General Discussion

sarisataka

(22,615 posts)

15. Good Question

Reply to DemocratSinceBirth (Original post)

Mon Dec 3, 2012, 07:11 PM

Dec 2012

He was indited but received amnesty from Andrew Johnson

President Andrew Johnson, in a proclamation dated December 25, 1868 (15 Stat. 711), gave an unconditional pardon to those who "directly or indirectly" rebelled against the United States.
... unconditionally, and without reservation, to all and every person who directly or indirectly participated in the late insurrection or rebellion, a full pardon and amnesty for the offense of treason against the United States, or of adhering to their enemies during the late civil war, with restoration of all rights, privileges, and immunities under the Constitution and the laws which have been made in pursuance thereof

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_E._Lee#After_the_war

By the letter of the law, yes he did commit treason. For the best interests of the country and reconciliation, I believe it is best that he was not tried.

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Should Robert E. Lee Have Been Tried For Treason? [View all] DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2012 OP

I am agaist the DP, but under law, he should have hanged obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #1

Wasn't Lee's property confiscated? Arlington National Cemetery sits on property once owned by Lee. n bluestate10 Dec 2012 #5

He only lost some of his property, far from all of it obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #9

He died in 1870, five years after Appomattox, Art_from_Ark Dec 2012 #24

It was actually confiscated during the war for nonpayment of taxes. MadrasT Dec 2012 #11

I believe he still lived on part of it. sweetloukillbot Dec 2012 #19

No. Lee never returned to Arlington. MadrasT Dec 2012 #22

Interesting - yet another historical urban legend. sweetloukillbot Dec 2012 #31

and strung up from the nearest tree dlwickham Dec 2012 #2

Lee, AND all the other leading figures of the Confederacy. kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #3

I voted no. bluestate10 Dec 2012 #4

He was offered generalship of the Union Army obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #10

The hindsight of history makes geniuses out of us all... Bicoastal Dec 2012 #29

No I agree with Lincoln's soft reconstruction Drale Dec 2012 #6

^^^^THIS^^^^ Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2012 #17

That's a point that so many people here miss Art_from_Ark Dec 2012 #25

He surrendered under terms that paroled him. It's like taking a Plea deal in modern day. NutmegYankee Dec 2012 #7

I voted No, John2 Dec 2012 #21

no. there was a nation to heal. cali Dec 2012 #8

He was indicted for it.. SQUEE Dec 2012 #12

No. That would have harmed the nation's rebuilding. Fearless Dec 2012 #13

I added my voice to the "No" votes. I am reminded of the line from coalition_unwilling Dec 2012 #14

Good Question sarisataka Dec 2012 #15

Lincoln knew better. MrSlayer Dec 2012 #16

Mercy. Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2012 #18

Every member of the ruling class within the confederacy should have been tried and convicted. Dawson Leery Dec 2012 #20

Unlike Stonewall Jackson, Lee was a traitor because Lee swore an oath of alliegence to byeya Dec 2012 #23

I voted no. dawg Dec 2012 #26

I didn't vote - ohheckyeah Dec 2012 #27

Wouldn't that mean you hold the whole south for treason? Not very practical if you are trying to still_one Dec 2012 #28

I voted no. The situation was so, so complicated. pangaia Dec 2012 #30

No and anyone that suggests it FARAFIELD Dec 2012 #32

I think 150 years later, it's very hard to judge the sentiment of the 1860's. HereSince1628 Dec 2012 #33

great quote there: "With malice toward none, with charity toward all" Tuesday Afternoon Dec 2012 #34