Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First TimeFreese, Jacob R.
History
Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First Time
Freese, Jacob R.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865
The Judge then called upon Mr. Cameron, and told him of the interviews
he had had with the President and with the Attorney-General, relative to
the Alexandria court. The Secretary listened attentively, and, when the
Judge had finished, expressed opinions about the Attorney-General more
forcible than polite. He talked, he said, "just like a d--d old traitor,
and if he is not one, his own tongue belies him!" He strongly suspected,
he said, that "both Bates and Blair were wolves in sheep's clothing, and
this only went to confirm that opinion." He had, he said, "expressed as
much to the President, and would do so again when next he met him." He
had thought himself of resigning, rather than remain in the Cabinet in
company "with such d--d rascals and traitors to their country." For a
full half-hour the Secretary fairly raved with excitement, and when the
Judge was about to leave, told him to hold on, let come what would.
In this connection it may be well to add that within a few weeks after
that interview Mr. Cameron did resign his place in the cabinet, and Mr.
E. M. Stanton was appointed in his stead; but whether Bates's action in
the case of the Alexandria court was one of his reasons for resigning,
we have no means of knowing, though it Is not at all improbable.
Again the Judge called upon the President, and told him what had passed
between Secretary Cameron and himself. The President seemed now more
confounded than ever, and finally told the Judge to let things rest for
a few days until he could think over the matter, and see what was best
to be done.
About a week after this, the aid-de-camp of General McClellan, who had
so often before called upon General Montgomery, called again, and told
him that it was General McClellan's special wish that the provost-court
should have nothing more to do with civil cases, or cases touching the
subject of slavery in any way. That while General McClellan greatly
preferred not to issue a formal order on the subject, yet he would
certainly do so if his wishes could not be carried out in any other way.
He was not willing, the aid said, to have Judge Freese interfere
with the old citizens of Alexandria in any way, though if he chose to
continue the court merely for the punishment of soldiers who got drunk
within the city limits, or otherwise disturbed the peace, he had no
objection. At the same visit, the aid delivered to General Montgomery
an order from General McClellan requiring the court to refund to the
Alexandria hardware merchant the five hundred dollars which he had been
required to pay as a fine, because of the assault, with threat to kill,
upon the Union man--all of which has heretofore been related.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account