Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-07-19
THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.

A dispatch, dated Washington, June 9th,
says: President johnson was waited on yes
terdav by Messrs. James A Jones, II. 4.
Lancaster, w. II. Maxwell and J. L. Ap-
poeson, representatives of merchants and
| others, Of Virginia, who wished him to a
mend the Amnesty Proclamation by striking
out the thirteenth eXception-the twenty
| thousand dollar clause. They represented
| that this feature interfered with the devel-
opment of industry by building up capital,
and in this way oppressed them. That when
they endeavored to borrow money In the
Middle or Northern States they were at once
met by the objection that perhaps they had
over $4,000. and if they had, the accom-
mediation could not be extended so they
were unable TO give work to the poor men
who called upon them.
The President reminded them that the
Amnesty Proclamation did not cause this
distrust 1t was the commission of treason
and the violation of the law that did it. The
Amnesty Proclamation left these men just
where they were before 1t did not add any
disability to them. If they had committed
treason they were amenable to the confsca-
ton law which Congress had passed, and
which he, as President, could not alter nor
amend. In the Amnesty Proclamation he
had offered pardon to some persons, but
they did not injure any other persons.
lamation removed altogether? Would they
feel any easier in that case?
One of the deputation-"No; but it
would assist us very much if you would ex-
tend the benefits Of the proclamation to per-
sons worth over $50, 900.
The President replied that in making THAI
exception he had acted on the natural sup
position that men had aided the rebellion
according TO the extent Of their pecuniary
means Did they not know this?
One of the delegation-''No, L did not
know it. -
The President: ."Why, yes you do. You
know perfectly well it was the wealthy men
o f the South who decoyed the people into
secession. lived in the South, and know
how this thing was done. Your State was
overwhelmingly opposed to secession; but
your rich men used the press and buliles,
and your little army, to force the State into
secession. Take that twenty thousand dol
lar 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, etc. We might
as well talk plainly about this matter. don t
think you are so very anxious about rellcV
ing the poor.
Iou are so very eager to help the poor.
Why don you take the surplus over the
twenty thousand dollars you own and give 1t
to them? Ia that way you will help them
and bring yourselves within the limits Of the
proclamation. | am free to say to you that
I think some of you ought to be taxed on all
over twenty thousand dollars to help the
poor. When | was military Governor of
Tennessee [ assessed such tax, and on those
who had been wealthy leaders Of the rebellion,
and it had a good effect.
One of the deputation-'It SO happens
that none of us were leaders. We staid out
as long as we could, and were the last to
go in.
The President Frequently those who
went in last were among the worst after they
got in. But be sure that you may under
stand me, gentlemen, [ do not say this per-
sonally. | am just speaking of the general
working of the matter. [ know there has
been an effort among some to persuade the
people the Amnesty Proclamation was injur-
ing them by shutting up capital and keep
ing work from the poor. 1t does no such
thing. If that Is done at all it is done in
consequence of the violation of the law 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 reason for invoking the thirteenth
exception