The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-07-14
The President and the Virginia Dele
cation.

| 6"Aohs
WASHINGTON, July 9.--President John.
son was visited on yesterday by Messrs.
James A. Jones, R. A. Lancaster, VIM.
II. Hsyall and J. l.. Afferson, representa-.
tives Of the merchants and others Of Vir.
ginia, who wished him to amend the am
nesty proclamation by striking out the
18th exception--lhe 5000 clause
They represented that this feature inter-
fered with the development of industry
by binding capital and thus oppressed
the poor, and that when they eDdeavored
to borrow money in the Northetn or Mid
die States, they were at once met by the
objection that perhaps they had over $50,
900, and il they had, accommodation could
not be extended. So they were unable
to give work 10 poor men who called up
on them.
The President reminded them that the
amnesty proclamation did not cause this
distrust. l; was the commission Of trea.
son and the violation of law that did it,
The amnesty proclaim alton left these men
just where they we're before. 1t did not
add any disability TO them. If they had
committed treason they were amenable
to the confscaton law which Congress
had passed, and which he as President
could not alter nor amend. In the am
nesty proclamation he had offered par
don TO some persons. Would tLey like
10 have The amnesty proclamation re-
moved altogether? Would they feel any
easier in that case?
One OF The defendants: No. but it
would assist us much If you would extend
the benefits Of procuring two persons
worth over 10000.
The President replied that in making
that exception he had acted on the natu.
raj supposition that the men had aided
rebellion according 10 the extent Of their
pecupiary means. Did they not know
this?
One Of the defendants: No, l did not
know it..
President-Why yes. you do know
perfectly well it was the wealthy men OF
the South who dragged the people into
secession. lived in the South and
know how the thing was done. Your
State was overwhelmingly opposed TO se-
cessioD, but your rich men used the press,
bullies and your little army forced the
State into secession. Take $2O, ,OOO;--
Suppose man is worth more tnau tha.
now the wal is over, and .ue chances are
ten 10 one that be made it out OF re bellon
by contracts, &c. We might as well
talk plainly about this matter. / don't
think you are SO very anxious about the
poor. Ifyou are SO very eager to help
the poor why don't you take surplus over
S2O 900 you own, and give it to them.
ln that way you will help them. and
bring yourselves within the benefits of
the proclamation. | am free to say to
you that some Of you ought to be taxed
on all over $4,000 to help the poor
When l was military Governor of Tenn.
assessed such tax on those who had
been wealthy leaders in the rebelien and
It had good effect. ...r .
One OF the deputation-It so happens
that none Of us were leaders; we staid
out as long as we could and were last to
60 in.
President-Frequently,t those who went
ln last were among the worst aft|r they
got in. But be that as it may, under
stand me, gentlemen, 1 do not say this
personally, am just speaking OF the gen
eral working of The matter. know there
has been an effort among some to per-
suade the people that the amnesty proc.
lamasion was ipjuring them by shutting
up capital and Keeping work from the
poor. 1t does nothing. If that is done
al all it is done in consequence of the vio-
lallon OF the laws and the commission Of
treason.
The President concluded by saying
that he would look at the papers they
presented, but so far he had seen NO rea-
son for removing the exception.