Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-10
THE RICHMoND DELEGATION.


Inter vie w with the ePresident-The $40, 900
Clause.
On Saturday a deputation from Richmond
waited ON President johnson with an address,
pettioning the reconsideration of the clause Of
the late Amnesty Proclamation, excepting from
amnesty all whose property exceeds S2J,OO0
They represented that this clause interfered
with the development of industry by binding
up capital, and so oppressed the poor and that
when they endeayorpd to borrow money in the
Northern or Middle States they were met at
once by the objection that perhaps they had
over $4,000 So they were unable to assist the
poor men that called upon them.
The President reminded them that the Am
nesty Proclamation did not cause this distrust
1t was the commission of treason and the vio-
lation Of law that did it. The Amnesty Procla-
NATION left these men just where they We're be-
fore. 1t did not add any disability 10 them; if
they had committed treason they We're amena-
bic to the confiscation law which Con gress had
passed, and which he. as President, could not
alter nor amend. : = a. .'s'
In the Amnesty Proclamation he had offered
jure any other persons Would they like to
have the Amnesty Proclamation removed alto
gether! Would they feel any easier in that
case? .-- .-.,,...sil .-.,.4 ..s III J-
One Of tie Deputation.-No. Butsit would as.
sist us very much if you would extend the
benefits Qt the Proclamation to persons worth
The i President replied that il, making that
exception he had acted on the natural supposi-
ton that men had aided the rebellion according
to the extent Of their, pecuniary means. Did
they not know this 80. .a,. .E,strjiq
one of the Degradation mo, he didn't know it,
The Presideat-Why, yes You do you know
perfectly we'll it was the wealthy men of the
South who dragooned the people into secession.
lived in the South, and know how the thing
was done. Your State was overwhelmingly
opposed to secession, but your rich men used
the press and bullies and your little army to
force the State into secession. Take the $4,000
clause! Suppose man is worth more than
that now the war is over, and the chances are
ten to one that he made it out Of the rebellion
by contracts, &c. We might as we'll talk
plainly-ah this matter don't think that
you are very anxious about relieving the poor
You want this clause removed so as to enable
very eager TO help the poor why don't you
take the surplus over the 500 200 you own, and
give il TO them! In that way you'll help them,
and bring yourselves within the benefits of the
Proclamation. am free to say to you that
think some ofyou ought to be taxed on All over
$2O,OOG to help the poor When was Military
Governor of Tennessee T assessed such taxes
on those who had been wealthy leaders of the
none oY Us " were readers. We staid o,it as long
as we Gould, and were the last to 60 in. 2. z r
TIE President-F'requently those who went
But be that as it may Understand me, gentle !
men, do not say this personally. am just
speaking of the general working OF the matter,
Iknow there has been among some an EFFORT to
| nation was injnring them, by shutting MP cApi
ifal and Keeping work from the poor. It does
NO such thing II that il done at all, it is done
| in consequence Of the violation OF faw and the
4 The President concluded by saying that ne
would look at the papers they presenteds mn aaI
SO far he had seen no reason for removing tne
| 18th exception. Y So fr 4 &