Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-04
ROBERT Z. LEE.
Andrew johnson HOuRding for His Blood
/. He Refuses to Pardon the NObleyt
Roman Of them all.

DOak, Of the Clarksville Tobacco Leaf,
is making q terrible exposure of Andrew
Johnson's shameful efforts to bedevil
and wrong General Robert f. Lee. The
tobacco Leaf quotes from McPhersOn's
History Of Reconstruction and proves
that Grant testifies that he advised and
urged the pardon of Lee, which was re-
fused; that he had 10 iutercede with
President johnson to prevent his viola
ting the plighted faith of the govern
ment, in the paroles Of Lee and Others,
and having them tried for treason, he
says:
II frequently had TO intercede for
General Lee and other paroled officers,
on the ground that their paroles, so long
as they obeyed the laws, protected them
from arrest and trial The President Oc-
cupied exactly the reverse ground-that
they should be tried and punished. He
wanted to know when the time would
come, when they should be punished. I
told him, not So long as they Obeyed the
laws and complied with the stipulation.
Il claimed that in surrendering their
arms and armies, they did what all Of
them could not have been compelled to
do. but they surrendered in cOnsidera-
ton Of the fact that they were to be ex-
empt from trial. so long as they con-
formed to the obligations they had Ia
ken"
So he would have
VIOLATED A SACRED PAROLE
Of the government-its pledged faith to
carry out his vinGicuiye malice against
Southern leaders.
Grant also said they would not have
surrendered If they had thought they
would be tried and hanged, but John
sor maintained that they should betried
AID punished He saids
seIhe conversations with the President
were frequent after the Inauguration.
He seemed TO be anxious TO get the lead
ers TO punish them. He would say the
leaders Of the rebellion must be pun
ished and treason made OdiOus.n
This was in testimony, when Grant
was giving evidence before Congress OF
q leniency on his part, that must have
been unfavOrable He testified reluct-
antIy and asked once if he was being
tried.
His testimony is corrobo-ated by the
following records, being Endorsements
on the application Of General Lee for
pardon. That
NOBLE HERO,
caring naught for pardon for himself,
wanted 70 set a good example before
his soldiers and his people Of accepting
in good faith the government, under
which they had to live, hearing he was
70 be indicted, wrote, asking for par
don, supposing the terms of his surren-
der, protected him, averring at the same
time his willingness 70 be tried. His OBJ
+. - rranrtH that
disgrace. and that delay in the recon-
cili8tion Of the Southern mind, which
h. knew would follow his trial. He
knew that soldier or citizen would ever
forgive it, and that true peace and oblV-
ion could never come after that.
His application is dated Richmond,
June Is, 1866, indorsed-
Respectfully forwarded to the Presi-
dent. with the earnest recommendation
that the application Of General Robert
f. Lee for amnesty, may be granted
him"
Z. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
This Endorsement shows the contents
Of the petition:
Lee, Robert F., General-'Under-
standing that be and other officers are
TO be indicted by Grand Jury at Nor
folk, Virginia, states his readiness TO be
brought 10 trial, but had supposed the
terms Of his surrender protected him,
therefore prays, etc"
THIS FURTHER ENDORSEMENT
shows the whole state Of the case.
HEAD-QUARIEss, AsNIrs q. s. !
June 10th, ls55. !
In nv opinion the officers and men
paroled at ApOmatOX Courthouse, and
elsewhere upon the same terms, cannot
be tried for treason so long as they OBJ
serve the terms Of their parole. Good
faith as well as good policy dictate that
we should observe the condition Of that
convention. Bad faith on the part Of
the government, or construction Of
that convention, subjecting officers 70
trial for treason, would produce a feeling
Of insincerity ia the miBds Of all psroled
officers and men. II disposed they
might even regard such an infracti0n Of
terms by he-government, as an entire
release from all obligations on their
part.
viii state further that the terms met
the hearty appreciation Of the President
at the time lLincoln) and the people
generally. The action OF Judge Under
wood Of Norfolk, has had an injurious
effect, and l would ask that be be or
dered to give up all indictments found
against paroled prisoners Of war, and 10
Resist from all further prosecution Of
the.o. -