The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-07-21
Slistelarreors.
The President on the $780, 900 CLAUSE.

A party Of virginians recently visited
President johnson to get him to remove the
exception in his amnesty proclamation OF
rebels worth over 500, 900; and the remarks
of the President We give below. They sound
very much like the terse and vigorous way
Mr.. Lincoln had Of putting things:
"Tho President reminded them that the
amnesty proclamation did not cause this dis
trust. II was the commission oftreason and
the violation of tho 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 amcnable to tho con6sca.
tion law which Congress had passed, and
which he, as President, could not alter or
amend. In tho amnesty proclamation he
had offered pardon to some persons, but that
did not injure any other persons. Would
they like to have the amnesty proclamation
removed altogether? Would they feel any
easier In that case? One Of tho deputation
said no. but It would extend tho benefits Of
the proclamation to persons worth over S2O.-
900. "
The President replied that in making that
exception he had acted on the natural sup
position that men had aided tho rebellion to
the extent Of their pccuniary means did not
know this. One ol the deputation said "No,
did not know it," The President said.
"Why yes you did you know perfectly
we'll it was tho wealthy men Of tho South
who dragooned tho people into secession. !
lived in the South and know how the thing
was done. Your State was overwhelmingly
opposed to secession, but your rich men used
the press and bullies and your little army to
force the State into secession, Take tho
100000 clause-Suppose man is worth
moro than that now the war Is over and the
chances are ten to one that he made 1t outof
the rebellion by contracts, &c. We might as
we'll talk plainly about the matter. don't
think you are so very anxious about relieving
the poor. You want this clause removed so
us to enable you to make money, don't you?
If you are very eager to help the poor why
don't you take the surplus over tho 500, 900
you own and give it to them? in that way
you will help them and bring yourself with
in the benefits OF the proclamation. am
free to say to you that think some Of you
ought to be taxed we'll over 500, 1000 To help
the poor. When I was Military Governor
Of Tennessee I assessed such taxes on thosc
who had been wealthy leaders Of the rebel
lion, and it had good effect"
One of tho deputation said 1t so happens
that mono of us were leaders. We staid out
as long as wo could and were the last to go
in.
The President said, Frequently those who
went in last were among the worst after they
got in, but as you may misunderstand mo
gentleman, I do not say this personally, |
am just speaking Of tho general working OF
tho matter. know there has been an effort
among some to persuade the people that the
amnesty proclamation was injuriug them by
shutting up capital and keeping work from
tho poor. Itdoes no such thing. II that is
dono at all It is done in consequence of tho
violation Of law and the commission Of trea-
son. Tho President concluded by saying
that he would look at the papers they pre-
sented, but 90 far he had seen no reason Tor
removing the 18th section.