The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-29

triotism." The thousands of Southern
soldiers who sleep in their graves made sa-
cred by their efforts to defend our rights,
are not even honored with a respectful re-
membrane.
am not drawing upon Your sympathy,
but am recording what has become history;
if it does not arouse you Indignation it will,
at least, excite your astonishment. Con-
trasting the life of General Grant with
that of Mr.. Greeley, no one can fail to
perceive the difference. The one indicates
no want of humanity, the other exhibits
no evidence of kindness or affection. If
you take the administration of Gen. Grant
in its details or its totality you will not
find measure repulsive to Southern sem
tment that did not meet the warm approval
of Mr.. Greeley. Even the Ku-klux law,
which every man condemned, chal-
lenged the admiration of Mr.. Greeley
to such an extent that he declared
that on every proper occasion he had
advocated and justified the ku-llux act"
81 hold it," he said, especially desirable
for the South; and if it does not prove
strong enough to effect its purpose | hope
it will be made stronger and stronger"
| have sought in vain to find one senti-
ment ever uttered or published by Mr..
Greeley in which he manifested even COM
mon humanity toward the people of the
South. His friends say that he went ON
Mr.. Davis bond, and magnify this single
virtue to such an extent as to claim for
him merit that entities him to be made
the Chief Magistrate of this great nation.
But give him the benefit of all they claim, Z
how poorly does it contrast with the no.
BILE conduct of General Grant in stand
ing by and defending that greatest of pat
riots, General Robert E. Lee. In the APP
pendx, page 553, of the life of General
Lee, by j. E. Cooke, the Hon. Reverdy
johnson, in tribute to General Lee, upon
the occasion of his death, scenarios, "When
heard he was about to be prosecuted in a
Virginia court for the alleged crime of trea-
SOB, | wrote to him at once, and with all
my heart, that if he believed could be of
any service to him professionally, | was at
his command" ] received charactcris-
tic reply in terms of friendship and
grateful thanks. lie wrote that he
did not think the prosecution would
take splace. Hearing, however, sometime
|safter that the prosecution would commence
at Richmond, | went at once to that city
aad saw his legal adviser, Hon. William
II. Mcfarland, one of the ablest men of
the bar Of Virginia. Mr.. Mcfarland
showed me copy of a letter from General
Lee to General Grant. nclosing an APP
plication for a pardon which he
desired General Grant to present to
| the President, but telling him not
to present it if any steps had been taken
for his prosecution, as he was willing to
stand the test. General Grant at once re-
piled, and he showed his reply to me. lie
wrote that he had seen the President, and
protested against any steps being taken
against General Lee, and informed him that
he considered his honor and the honor Of
the nation pledged to him. The President
became satisfied, and no proceedings were
ever taken. General Grant transmitted to
the President the application of General
Lee for pardon, endorsed with his most
earnest approval. No pardon was granted"
am now contrasting the hearts Of the
two candidates-in their political opinions
| there is no dilierence--in that period Of
time which embraces General Grants adj
ministration.
One other scrap from the records and
am done for the present. When General
| Lee reached the point where continuance
of the struggle was madness, he received
the following letter from General Grant
Here follows the official correspondence
between General Grant and General Lee at
the time of the surrender of the Army of
Northern Virginia, which we have already
twice or three times published.l