The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-06-01

III
The witness did not know who Atzeroth
was, nor his name, but Immediately recog-
nized the man on coming into this court.
New York, May q.
The Commercially Army of the Potomac
correspondent says that there is trouble in
the army. The men thinking II a hardship
to be ordered out for an hours drill every
day when they are so soon to be mustered
out of Service. They complain of the hard
ness of their officers. TTTFsT 4 sd
The ammunition has been taken away
from them to avoid serious trouble.
An outbreak occurred in the 9th Corps.
a regiment of regulars was sent to quell it,
but were so hard pressed by the volunteers
that they were obliged to retreat. Ata
The Commercials Washington special
says the administrative indignation of Jeff.
Davis on being placed on army rations,
was the cause of his being placed in irons.
The conservative delegation from North
| Carolina is now combining its efforts to Sc
curing the observance of the old State laws
in the elections for the formation of tho
new State Government. t.1aG.nru" '"
This view will probably be sustained by
President johnson who doubts the author
| ity ofthe Federal Government to interfere
with the States previous to secession.
The other North Carolina delegation de-
| mand that the right of suffrage be given to
colored tsscn.. ..0..,-. l..h. a=5afEt .."
Shermun's troops are fetcd br our cit-
zens who open their houses freely to enter
tain them. f s,s..1 ...: ....na .r.H
| There is reason to believe that John C..
Breckenridge is one of the party captured
in Florida. 7, s,..v.. .s.. &c.,.
a man in the same party giving his name
as Mccullough is believed to be the man
| WHO prepared the com Sustibles to burn.
Northern cities. .u. . 5.<.,. .'.I'
| .. .f.....-.. ,N" New York, MAY 80 d
4 The Iicrald's special says: The Generals
of the regular army have boon assigned rs
follows:-Halleck takes command of the
Pacific States; Sherman, the military di-
vision Of the Mississippi. comprising Ohio
! Kentucky. Tennessee and probably Louis
lana; Meade, the Atlantic States; Sheridan
the Trans-Mississippi; Thomas, North Car
DINA and perhaps other Southern States.
| General Warren has resigned his COM
mission as Mai or General Of Volunteers.
General Logan has received an oulcrto
transfer the army OF the Tennessee 10 Louis
vile. .f-.j. r. 81. ..... - .-.u 10. 81 .'
The Times special says, Mr.. Stanton is
not going to Berlin. lie intends 20 resign,
! however. s..i. ... ....r".. .... .ant
| 1t will take sixty millions of dollars to
/ pay off the army, and tho money is ready
1t is believed that breckenridge has
reached Texas. ~'ju. ....... .'.. '-sli
| The 'Eribunr's special SAYS the letter of
coincidence from the Empress lEngcliie TO
Mrs. Lincoln, although some time since
received by the French Minister. is de.;,iIi-
ed by him, crinci,ig ill-!rcling on his part.
Frederick Seward is inprovin:. again
/ Governor Pierpont, of Virginia. mot
with all enthusiastic reception on his :trri-
val in Richmond on the 18th. 4 largo civic
and military procession escorted HIM to
the Executive mansion. An address OF
welcome wax delivered, to which the Gov
ernor responded. '#"
i Citizens from various parts Of the State
continue to press forward to take the oath
of allegiance. On the 22d over 100 took the
| oath i'm fredericksburg. l...< .Jt. '.'t
The work Of rcpairing the James river
and Kanawha canal has commenced, Gov
crnment agreeing to furnish, tl,e necessary
machinery. nsrtcrialS and lal,nrcra q"
4 Negroes had returned to the plantations
4 they had deserted and gone to work, and
there are now prospects OF fair crops. .'l@
.'i .'-7 Washington, NAV 20.
Attorney General Speed has given an
elaborate decision in response to the Presi-
dents letter OF tn" DIST Of April last.
He argues that the right and power OF
the President to pardon and to issue any
| proclamation of amnesty, arc proved from
the clauses in the Constitution and the act
Of Congress, which he quotes. The right
and necessary power of extending pardon
and amnesty can never DO rightfully cxcr-
ciscd so as to enable the President to say
to offenders against the law, I now offer
you n ire" pardon for the past or Mt any flu
ture day when Won shall, from lttlletl hopes
or after being foilcd in dangerous and
bloody enterprises, think proper To accept,
l will give vou pardon for the then past.
When men have offended against the law.
! their appeal 10 for mercy. not for Justice.
He proceeds to consider the questions pro-
pounded hy President johnson i'm the proc
lamations dated respectively the 9Th of De-
cember, 1863, and 18th of March, 1864, COM
monty called the Amnesty Proclamation.
No doubt, between these periods, persons
took the oath who could not have done so
had the original proclamation contained
I the exception set forth in the second
What tho rights or those who took the oath
in that intermediate space Of time, and
who could not have taken that of the Goth
of March. 1864, is purely II judicial ques-
ton. The facts in such rasos are accom-
plished, and tn" rights arising out of those
facts have attached and become vested
The Attorney General. after considering
the proper operation and effect of the last
proclama'ionS, comes to the conclusion
that another proclamation should be is
sued. Persons should not De invited TO
take an oath to comply with the terms un-
der which they cannot obtain firm, legal
rights. 1t is especially to those who have
heretofore and would now ask for them.
selves, In good faith, the benefits of mar
don and amnesty, that another proclama-
ton should be substituted, covering the
now parties. Persons who have been con-
stantly engaged in the rebellion, should
know distinctly what they are to do, and
when and how they are to do it. To free
themselves from punishment, in whole or
in part, to such as have been affected mere
ly by these reasonable associations, would
r.