The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-11
The twenty Thousand Dollar E1ceP-

0aEL6sb OF MS ethbesmhuhAlP eAoA eAo
ton in the amnesty proclamation Of q
clause excluding from its benefits all rebels
worth more than twenty thousand dollars.
Nothing of the kind hsving been attempt
ed by President Lincoln, or made promi-
nent in the various schemes Of ~reconstrue-
ton advocated by the press or attempted
by Legislators, it took the country some
what by surprise, but thoughtful men
every where soon perceived its necessity
and wisdom. In it, more than in any other
one thing, is developed the kernel Of the
Presidents reconstruction policy.
The exception is justihable and proper,
regarded in either of two lighs-as pun
ishment or as q preventive. Viewing it
in the former aspect, 1t is especially fitting
that the wealthy men of TIE South should
b. reserved for peculiar punishment for
their rebellion, The recent ins1rrection
in ha origin, one of the rich men.
Society in the South has been maue up VI
three classes. The ruling and dominant
one has been the Shareholders, only some
three hundred and fifty thousand in num-
Der, but, on account Of the influence which
slavery gave them, owning nearly all the
wealth and monopolizing the political and
social power of the section and nation.
TIE second class are the slaves four mil
lions in number, owned, body and soul, by
the oligarchy ofslsve masters. Last come
the poor whites, numbering five millions, a
despised and degraded class, looked down
on even by the slaves, and almost as COM
pletely in the power of the aristocrscy as
the blacks themselves. The recent rebel
lion has been a shareholders re-
bellion, fought foF the perpetua-
ton of q slsveholding aristOcra-
cy, and for the continued en-
slavement, not only of the blacks, but of
the poor whites. President johnson has
referred to this tact frequently and with
much feeling, declaring that not only fOus
millions of negroes, but five millions of
whites had been emsnciPated by the fail.
ure of the rebellion. The war has there
fore been waged in the interest of a veal
thy aristocracy and for the subversion of
popular rights. It was a war against the
people as we'll as against the Union. The
rich men have always BEEN the leaders IN
the struggle. The poor, being under their
complete control, have been duped or
dragged into it. And now the universal
testimony of those who have observed
matters in the South is TO the effect that
the rich are still bitterly hostile to the
Union, and that the only true loyalty or
wen passive submission to Federal author
ity,is found among the poorer classes. This
hes been 8 rich mans rebellion wsged by
rich men, for the interests of rich men. 1t
i, needful and fitting that the rich men
should be reserved for special punishment.
6 But the clause in question is even more
necessary IS a preventive that as 5 punt
tive measure. The state Of society in the
South which we have briefly sketched, was
one hostile to freedom and to Republican
Institutions. It gave to q few slsve-mAsters
the ownership of half the population ofthe
country, and, by reason of wealth, influence
and social position, complete political con-
troll and mastership over the other hall
It was an aristocrscy-than which noform
ofsociety can be more hostile to freedom.
Rebellion was but its legitimate develope-
ment, and the suppression of the rebellion
has only removed its manifestation, and
left it, still vigorous, to bud out into fresh
Its existence cannot longer be
tolerated. Either it or the Republic must
go down.
The emancipation of the slaves has, TO
be sure, greatly weakened the Southern ar
But it still owns the lands, or
most of them, it still possesses the culture,
the habit of power, the use of governing,
it still holds the offices aud runs the civil
government. 1t is making a determined
Effort to reduce the freedmen TO a state of
serf.dom, little better than their former
slavery; TO crush down the poor whites as
before; and to maintain its vantage
ground as lord of the d~estinies of the South.
Justice To the freedmen, the welfare OF
he Door whites, the life of the nation, de-
mand that this shall not be permitted,
and that this reasonable aristoc-
rscy shall be extermfhsied. President
] Johnson, himself apoor white by birth and
bringing up, recognizes the danger and his
duty. The twenty thousand dollar excep-
lion wss designed to do the work of Sbol-
ishing the oligarchy which has ruled the
South, and of reconstructlng Southern so-
,iety on q republican basis. 1t will, if
.oersevered in, be successful. It will leave
liable to c~onfscation the lands ofall wealthy
.ebels. It will throw these lsndS 'Pen to
he occupation and use of enc poor blacks
md whites. It Win thus at once destroy
D,vor of the Southern Oligarchy, and
means for the support and eleva-
ion of the emancipsted whites and blacks
{ the South.
Much pressure has been brought to bear
pom President johnson to rescind the
lause, on the ground that it is p~aralyzing
usiness throughout the South, by destroy ,
70 confidence and credit. We hope and
ave good reason to believe that the Presi- :
emit will stand firm against these clamors. {
Is he we'll remarks, the in-effects about
Thich so much noise is made are the re- :
hts of treason, and not of the amnesty {
reclamation. The President has done {
whatever to iDjure the wealthy !
of te South. They have brought
leir misfortunes upon their own heads {
Leantime it should be borne in mind that '
great social revolution ever takes place {
ithout some confusion and trouble, and :
lie safety of the Republic and justice to /
le poor require the abolition of oligsr- c
HES, even though some temporary incCu-
snience and suffering result.
We hope the President will adhere T,
rmly to the wise and necessary provision !
TO. If he does this, and if he :
the ballot to the freedmen, he will !,
q just title 70 be called the first states '
an Of fha ara 4