Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-29
Grant and the South.
WHAT THE HON. JAMES SPEED sA-

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19-The Hon.
James Speed of Kentucky, who was
Attorney General under Presidents
Lincoln aad Johnson, has addressed
| the following letter to Senator Maxey
of Texas, in relation to the stand taken
by General Grant In respect to favors
granted soldiers of the Confederate
army after the surrender OF Gen. Lee
at AppOmatox:
LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 15--To Sen.
Maxey, " ashlngtOn-Dear Sir: Ifeel
constrained to address YOU this letter
expressive of my thanks for your posi-
ton and remarks in the Senate on the
bill to place Gen. Grant on the retired
list.
I was particularly struck with your
! forcible presentation of the fact that
when the Supreme hour came to the
Southern States, and they had to yield
up their most cherished hopes and
abandon their struggle, no man ever
acted with more magnanimity and
generous senslbility than Gen. Grant.
At that time-Immediately following
the death of Mr.. Linclon-Gen. Grant
was the most conspicuous man in the
country His word was more Weighty
| than that of any one, not excepting
! the President. [ have often thought
of the debt OF gratitude the country
owes to General Grant, that he was
just the man he was at that hour,
clear sighted, resolute, and lmbued
with sentiments exactly adapted othe
emergency.
I was at that time as you know, in
the Cabinet of President Johnson,
and in my capacity as Attorney Gen
era1 q case came before me very soon
after the surrender at AppomatOx
which I will relate.
GENERAL BRADLEY JOHNSON
Of the Confederate army, was at the
Surrender, and received there a mill
fary parole. With that in his posses
sion he was arrested and imprisoned
IN Baltimore, being under an ipdict-
ment for treason. He addressed
letter to General Grant from prison,
inclosing his parole. Upon receipt of
it General Grant at once wrote TO the
President most positive al d empha-
tic letter, demanding the discharge
and release of General Johnson. The
letter, While espectfUl, was most de-
termined It took the ground, after
ward fully blished, that the mill.
tarY paroles were not to be violated by
civil arrests.
President Johnson, however, was
not disposed to acquiesce. He laid
the matter before me for an opinion. I
saw the difficulty presented by the
legal aspects Of the case and proposed
to the President that I would avoid 1t
if possible, by consultation with Gen.
| Grant. found Gen. Grant in his Office
and spoke of
THE LEGAL DIFFICULTIES,
and suggested that he withdraw the
letter he had written to the President
and ask that pardon be issued to
General Johnson. This he positively
refused to do if it in any way yielded
! the position taken by him that his
paroles were to be respected. He
expressed his unalterable determina-
ton that they should not be violated.
! Said he:
THAT is the way General Lee and
[ understood it at the time, and I will
be drawn and quartered before they
shall be violated He added he would
take the same stand ia every case that
might arise.
He agreed to write the letter pro
posed, asking the pardon. [ said [
would send for it, He said: No, [
write it now" Turning to his table,
he wrote theletter with his own hand
in very few moments.
IT WAS A MODEL
in it's clear statements. 1t expressed
his fixed determination to have his
paroles observed, and from that time
the law was settled that they were TO
be respected. I had the pardon pre-
pared at opce and signed by the Presi-
dent, and General johnson was dis
charged.
Thus the Southern people, through
their m ilitary leaders in the late war,
have cause to entertain the kindly
feelings for General Grant which you
so admirable expresse d in your speech
IL the Senate. And not only in the
particular I have mentioned, but in
many others also. The other portion
of our now united country can never
fail to remember him as the strong
arm of its power in the great strug-
gle.
General Grant left the army at the
call of his country. His two admin
istrations were in times of excitement
and distraction incident TO the vast
disruptions Of war He should have
been restored to the army years ago.
He certainly should be now. In my
judgment, military 10 IN who perform
great and notable services should be
suitably rewarded and honored. /
sincerely trust the House will prompt
ly pass the bill al that it will become
a law It seems to me but justice,
and, I may add tardy justice. [
should add that President Johnson,
while questioning the legality of the
parole as civil pardon. had no hest
tation in gaming the executive par
don. I am, sir, most respectfully,
JAMES SPEED.