Sept: 5th 1907 Dear Sam: The schoolmistress is all wrong: In June 1865 (see War records) Gen. Lee applied for pardon - Grant endorsed - Andy Johnson refused it. [struck: Either]. On Dec: 25th 1868 Johnson issued a proclamation of universal Amnesty & pardon, a Christmas gift. - Grant had just been Elected & he wanted to deprive Grant of that pleasure. Mr. Davis trial began that month but the proclamation of Pardon ended it [See U.S. Statutes at Large & Chases Circuit Court Decisions reported by Bradly Johnson.) Soon after Grant came in he recommended Congress to pass one [inserted: act] relieving every body of the disability of the 14th Amendment - a different thing from a pardon for treason. When I came out for Grant in 1872 I told him that if he wd. get Congress to pass one act relieving our leading public men of political disability - not from voting only from holding office - I thought we could carry Virginia for him. He said he wd. try - In a few days Ben Butler introduced [inserted: & passed] a bill that relieved nearly every body - including Gen. Hunton - [struck: He] Hunton immediately announced himself a candidate for Congress & was elected. I could have had no selfish motive in this as I was never under the disability of the 14th Amendment. I did incur the disability under the [inserted: Va.] anti dueling Con[vention] either to vote or to hold office. In 1877 Wm. F. Gordon of Louisa (uncle of Armistead) introduced a bill to relieve Jim Barbour of the disability of the anti-duelling Con - Matherds of London proposed an amendment to include me. Gov. Smith ("Extra") was a member of the House - He made a bitter [inserted: speech] against including me. the bill passed. In 1875 [2] the Democrats elected Andy Johnson Senator. Judge Caldwell had a glowing eulogy of him in the Index. I wrote a letter to the Index wh. Moore Blackwell signed, inquiring if that was the same Johnson who made a speech [struck: at] to a crowd at the front door of the White House saying that treason must be made odious by hanging traitors - & who offered a reward of $100,000 for Jefferson Davis under the [inserted: charge] of procuring the assassination [sic] of Lincoln. Mr. Gordon can show you in the Statutes at Large (1868) the Amnesty Proclamation & Grant's message on Amnesty in the President's Messages: - I sent my MS - Stuart's Cavalry in the Gettysburg Campaign - to the Macmillan Co. last week. Have not heard from them. - There was more vindictiveness shown to me by the Virginia people for [inserted: my] voting for Grant than the North showed to me for fighting four years against him. I was in Warrenton last week - talked with Judge Keith - he is now in Staunton. I wish you wd ask him the reason why I was not [struck: selected] [inserted: invited] to deliver the address at the unveiling of Stuart's Statue. I am the only Virginian who followed Stuart who named a child after him, & I am the only Virginian who [struck: has] [inserted: ever] published a word in defense of him. The man selected was one of Stuart's couriers. Then write me what Kieth says. Yours Truly Jno: S. Mosby [inserted at the top of first page, probably after finishing the letter] I have no objection to your letting Hugh & Mr. Gordon read this. Referring to George Christians Eulogy of Slavery because it was a patriarchal Institution I reminded you that Polygamy & Circumcision were patriarchal institutions. I I [sic] forgot to say that Eunuchs were also a patriarchal institution. Ask Hugh if I am not right. Notes: Written on Justice Department Stationery.