United States; aud to recall
the motives which prompted him, to
know what honor, TO say nothing OF SIM
pie justice, demands at bis hands. One
crack of his whip would send back howl
ing to their kennels all the ours of low
degree, and give peace and prosperity to
the country"
sWo have pe e'erred to Gen. Grants testimony
before the Confessional Committee, and find
our recollection correctl He says:
1 believe with such terms all the rebel ar
mics would surrender, and that We would then
avoid bushwhacking and continuation Of The
war ia a way that we could make very little
progress with, having no organised armies to
meet"