The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-27
Tho Amnesty PrOolamatiOn-The Pres
ident Talks Plain to virginians,

ident Talks Plain to viTginians.
WASHINGTON, July 9.-Presiden
johnson, was waited on yesterday b.
Messrs. James A. James, Il. A. Ian
caster, VIM. II. Hoxall, and j. L. Ap
person, as representatives of the mer
chants and others of Virginia, whit
wished him to amend the Amnesty
Proclamation, by striking outthe l3tl
Exception the $4,000 clause. They
represented that this feature inteferet
with the development of industry, BY
binding up capital and in this way op
pressed the poor; then when they en-
dcavored to borrow money in th'
Northern or Middle States, they arr
at once met by the objection that per
haps they had over 100000, and j
they had, the accommodation could no
be extended, so they were unable L
give work to the poor men who callec
upon them, &c.
The President reminded them tina
the amnesty proclamation did no
cause this distrust 1t was the com
mission of treason and the violation O.
law that did it. The amnesty procla
nation left these mon just where they
were before. 1t did not add any dis
ability to them. If they had commit
ted treason they were amenable to tht
confiscation law, which Congress had
passed, and which he as President
could not alter nor amend.
In the amnesty proclamation he hat
offered pardon to some persons, but
that did not injuro any other persons
Would they like to have the amnesty
proclamation removed altogether? P
Would they feel any easier in thai
case? ....
One Of the Delegation: No; but il
would assist us very much if you
would extend the benefits of the proc
lamation to persons worth over $2O,'
900. r.,
The President replied that in ma
king that exception, he had acted on
the natural supposition that men aid
ed tho rebellion according to the ex.
tent of their pecuniary means; did
they not know this?
One Of the deputation--No, I did
rot know it,
The President-Why, yes you do
you know perfectly well it was the
wealthy men of the South who drag
ged the people into secession. l lived
in the South, and l know how The
thing was done. Your State was over.
whelmingly opposed to secession, but
your rich men used the press and pull
lies, and your little army to force tie
State into secession. l.
Take the 10000 dollar clause. Sup
pose man is worth more than that.
Now the war is over, and the chances
arc ten to one that he made it out OF
the rebellion by contracts, &c. We
might as well talk plainly about this
matter. | don't think you are SO very
eager 10 help the poor?
Why don't you take tho surplus
over the $4,000 your own and give it
to them2 In that way you will help
them and bring yourselves within tho
benefits Of the proclamation. 1 am
free to say to you that l think some of
you oughtto be taxed on all over S2O,-
to help the poor. When l was militia
ry governor of Tennessee, assessed
such taxes on those who had been
wealthy leaders of the rebellion, and
it had good effect.
One of tho Deputation: 1t so hap.
pens that none Of us were leaders
We staid out as long as wo could, and
were tho last to give in.
The President: Frequently those
who went in last were among the
worst after they got in.
But be that as it may, unders tand
me, gentlemen, / do not say personal.
ly, | am just speaking Of the general
working Of the matter. I know there
has been an effort among some to per-
suade tho people that the amnesty
proclamation was injuring them by
shutting up capital and keeping work
from tho poor. 1t does no such
thing.
Ifthat is done at all it is done in
consequence Of the violation oflaw and
tho commission Of treason.
The President concluded by saying
that he would look at the papers they
presented, but so tar as he had seen no
reason for removing the third excep-
ton.