Evening star., 1896-01-11

Dana, then at Richmond. and he saw in it
endless trouble with the Virginia legisla-
was so near. This was before the Presi-
dents return. Coupled with this matter OF
the assembling of the Virginia legislature,
Mr.. Dana had advised the Secretary that
General Weitzel had allowed the clergy OF
the Episcopal Church to omit the prayer for
the President of the United States, at the
suggestion Of Judge Campbell, as matter
of policy. That first Sunday after the fall
OF Richmond all the churches were filled,
the ladies attending in great numbers, and
the sermons were devout and not political.
Mr.. Stanton was hoping for an opportu-
nifty to deal with General Weitzel in the
Virginia legislature matter, which was then
absorbing all his thoughts, and he seized
the occasion of the clergy's indignity to the
President Of the United States. On that
very Sunday night Mr.: Stanton sent tele-
gram to General Weitzel that he was un-
willing to believe that general officer of
the United States army, commanding at
Richmond, would consent that service
should be performed in the Episcopal
churches that day without the usual prayer
said in loyal churches of that denomination
for the President of the United States. and
called upon him for an immediate report of
his action; and also of what took place be-
tween him and Judge Campbell on the sub
ject, and commanded him to hold no further
conference with Judge Campbell on any
subject without authority to be given by the
IIeslueHt OF Dy the secretary OF w ar.
The Secretary meant this to be a revoca-
tion of the Presidents order given to Welt
gel to permit the Virginia legislature to as
semble The Secretary directed that If
campbell had any communication to make,
Weitzel must send them to the War De-
partment for instructions. To this Weitzel
advised the Secretary that he had had
holograph order from the President, by
which he was compelled to hold conference
with Judge Campbell on a certain subject,
but did not tell the subject, and asked if he
must stop such conferences. At the same
time General Weitzel reported his action as
to the clergy.
Mr.. StantOn's Position.
Mr.. Stanton advised him that his expla-
nation as to the clergy was not satisfactory.
ana that he was expected to require from
all religious denominations in that city, in
regard to their rituals and prayers, no less
respect for the President of the United
States than they practiced toward the rebel
chief. Jefferson Davis, before he was driven
from the capital. Mr.. Stanton did not an
swer WeitzePs question If he should dis
regard the Presidents order in relation to
Campbell. His peremptory decree had gone
out: It was the omega of the business.
The President went to Richmond to extend
the olive branch of peace; to tell the people
that he was ready to kill the fatted calf for
them If they would only come home; he
went there with q soul noble and lofty, full
OF goodness and Of Justice. Mr.. Stanton,
brook the contempt the clergy of the church
of his own faith were ready to extend to the
President for policy's sake. He expected
that they would at least be equal to the
President in the Christian qualities which
elevate man. which make him both noble
and great. To him such insult to his chief
was indefensible, and the conduct of his
subordinate, as party to it. reused in the
Secretary a feeling that caused him to re-
buke his subordinate and at the same time
teach the clergy of his church, under whose
ritual he worshiped. that the War Depart
ment expected of them proper respect for
the President of the United States.
The President having returned to Wash
ington, Mr.. Stanton sought the assistance
| they went to the White House early on the
morning of the 18th of April 1865, to confer
with the President about the assembling Of
| the Virginia legislature. Soon after the
President sent the telegram to Weitzel be-
! fore referred to. asking if there was any
| sign of the rebel legislature coming together
| on the understanding of his letter and per-
| nit, and if there was such sign to inform
| him what it was, but if there was none then
| to withdraw the permit
In the afternoon of that day about 5
| o'clock the President came over to the War
| Department, and 1t was while sitting on
| the sofa in the Secretary's room, looking
| south and toward my desk, that Mr.. Stan
| ton told the President why he should not
turn over the determination of such grave
| matters to the Virginia legislature. 1t was
| then that Mr.. Stanton again urged his plea
| that the reorganization Of the seeded
| states should be under federal authority.
Stantou's Appeal to Caesar.
| He told the President that the con.
queror and not the conquered should con-
| troll the state in the matter which was vita
! for all timei that to place such powers In
the Virginia legislature would be giving
away the scepter of the conqueror; that il
would be to transfer the results of the vic
| tory of our arms from the field to the very
| legislatures which four years before SAID
| give us war;" that it would put the gov.
| eminent in the hands of it's enemies; that
it would surely bring trouble with Con.
| Sress; that the people would not sustain
| him; that il would disturb the harmony be-
tween the executive and Congress; that re
| construction would have to deal with the
new condition of things, and among which
| would be change in the basis Of represen
| tation, now that all the blacks Were free
that it would have to deal with the debts
| OF the federal and of the confederate gov
| ernmeuts; that in all this the southern
| legislatures would be in the ascendancy
| ard the political power of the south in
| creased; that the fate of the emancipa tee
millions would be solely under the contro
| of such legiSla lures; that the results of tn,
war would go for nothing if those result:
were to be determined by the enemies o
the government; that it would be better t
have nothing to do with the rebel legisla
II res; hat the Virginia legislature wa.
dead, and could not again assemble a
Richmond without permission of the gov
ernment, and to use such powers to Civ,
life to a dead legislature would bring end
less trouble to the government and to re
construction; that, in fact, it would defea
any reconstruction. because Congress woulC
not sanction any government that would b
established by it; that, being once Assem-
bled, it's deliberations could not be confined
to any specific acts, and that to disperse i
would produce another rebellion; that tn,
Virginia legislature should be ignored evel
in the capacity of it's members as citizens
for any purpose.
In pleading with the President, I can nov
see the Secretary, earnest and full of feel
ing, and the President listening in profoun,
thought, saying not a word The Secreta
rvs manner was not that of attempting t,
rule the President. it was pursuasive; 1
was not his usual manner, it was argu
n entative; it was an appeal to intelligence
and to judgment 1t was an appeal t
Caesar. On this occasion the President ha,
no story to illustrate his position or tha
of his Secretary. 1t was solemn occasion
and upon that interview hung the destin,
of reconstruction, the peace of Richmon'
and orderly government for the southern
| people.
Mr.. Stanton prevailed, and the Presiden
wrote and sent to Gen. Weitzel the follow
| fol ha lact ba