The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-07-13
Interview between Virginia Merchants and
-. - the President 49,. -

| WASHINGTON, July 9.--President John
son was waited on yesterday by Messrs JAS
A Jones, R. A. Lancaster, WIN. H. Haxall
and j. l.. Appersou, representatives of mer-
chants and others of Virginia, who wished
him to amend the amnesty proclamation by
striking out the 18th exception, the $40,
| 600 clause. They represented that this fea
| tnre interfered with development of indus
try by'biuling up capital, III this way op
| pressed the poor, and when they endeavor
ed to borrow money in the Northern and
Middle States they were at once met by the
objection that perhaps they had 20, 900, and
| if they had the accommodation could not be
extended. So they were unable to give
lwork to the poor men who called upon them.
&c, J. lsa -lt
The President reminded them that the am
nesty proclamation did not cause this distrst
1t was the commission Of treason and the
violation of law that did it, The amnesty
proclamation left them just where they were
before. 1t did not add any disability to
them. If they had committed treason
they were amenable to the confscation law
which Congress had passed, and which he,
as President, could not alter or amend. In
the amnesty proclamation he had offered
pardon to some persons but that did not
iDjure any other persons. Would they like
to have the amnesty proclamation removed
altogether would they feel any easier in
that case /? ~ l54o
One of the deputation "No! But it
W ould assist us very much ifyou would
ex tend the benefits CT the proclamation to
persons worth over $4,000"
The President replied, that In making
that exception he had acted on the natural
supposition that men had aided the REBEL
ion according to the extent of their pecun-
larry means Did they not know this
One of the deputation: "No! did not
know it" Gu 5fai gra2. 5a. E.r |
President Why, yes you do. You
know perfectly we'll it was the wealthy |
men of the South who dragged the people |
into secession have lived in the South and |
know how the thing was DONE Your
State was overwhelmingly opposed to Sc
cession, but your rich men used the press
and DULLES and your little army to force the
State into secession. Take the $40. 900 !
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 ontracts, &c. We might as
well talk plainly about the matter. | don't
think you are so anxious about relievin o
the poor You are very eager to help the
poor. Why then don't you take the sur
plus over $40, 900 of your own and give to
them. and i'll that way you will help them
and bring yourselves within the benefits of
the proclamation. | am free to say to you
that think some of you ought to be taxed
on all over $50, 900 to help the poor. WhenI
was Military Governor of Tennessee II
assessed such tax on those who had been
wealthy leaders of the rebellion, and it had
/ good effect"
One of the deputati6n sit 80 happens
hat none of us were leaders. We staid :
tut as long as we could and were the last ;
o go in" 5
The President: Frequently those who =
vent in last were amoung the worst after
hey got in, but be that as 1t may, under
tand ME gentlemen, don't say this per.
onally, l am just speaking Of the general
Working of the matter. know there has
zen an effort among some, to persuade the
eople that the amnesty proclamation was
ljuriug them by shutting up capital and
eeping work from the poor. 1t does no
UGH thing If that is done at all, it is done p
a consequence of the violation of the law,
nd the commission of treason
The President concluded by saying, that
Q would look at the papers they presented, :,
ut SO far had seen no reason for removing
he 18th exception.