Jackson-Forsyth County GaArchives History .....Confederate Amnesty Papers, Hiram P. Bell August 16, 1865 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cheryl Chasin yelton@cox.net March 2, 2011, 5:19 pm To his Excellency Andrew Johnson President of the U.S. Sir: I have the honor herewith, humbly to submit to your Excellency my special application for Amnesty and Pardon from the pains and penalties imposed by the laws of the U. S. upon those who have aided the South in the late calamitous war between the U.S. and certain Southern states under the name of “The Confederate States of America.” I am excluded from the benefits of Pardon and Amnesty, offered in you Excellency’s Proclamation of May 29th 1865 by reason of having been a member of the Second Congress of the Confederate States. I was a member of the Convention of the State of Georgia that Seceded from the Union. This movement I approved with my vote and voice. After the state seceded, and adopted an ordinance declaring it Treason against the State of Georgia to adhere to the U. S. the government of the U.S. and that of the State of Georgia each claimed my allegiance. This claim of allegiance was diametrically antagonistic. Fealty to both Governments was impossible. In common with the great mass of my fellow-citizens of the State of Georgia I adhered to her fortunes. Circumstanced as I was it seemed to me to be impossible to pursue a different course. No citizen of the U.S. deplored more deeply than I did the madness and folly of Secession. None to the extent of his ability labored more earnestly to prevent it, but when the fatal step was taken and War was inaugurated, the impetus of passion and revolution swept over the State like a tempest bearing down everything before it. After the passage of the Conscript Law, legal, moral and physical forces combined to identify almost everyone in Georgia with the fortunes of the Confederacy. I served ten months with the rank of Lt. Col. in the Confederate Army. Being severely wounded and disabled for life I resigned. I was elected to the Senate of Georgia in 1861 and after serving one Session of the term I resigned. I declined a candidacy for the first Congress of the Confederate States, where I doubt not I could have succeeded by a large majority. I was elected in the fall of 1863 without canvassing & while I was confined to my bed to represent the 9th Congressional District situated in Northeastern Georgia in the Second Confederate Congress. I was elected by those who were opposed to secession, defeating by a large majority an avowed and original Secessionist and a gentlemen of ability and popularity. As a member I supported the proposition for terminating the war by negotiation. I supported the repeal of the conscription laws, introduced and supported a bill to repeal the Impressment Acts. I opposed the arming of the slaves and the taxation system adopted by the Confederate Government and that line of policy which the Government pursued in refusing to transfer the adjustment of the controversey[sic] from the arena of battle to the forum of reason and diplomacy. Such has been my communion with this revolution. From the moment that the Confederate Armies under Genls. Lee and Johnson surrendered, I have with my pen and speech advised the people whom I represented to yield a cheerful and hearty support to the authorities of the U.S. I have taken in good faith the prescribed oath. (which is hereto attached) and shall endeavor to discharge with fidelity the duties of a loyal citizen of the U.S. Government. It is henceforth, my Government. And for the defence of its honor and its Constitution, and its flag, I am prepared for any Sacrifice it may Constitutionally require. Allow me to state, in conclusion, that the struggle of life with me has been a hard one. I have enjoyed none of the adventitious aids of fortune. My estate will not exceed in value one thousand dollars. I am disabled for life by a wound received during the late War from which I am a continual sufferer. My wife and two children are severely afflicted: if what means I have and the franchises of citizen should be taken from me by the operation of the Confiscation laws of the U.S. it is difficult to conceive how I shall be able to discharge the same obligations resting upon me as a husband and father. Upon these facts and under these circumstances I appeal to your Excellency for clemency and humbly and respectfully ask a full and free Pardon from the pains and penalties now imposed upon me by law. Sure I trust that the exercise of this clemency will be deemed by your Excellency compatible with the dignity and honor of the Gov. of the U.S. All of which is most respectfully submitted. June 20th 1865 Hiram P. Bell Jefferson Jackson Co Geo. Georgia Jackson Personally came before the undersigned ordinary of said county Hiram P. Bell of said county who makes the forgoing application fo Pardon & who being duly sworn by me deposeth and saith that the facts stated in said application for Pardon are true. Sworn and subscribed before me at Jefferson Aug 16th 1865 John Simpkins ordinary Jackson County Ga. --------------------------------- UNITED STATES OF AMERICA I, Hiram P. Bell of the County of Jackson State of Georgia do solemly[sic] swear or affirm in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder and that I will in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves. – SO HELP ME GOD. (signed) H. P. Bell Subcribed[sic] and sworn to before me, at Jefferson this 16th day of August A. D., 1865. (signed) John Simpkins Ordinary of Jackson Countyl The above named has fair complexion dark hair, and blue eyes; is 6 feet high, aged 38 years; by profession a lawyer. --------------------------------------------- I am acquainted with Hiram P. Bell the applicant for Pardon & am satisfied that he will make a loyal and useful citizen of the U.S. and I therefore recommend the granting of his application. 16 Aug 1865 John Simpkins ordinary of Jackson County Ga A statement by James Johnson, the provisional governor of Georgia, is partially obscured by a printed label which states: Head Quarters Department of Georgia Augusta, Ga., Aug 30 1865 Respectfully forwarded to the Attorney General U.S. at Washington City. (signed) James B. Steedman Maj. Gen’l. Commd’g. Dep’t. Ga. The visible portion of the governor’s statement reads: that he is a friend of the national cause that moral constraint alone operated upon him to participate in the rebellion that he is the advocate of the policy of the administration & that he will make a good & loyal citizen I respectfully solicit pardon for him. (signed) J. Johnson Div. Gov. of Ga File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/jackson/history/other/confeder344ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb