New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-20
GRANT IN PEACE.
BY GENERAL ADAM BADEAu'
Copyright. 1886.


The ,olicv initiated at Appom1ttox was steadily
,,aiptaosd by Grant. He became no more vlndic-
tive after the murder OF Lincoln, did he shrink
from, the application of his principles because
,nev were carried further by sherman than he
tbou rht advisable The new President was anxious
Ia treat TRAITORS" harshly he dlsllked the paroles
that Grant had acco' dei to Lee and his sol Hers.
and steps taken with his approval 10
procure the indictment Of Lee for treason. Cen
ersl Lee at once appealed to General Grant. His
first communication was verbal and m'he through
NJ. Reverdy johnson. wac acted a. the 'egsl al
wiser OF Lee ; he cam to me to learn Grants
feelings. | ascertained that Grant was hrn Id
his determination TO stand by his own terms,
and so informed ar. johnson Grant. however
thought that Lee should GO through the form
Of applying for pard u. In order to lndlcite MS
complete SUBMISSION. Lee. though entirely Wiling
10 make the application, was anxious t" be assured
in advance that Grant would formally approve it.
General Ord. then in command III Richmond. made
known TINS feeling of Lee tn Grant. through Gen
eraI Ingalls, and Grant directed me ~ assure Mr.
Reverdv johnson OF his readiness to lndorse Lees
app icatiou favoiably. Accordingly Lee forwarded
two papers of the same date. application FOR
pardon IN the prescribed form. and the other
statement of the proposed Indictment and oil MS
own belief that he was protected against suon
action by his parole. Grant Endorsed both Oh t1ese
documents, the first with an earnest recon- nenua-
t,on that the pardon should be gran led. the second
with distinct dec laratlon that the officers ana
men paroled at Appomattox could not b" tired for
treason so long as they observed the of their
parOes.
He went person about these papers to The Presi-
dent. But Andrew Johnson WAS not satisfied, he
wanted. he SAID. 4" to make treason odlous.'
When can these be tried 7 he asked.
"Never" SAID Gram, unless they violate their
parvles.'
TIE President still insisted aud his Attorney
General wrote an official letter opposing Grants
conteltion. Finally Grant declared he would re-
sigl ms COMMISSION III the army unless the terms
b. lad granted we're confirmed. l rene nb'r well
tie day when this occurred. lie returned from the
Cabinet cham Der TO MS own he idqnarters and de-
scrlbed ne interview. When he reclted his Ian
euagc he added:
And | will keep my I'd. 1 will not stay IN
the army If thav he pied YES that l mide'
hen the resolution OF the President gave way for
be found a viii more stubborn. or a. least more
DO en- W th the people. than his own. AM orders
were ISSUED to discontinue the proceedings against
Lee.
The great antagonists met only once after the
scenes az ADpoml -tox 'ourt Hons. L. was In Nav,
1869. soon after the irst IN lugurI'iol oi Grant
Lee was In WlsAIhg o. abont 50 Ne business con
lie red with raj TO I'd. and though II his duty 10
call Oh he President He receive | IN he Cab
iLe' chaihber With 10 one pra'en5 ~. Il dD,ty.
who mad oee recently appolntel Nllstrr t. Eng
Ia id. General II mt and 1Otey both described
the in rrvley 10 M. ,tey sail noth m were
and l,g iiiei. bu- IL thought there was
: ade OF cousirIu' IN h manner of Lee who wa
in Iced always lncnneI u bs nora tprnt nan the
Mort general The former enemies shook
hands: Grant asked Lee to DC seated and presented
Mo lev Inc ute view was short and all that
Grant couid rem 4 'er va thai "l-1 th'v sp'>e
of on ding rairoai, he said plyfully TO Lee:
You ana !. General. nave had more TO DO with
des .roSIng railroads than buIldI Q chem
But Lee ref sed 70 Smile IT to recOg z' rhe
rai lery He went on gravely with the conversation,
and no other reference was III ide 10 the past. Lee
arose, ana che soldiers parted, NOT to meet
again until their Oh y ,hade- .aiuted eacA other
III that re lou where cOnqucrors and conquered
ahkc lay down their arms.
scores of southern OIL GERS besides Lee applied to
Grant for pro ectlOl and literal n ldreds OF VII
i.ns who wlsAe avail thsmseve' % the amnesty
requested his v'raole IN ioT,ement II was
my duty examine these applications
ali a. the u b. ore him: and sedon indeed was
ore refused. General j. Kirby sIni H. command
wei 81 ths il,5isslpp dbl suTrel lef with Inc
other ar mes ID rebellion IN even e1 his forces
weld d ne del to NJ ,xico. Bat IN month or two
he write to rant ApD.ying o b. P.I;ei IN the
sa ne fo,iny tn hose who hal urreIdered
earlier. Grant tn .TeupOn obtained the assnra CO
OF he President that If onltb would return ana
take tn. prescribed 4. b snO nj De Irea ed eX-
actly as # he mad SURE nderei and beeu paroet.
In September. 1853 Alexander Stephens, the
Vre-P % ,,dent IF the Southern Comic 3cTacv, APP
pea.eu 10 General Grant IL the follows, etler
froa Flrt Warrei in boston Haibor where ne was
imprisoned. asking Tor his release on parole or
llll VIII A. "A
ioKT wAKkLs. Boston HAksoR, MAss..}
l6 h -; l.. lSOJ.
DEAR Apology for this iet''r well a. rs
e1pa1ati TO 1e Lo4na III me facts ns.rn Dremy
have 25tn Of Nay asst En- rts are beng
M ny friend, ~ nave me re- ea.rd on pa er
arn.,tri a. wa. nave Ten You ~I excuse
s4yiLz tAat tnink am as justly EMIT l. s'harSc
Oh plrolr MANI OF those TO WHOM aiiude No man
iiis u.heTn states exefird his powers 10
f1hss Of our country-no man s,rovr harder more
earnestly m.jigate the rviis aud suHrrng- OF war
the han did-uo nan less responsible Tor the
brgnlg coutnuAuoe Of the strife with AL IT. horrors
thai 1 dm-,nd ;bsu living can more earnestly desire
speedy restoration VI peace harmony auu pr seIIi}
TANK eau ass .rt % my self Bnt OF my views and feel
INK, unl- v-rv di-rent aspect ~ affair irO "iat
hae item very uliy Expressed city Point last Febrn
sU Yvulepo-'ei ID" very correctly "a yoar teleHrn
FROM thai place TO The Scr tary oil Nation maj cie
gran The conference at Han.ton Roads was gr'ntei.
When parted you my return from ihaI infer
snce ss,ured you. yoa reco!Icct. that while
notl l-nnite had been acc.mpisnrd' yet wa ~
aud rsrnrt de.ire No Gould have been more disap
pointed mortified aud chSgrlnet al TIE result of his
laDors any undertaking than l was AT tue result
OF that Instance refer to this
fuierv-w between only because OF
Us pleasant "reminiscences OF a personal Character.
but proof within your own knowirdse OF some tDinss
ltate1 above and fcr! al tntt
tine The object this letter. therefore, Il simply I"
ask you II entirely compatible VITA your own IN INA
weight OF cur name ana lnnuence
with n- President. the secretary OF War aud the Secre
t.fy OF for my release on parole. nave applied
for pardon and amnesty, but lie Tor
rea,oi posed POSTPONE the decision or
TIA ter perfectly content What desire mainly
r-ca.r Imprisonment on parole as others. or
iat II IL should I've required. In No event would
attempt avO,d prosecution or trial II II sb"nd DO
tnnnrl. nroner considerations 10 OPT sucn a