The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-24
GRANT AND HIS PAROLs.
How He Compelled President johnson to
Observe Them as Given.


Observe Them Given.
Letter from ex-Attorney general Speed to Senator
Maxey, of Texas.
was at that time, as you know. in the Cabi
net of President Johnson and in my capacity
as Attorney general a case came before me very
soon after the surrender at Appomattox which
l will relate. General Bradley Johnson of the
confederate army, was at that surrender and
received there military parol. With that in
his possession he WAS arrested and imprisoned
at Baltimore, he being under an Indictment for
treason. He addressed a letter to General Grant
from prison, inclosing his parol. Upon receipt
of it General Grant at once wrote to the Presi-
dent most positive and emphatic letter COM
handing the discharge and release of General
johnson. The letter, while respectful was most
determined. 1t took the ground, afterward fully
established, that the military parols were not to
be violated by civil arrests
President johnson, however, was not disposed
to acquiesce. He laid the matter before me for
opinion. l saw the difficulty presented by
the legal aspect of the case, and proposed that I
would avoid 1t, if possible, by consultation with
General Grant l found General Grant in his
Office, and spoke of the legal difficulties, and
suggested that he withdraw the letter he had ad
dressed to the President, and ask that pardon
be issued to General johnson, which would solve
the difficulty. This he positively refused to do
if it in any way yielded the position taken by
him that his parols were to be respected. He
expressed his unaltered determination that
they should not be violated. Said he
'"Fhat is the way General Lee and under
stood it at the time and will be drawn and
quartered before they shall be violated" He
added he would take the same stand in every
case that might arise. He agreed to write the
letter proposed asking the pardon. I said
would send for it. He said: mo, will write
it now" Turning to the table he wrote the let
ter in his own hand in a very few moments 1t
was a model in its clear statements. 1t ex-
pressed his fixed determination to have his pa
rolls observed; and from that time the law was
settled that they were to be respected. had
the pardon prepared at once and signed by the
President, and General Johnson was discharged
Thus the Southern people, through their mill
tary leaders in the late war; have cause to enter
tain the kindly feeling for General Grant which
you so admirably express in your speech in the
Senate And not only in the particular have
mentioned, but in many others also. The other
portions of our now united country can never
fail to remember him as the strong arm of it's
power in the great struggle General Grant left
the army at the call of his country. His two
administrations were in the times of excitement
and distraction incident to the vast descriptions
of war. He should have been restored to the
army years ago. He certainly should be Row.
In my Judgment military men who perform
great and notable service should be suitably re-
wardedand honored sincerely trust the House
will promptly pass the bill, and that it will be-
come a law 1t seems to me but justice, and, ]
may add, tardy justice