The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20


ton. On the 18th of December. at the conclusion
of his tour, Grant reported to the President that
the mass of thinking men of the South accepted
the situation in good faith" and while he recon-
mended that strong military force should still be
retained there he declared his belief that the cti
zens of that region are anxious to return to self
government within the Union as soon as possible
This is the document that Mr.. Sumner de-
nounced in the Senate as a embarrassing re-
port. The statesman did not concur with the
conqueror in believing the South subdued. Be-
| fore long Sumner was in favor of renting re-
strictions which Grant wished to retain. For
General Grant believed that the feeling of the
South, after this epoch, underwent change, and
in consequence his judgment changed as to the
tref ,ment the South should receive. But his
pressed in letter he wrote to Mrs Grant than
in any formal document
On the Oath Of April, 1864. General Grant ar
rived at Sherman's headquarters in North Caro-
lima, having been sent from Washington by the
government to annul the convention between
Sherman and Johnston. He at once directed
Sherman to discontinue all civil negotiations and
demand the surrender of Johnston on the same
terms that had been allowed to Lee. While he
waited for Johnston's reply, Grant wrote the
following letter to his wife. which Mrs Grant
gave me a relic twenty years ago:
HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE)
MISSISSIPPI IN THE FLED,
RALEIGH, April 25, 1865. }
"Dear Julia-We arrived here yesterday and
as expected to return to-day, did not intend to
write until returned. Now however, matters
aueh q I'm hat IN
will finish up matters by tomorrow night, and
shall wait to see the result.
Raleigh is very beautiful place. The
grounds are large and filled with the most beau
tful spreading oaks l ever saw Nothing has
been destroyed. and the people are anxious to see
peace restored so that further devastation
need not take place in the country The suffer
ing that must exist in the South the next year.
even with the war ending now, will be beyond
conception. People who talk of further retaa
ton and punishment, except of the political
leaders, either do not conceive of the suffering
endured already or they are heartess and un-
feeling, and wish to stay at home out of danger
while the punishment is being inflicted
Love and kisses for you and the children.
'ULYs"
This letter was written only ten days after the
assassination of Lincoln. Grant disapproved of
Sherman's terms as absolutely as Stanton or the
President; he had just revoked all negotiations
military submission of the enemy; but he was
full of pity for the people Of the South and had
only harsh rebuke for the rancor that would in
fict further suffering He turned from war and
its horrors to the spreading oaks of Raleigh for
relief and while waiting the answer to his mex
orable summons sent love and kisses to his wife
and "the children" ADAM BADEAU.
ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS TO GENERAL GRANT.
FORT WARREN BOSTON HARBoR Mass,
10th September, 1865.
Lt.-Gen. q. s. Grant, Washington. D. G.:
Dear Sr-The apology for this letter, as we'll
as its explanation, is to be found in the facts
herein briefly presented | am now in confine-
ment in this place, and have been since the 25th
of May last. Efforts are being made by friends
to have me released on parole, as others arrested
| as I was, have been. You will excuse me for
| saying that think | am as Justly entitled to
| discharge OF parole as many of those to whom 1
allude. No man, think in the Southern States
exerted his powers to greater extent than did
to avert the late lamentable troubles of our
country-no man strove harder or more
earnestly to mitigate the evils and sufferings Of
war while it lasted, and to bring about a peace
| full solution of the difficulties than Idid-no man
is less responsible for the beginning or contnu-
ance of the strife with all its horrors than am
and no man living can more earnestly desire q
| speedy restoration of peace. harmony and pros
| perity throughout the country than do. All
| these things think, l can assert of myself
But Of my views and feelings under a very
different aspect of affairs from what now exists
you are not altogether uniformed. You
| had them very fully expressed at City Point last
| February You reported them very correctly in
| your telegram from that place to the Secretary
of War-upon that telegram the conference at
Hampton Roads was granted. When parted
| with you on my return from that conference I
| assured you as you may recollect, that while
| nothing definite had been accomplished, yet
was in hopes that good would come of it. Such
| was my hope and earnest desire No one could
| have been more disappointed. mortified and
chagrined at the result of his labors in any
undertaking than l was at the result of
| mine in that instance. I refer to this
interview between Us not only because of its
pleasant "reminiscences of a personal character
| but as proof within your own knowledge Of some
things stated above in regard to my views and
feelings at that time. The object of this letter,
therefore, is simply to ask you, If entirely COM
| patible with your own inclination, to lend the
| great weight of your name and influence with
| the President, the Secretary of War and the
| Secretary of State, for my release on parole. l
| have applied to the President for pardon and
amnesty, but if he, for any reason, feels dis
| posed to postpone the decision of that matter,
| am perfectly content What / desire mainly
is a release from imprisonment on parole as
others, or on bail if it should be required In no
| event would l attempt to avoid prosecution or
| trial if it should be thought proper for any cCl-
sideratlons TO ADOPT sucn course toward me. L
wish release from Imprisonment on account of
both my health and private affairs. 1 might add
| that think could render some service In re-
storing harmony to the country; that, however,
| leave for Others to consider. My case and re-
| quest are briefly submitted to you. Act in the
| premises as your sense of duty may direct
| Yours most respectfully,
ALEXANDER H. STEpHENs
An Old Mans Reverie.
d Time, turn back page!