Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/184

 176 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the Richmond (Va.) Times, July 18, 1896.]

DIDN'T WANT A PARDON.

A Characteristic Letter of General Jubal A. Early. DISCLA1HED ALLEGIANCE TO UNCLE SAJ1.

Written Just After the War By the Old Confederate Who Never Surrendered Facts Concerning the Bitter Contest.

The following letter was written by General Jubal A. Early, that ever unreconstructed Confederate, just after the close of the war, when he was preparing to leave for the city of Mexico. It contains many interesting facts concerning the war, and is thoroughly characteristic of the departed chieftain. It read as follows:

HAVANA, December 18, To the Editor of the New York News :

Having seen it stated in several papers published in the United States that I am an applicant for pardon, I desire to say, through your columns, that there is no truth whatever in this statement. I have neither made nor authorized such application, and would not accept a pardon from the President of the United States if gratui- tously tendered me without conditions or restrictions of any kind. I have nothing to regret in the course pursued by me during the war, except that my services were not of more avail to the cause for which I fought; and my faith in the justice of that cause is not at all shaken by the result.

I have not given a parole or incurred any obligation to the authori- ties of the United States, and I utterly disclaim all allegiance to, or dependence upon, the government of that country. I am a voluntary exile from my own country, because I am not willing to submit to the foreign yoke imposed upon it. All declarations attributed to me which are inconsistent with the above statements are entirely without foundation, and I hope there will be no further misappre- hension as to my position.

The reports of the campaigns of 1864 and 1865 by Secretary Stanton and Lieutenant-General Grant, recently published, contain many erroneous statements, which do great injustice to the Confede- rate armies. The press in the Southern States is at present effectu-