Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-06-29
STOKES ON DISABILITIES.
The gesoubsabls Champion Of TehnesseE
Rad;calism Tells Why he Offered
his General Amnesty Bill
MAsu1..arox. june 20. 1870.

Lieutenant A. A. Carter:
lEJ Dsqy SIR: Yours, OF the lOtn, Is
received. l am always glad 10 hear from
Iexpected there would he all sorts 9f
spsCulation i'm regard to the bill which
introduced last Monday. The purpose OF
the sill was to relieve every man o! All
5issbilities. 1 replied to wards ques-
tion" ifthat bill would not relieve "JeH.
Davis" Yes. it made a clean sweep.
am sorry 70 learn that some persons
are charging me with selling out TO the
s.DamocracV.n This, sir, is a grand mis-
take. and a great injustice 10 me. Never
no. never, will Join with the Demo-
Gratis
considered worse, bus being so well ac-
uuainted with the doings of the leaders
of that wicked old party, ! am compelled
10 shy clear of 10 % like a blind horse
passing a slaughter peu;' " for / know
ihere is some rOttenness about that es-
tablishmeut - as You very truthiully
said i'm your letter. that / had LAID before
line Committee on Reconstruction, all the
facts IN regard TO the overthrow Of our
state government, showing the cause,
the means used, how, when and by
whom. After doing all this, the cOnsid-
Grafton OF the case has been postponed
until The next session of Congress. This
L contend, is due To the people, not that !
would have them declare the present
Sta.e government nall and void, without
a good and lust cause, but decisive @iiu
final action should have been had, 80 that
our people. Of all parties, would know
exactly what TO depend upon, and what
course TO pursue IN the future. ms
much was due US, TO cay the least.
Under the present Constitution of our
State all msles over twenty-one years OF
age are entitled to vote, ana in consldera-
tion of that fact all should be eligible 70
hold ofiee. should the present Govern
Ineut rsmein in force. This, you know,
Is no new doctrine with me, 1 have al
yyavs held, that If man was quallhed TO
vote, he was qualified 70 hold once, ana
he should not be deoarred from IL.
Again. do not see the ground or rea-
son for so much speculation IN regard to
nv motives; for it is well known, from
one end Of the State 10 the other, 10 every
man. woman and child, who has heard
me on the stand, in private conversation,
or in print has read my opinions ever
since the adoption Of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution Of the
United states, Knows / have been IN favor
OF relieving every man of his disabilities
when applying to have them removed,
and in this / have not failed or refused in
a single instance.
have. during the present session, pre-
scented a bill TO the House every Monday,
with scarcely an exception, for the last
i've months, containing rom hye 70
twenty naules, and have prOclaimed on
tbe floor that / was ready and willing to
relieve ali who desired it. After having
presented bin after bill every Monday
containing the names Of 50 many Of the
leaders. il occurs TO me that it would seem
but natural for man situated as am, 70
endeavor to make one bill answer for all,
asnl= Hrann nd
further trouble. In word, II you re-
fuse " let man vote, you can very prop
erIv So he shall not hold office; but III
YOU { lare be may vote, you cannot coEV
Sisteutlv say ne shall not hold Office. As
1 said D f re, this Is no new doctrine with
me ] took this ground IN the canvass Of
1855. when nay opponents said, " Let all
vote, but not hold oIhce- eontehded
II a man was voter, be should be also
able to hold Office. But, saio some, il
will let in such men as Lee, Davis, Har-
MS. Tcombs, and other leaders. Well,
suppose IL does, where is the wrong? Has
NOT the Government had JEFF. Davis in
hand five long years2 Have they proved
him guilty of a single thing, except hav-
ing on his wife's petticoat or dress when
he was ezDtured2a Did not the President
offer a reward of one hundred thousand
dollars for bis arrest2 Was I not mem
bar VI the committee that divided the
money between the two regiments that
captured him7 One hundred thousand
dollars Of the peoples money paid to cap
ture this great criminal and yet no proof
OF his having committed treason, high
crimes. or misdemeanors. Nothing posi-
tive against him except as above stated.
As for Gen. Lee, i Eould ask, would
not a thousand uen in the rebel army
have been proud Of and accepted the po-
sition Of Commander-in-Chief Of the Con
federate forces.
cen. Grant said to President Johnson,
when he wanted TO arrest and try him
seYou must let Gen. Lee alone; you can't
try or hurt him while he observes MS
parole"
Tor. Bob Toomts, are you going to let him
Sn9 Yes. let hlm in; perhaps Ackermap,
She new Attorney General, may need his
assistance, and as he had once given Aek-
,s,-,,sn 4 place on his staff it would seem
S,st nstssTaI thst such a turn about would
foe but fair play.