Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-06-16

In our last issue we published the
proclamation of President Johnson.
granting amnesty and pardon to all
persons in the rebel States, save cer-
tain excepted classes. 20 these he
proposes that executive clemency will
be literally extended upon special ap-5
plIcation. among The classes except
ed are prisoners now under bonds to
u. S. authorities or held as prisoners
Of war. We have been frequently
asked whether these parties who are
now confined as prisoners Of war are
to be deprived Of the benefits of the
amnesty proclamation. We have uni
velsally given it as our opinion that
the U. S. Government would not re-
lease all the prisoners held by them
under general amnesty, as there are
cases in which charges are preferred Or
will be preferred, but that we could
not see that the clause excepting pris-
oners of war would debar them from
the amnesty offtre !. n | that an order
would be issued for the release Of all,
except those against whom charges
were. preferred, and who were not 9TH
erwise excluded from the amnesty
We are gratifed to state this week
that an order has been issued by the
War Department., for the release Of all
under the rank Of Major, not other
wise refused amnesty, upon their TAX
ing the Oath Of Allegiance. This will
place them on the same footing as
those who are not prisoners and after
their release they can take the Amnes
ty Oath.
We doubt not that in short time,
as soon as the release Of those men
toned has taken place, which perhaps
will reach ne-tenths of all prisoners
tnow held, an order. will be issued re-
leasing all beneath the rank Of Briga-
dier General, not otherwise excepted,
in the same way. Brigadier Generals
and higher officers who are excepted
will, as the other excepted classes,
have to make special application for
executive clemency in their cases.
I'VE make this statement for the pur-
pose of giving information to our read
ers, many of whom have spoken to us
on the subject, and in order that they
may correctly understand the matter,
we append the order from the War
Department and invite a.comparison
of it with the clause spoken of in the
proclamation.
y WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT. GENERAL OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, Jnne 6,-1S65.
The prisoners Of war at the several depots
10 the North will be discharged under the
following regulations and restrictions:
/ First. All enlisted men of the rebel army
and petty officers and seamen of the rebe
navy will be discharged upon taking the
oath of allegiance.
Second. Officers Of the rebel army not
! above the grade of captain, and Of the reb
ell navy not above the grade Of lieutenant
EXCEPT such as have graduated at the Uni
/ tC4 OIdtCo INITIAL w .AN0fat ACau0bys ddN
such as held commission in either the
United States Army or Navy at the begin
ing Of the rebellion, may be discharged up
on taking the oath of allegiance.
Third When the discharges hereby or
dcred are completed, regulations will be is
sued in respect to the discharge of officers
having higher rank than captains in the ar
lay or lieutenants in the navy.
Fourth The several commanders Of pris
on stations will discharge each day as many
of the prisoners hereby authorized to be dis
charged as proper rolls can be prepared for
beginning with those who have, been longest
4 in prison and from the most remote parts O.
the country, and certified rolls will be for.
warded daily to the Commissary- G eneral o.
Prisoners Of those discharged. The oath
of allegiance only will be administered. =
But notice will be given that all who desire
will be permitted to take the oath of nmnes-
ty after their release in accordance with the
regulations Of the Department of State re.
specting the amnesty.
Fifth. The Quartermaster's Department
will furnish transportation to all released
| prisoners to the nearest accessible point to
their homes by rail OF by steam boat
by order Of the President of the United
! States.
+ L. D. TOWNSEND, Asst Adj't Gen'l