Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-02
The AmnesfY Proclamatl0n.L

The following is the circular letter of the
law department of the administration to
the District Attorneys of the United States,
explaining the provisions Of the Presidents s
late Proclamation Of amnesty:
r..9 sdl llav ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE,
+ 81 eya Washington, Feb. 10, 1864. ]
SIE-Many persons against whom crimi-
nal indictments, or against whose property
proceedings under the confscations laws,
are pending in the Courts of the United
States growing out of the participation OF
such persons in the existing rebellion, have,
in good faith, taken the oath prescribed by
the Proclamation Of the President, OF the
Sth of December, 1853, and have, therefore,
entitled themselves to the full pardon and
restoration Of all rights of property, except
as TO slaves, and where rights of third par
ties have intervened, which that proclama-
ton offers and secures.
The Presidents pardon of a person gull
ty of acts of rebellion will Of course relieve
that person from the penalties incurred by
his crime, and where al indictment is
pending against him therefor, the produc-
ton of the pardon signed by the President,
or of satisfactory evidence that he has COM
piled with the conditions on which the par
don is offered (if he be not of the class ex-
cepted from the benefits of the proclama-
tion,) will be sufficient reason for discon-
tinuing such criminal proceedings, and dis
charging him from custody thereon.
Nor is it less doubtful that bona fde ac
.ceptance of the terms of the Presidents
proclamation, by persons guilty OF acts OF
rebellion. and not of the excepted class, will
secure to such persons restoration OF al
rights of property, except as to slaves, and
where the rights Of third parties shall have
INTERVIEWED, Notwithstanding such property
NAV. by reason of these acts OF rebellion,
have been subject to confscation under the
provisions of the Confscation Acts of 9Th
of August, 1861, chapter 60, and 18th July,
1862. chapter 125 For, without adverting
to any other source of power in the Presi-
dent to restore or protect their rights OF
property, the 18th section of the act of
18th. July, 1862, authorizes the President at
any time thereafter, by proclamation, to ex-
tend to persons who may have participated
in the existing rebellion in any State or
part thereof pardon and amnesty, with
such exceptions, and at such time, and on
such conditions, as he may deem expcdient
for the public welfare It will hardly De
questioned / suppose, that the purpose Of
this section, inserted In law mainly m
tended to reach the property engaged IN
rebellion. was to vest the President with
full power to relieve such persons, on such
conditions as he should prescribe, from the
penalty of loss Of their property by confis-
cation Although the proceedings for con-
f;ssation under the acts of August 6, 1861,
and July II, 1862, are in rem, against the
nroperty seized, yet under both acts, the
eerr,o,rund Of condemnation is the personal
euilt of the owner in aiding the rebellion
By the pardon ara amnesty, not only is
the pdnishraent of that personal guilt re-
mittod, but the offsnse itself IS effaced, that
being the special effect Of an act Of amnes-
fy by the Government. Ofcourse it arrests
and puts an end to al penal proceedings
founded thereon, whether they torch the
persons or the property Of the offender. J.
+ There is, therefore, no cause Of judicial
proceedings to enforce the penalties Of acts
Of rebellion, which can not be reached and
cured bv the constitutional or statutory
power Of the President to grant pardon
and amnesty, whether the proceedings BE-
against the persun of the offender By Uirn-