Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-06-06
a Leaf Of Unwritten History-A Most Re
markable Incident and interview.

During the Investigation, in Judge
Hughes's Court, last week, of the suit
brought by the United States against ex-
Gov. Smith, Gov. Thomas, in the course
of his testimony, after answering some
questions bearing upon the exact date of
some minor facts in the series Of transac-
tions, said, with some degree of hesitation
that he was not quite certain of it's legality
as evidence, but if desired he could relate
a most remarkable incident and interview
which had an important bearing upon the
question just before under discussion; viz:
for how long time after the evacuation
might Gov. Smith be properly considered
as exercising the powers of Governor of
the de facto government OF Virginia. After
some little conversation between the op-
posing counsel and the Court, the witness
was requested to proceed, which he did
substantially as follow
ION the occasion Of the famous visit of
President Lincoln to Richmond, which
took place after the evacuation, some time
in April, 1865, the citizens held a public
meeting and passed resolutions expressing
CuolI dCCCpUduCC Ii SUOQ VI Uuo ~
suits of the war, and their purpose to re-
turn to their allegiance and the discharge
Of civil duties. The committee appointed
/ to present these resolutions to the Presi-
dent consisted, as [ now remember, OF
Judge Campbell, Gen, Joseph X. Ander-
son, Mr.. GustavuS A. Myers, Mr.. David l.
Burr, myself, and perhaps others.
1--WE called upon the President who re-
ceived us very pleasantly. and in the course
of the general conversation which followed
our formal presentation, [ remarked to
Mr. Lincoln that we st.od greatly in need
OF organized civil government, and hoped
he would send Governor Pierpoint down to
us as soon as possible. | stall never forget
the expression and action of the President,
who at once and with emphasis, replied
i shall do no such thing, sir, Governor
Pierpoint is not the Governor you or
want. The Government that took Viz
glnia out, sir, is the Government that
should bring her back. Governor Smith Is
the head OF that Government and want
that old game cock back here, sir, with
all his Government about him. l shall
constitute you, gentlemen of the commit
tee an embassy for the purpose Of inviting
your Governor and Government back to
the city, and shall order Gen. - (Wetzel
think it was) to give you passes through
the lines with safe conduct for the Cover
nor, members of the Legislature and all
the officials to return here for the work of
restoring Virginia to the Union
''The President did at once prepare and
issue this order, and we actually got our
permits through the lines, but before we
could really start upon our mission, news
came from Washington, whittier the Pres
idential party had returned, that this ac-
tion of Mr.. Lincoln had been reversed by
the Cabinet. This incident. shows clearly
what the head Of the Federal Government
thought of Governor Smiths official char
acter at date certainly later than the
surrender
Governor Thomas did not use the ex-
preston, THAT old game COCK" while on
the stand, but said he remembered the ex-
act expression by which the President
characterized Governor Smith, and after
wards, when pressed by his counsel pri-
vately, gave the expression as above.