Event Education - Special Presidential Pardons of Tennesseans

Special Presidential Pardons of Tennesseans

by James Douthat

When the Civil War ended, many in the North wanted to exact punishment on the South.  However, Abraham Lincoln’s plan was to restore the south to brotherhood with the north.  His death came so sudden that he did not get to enact amnesty fully.  There were exclusions forced on the south that prevent many of the leaders of the south to obtain pardon for their actions during the war.  There was a General Amnesty given for the average soldier in the trenches, but many of the officers could not be pardoned.  For example, Civil or Diplomatic agents who were official of the Confederacy or judicial post converted to the South.  Included were members of the U. S. Congress who left to aid the rebellion.  In all there were thirteen exclusions that kept a person from getting a pardon.  In this we will look into the records of those who received Special Presidential Pardons, and what they had to do to acquire this pardon.

Jim Douthat is a retired Methodist minister, founder of Mountain Press Publishing Company, and an awarded historian.  Mountain Press was formed in 1983 by James L. Douthat for the purpose of presenting primary research material for the historian and genealogist. Mountain Press has over 2,000 volumes of genealogy materials such as census, marriage, birth, death, and will records. 

Access will be through GoToWebinar. Instructions and Connectivity Link will be forwarded via email to all registrants upon registration, six days prior and again 1 hour prior to the event. Making the connection is quick and easy only requiring a computer and Internet connectivity from wherever you chose to watch the event. Your questions help drive the meetings, and we will be there to help each other.