, 1865-05-31
H.fs'-
FRDM$W WAStlINGTOy.
G+ncrnt Ncyss Sur nlary-Prcs"ntatlol
r. the Pxesloe and t'ar

r. IT,. siAe Psesao*nt-A1nnesf5 and Far"
Matters Mt the Capital.
NEW YcRK. 3iay D.-The New York Times
Washington SPECIAL says, "Mr. Stanton fs
going to Berlin. Hc intends to resign, how
ever:
1T is believed that breckenridge has
reached Texas"
The New Yo1k 1ti5unt's Washington spc-
cal says 'sThc letter Of coincidence from thc
Empress EugcDie to Mrs. Lincoln, although
some time since rc:eired by the French Mn
lister. is detained By him, eyinctng i1-ieshng
- FED. F.: Seward is improving again"
Presentation To the President.
Mr.. Ga1 cia, the Peruvian minister, has pre-
Eenled 10 President johnson n z Id medal,
scnt To him by the President OF P.ru, COM
memo>ati.e Of the Inauguration of the
suuth American international Congress. On
ore aide o, The meia1 is an a'Iesosy, repre-.
ssntin1 the difteien brsncles Or industry,
cnciscled by the nasn.a OF th= eight republics
Represented IN the Congress. On the reverse
are the names Of plenipotentaairs, cncitcled
by wrath ii laurel and the inscription in
n Lima the 2S.h of O.toher, B1l.7' Ths
work nlnnship and design Of this beautiful
medal fleet the highest credit upon the
state Of arts now prevailing in the repno-
lie Of Pnu.
Amnesty ard Pardon d. cIslonYby the
l. Attorney Eeuerals
WAsnlSGroN, May 3o.-Attorney General
Speed las giyeu au elaborate decision. In
rteporee to tie Prcsidents letter OF tn. 2lst
cf april last, he argues that the right and
power of The President 10 plrdun mud to issne
uny proclamation Of amnesty is derived from
thu clauscs Of the Constitution and the act
! Of Congress, which he quotes. The high
and necessary power Il extending pardon
and amntsty can never be 1ishtfnisy ex-
crcieed no rs To enable the President to say
| to offenders against the law: II now otter
you Tree pardon for the past, o. ut
| any future day when you shall; from baf1led
| hopes, or after being ioiled In dangerous and
bloody enterprises, think proper to accept,
will gife you pardon for the then past"
their appcalis is fpr mercy, not for justice. He
| proceeds to consider the question propound-
/ cd by President johnson, in the pro:lama.
tions dated respectively the Str Of December,
1868, and the eGth Of March. 1854, commonly
called The Amnesty Proclamatlons. " No
those periods take the oath. who could not
have dore 50 hnd the original proclamation
| continued the exceptions set forth in the
second. What are the rights Of those who
| took the oash IN that intermediate space of
| time and who could not have taken 1t on the
! VI
tiou. The facts in such c1scs arc com.
| 1lished. ard the rights arising out Of those
| 1a-ts have attached and become vested.
The Attorney General, alter considering
the proper operation or effect Of the two
prcclamatlons, comes to the conclusion that
! an.tLer proclamation should be Issued.
| "PcrEons," he says, "should not b. Invited
TO take an oath and to comply with terms
under which they cannot obtain firm Legal
rights. II Is especially to lhoss who bare
heretofore md would nov, avail themselves
In good faith Of the benefits Of pardon aud
aInuesty, that another proclamation should
be substituted cover ny the now past. Per-
sons who have b. en- constantly engag d In the
| rebellion. should know distinctly what they
are to do, and when and bow they are t.
| do It, to free themselves from punishment,
in wlole or In part; or to such as have been
affected merely BY their treasonab'e associa-
hors. should be forgiven, and an appropriate
condition should be arpenacd to the pardon
Of many. The grace and favor Of thu Govern
ment shon1d now be large and generous, and
the operations and effect Of Its peoHered mercy
| should not be left uncertain AS a measure
TO aid In the suppression OF the late rebellion,
the late proclamation has done Its full md
complete Office. Now one is desired to aid
| IN restoring order and IeorEanizfnc society
in the rebellious States. DEMONSTRATION is
not needed. That word conveys An err oueous
idea. The construction Of this Government
is as perfect as human wisdom can NATE 1t.
The uial TO which is powers aud capacity
have been subjected In this effnrt Of reyolu-
tlon ard Acknowledgement, Is the task tn prove
principles and powers clearly mud yell defin-
ed, that have carE'ed us safely through our
past troubles. Ours is not duty to recon-
ktsuct or to change society, which IN rcb.l
States has not been, AID Is not nov, In q
normal condition, nor lnshanmouy with the
principles OF our Government. In 8, doing
it bus offended, and stands convicted cul-
p1it. =
Mercy must be largely extended. Some Of
the great leaders and offenders must he maac
to tce1 the extreme rigor of the law, not 10 q
fanny npcu thc,z conduct Bnt the mercy e1-
tsrded ia the great mass Of the misguided
people can, and should be so used as to reos-
gan4e society upon "a loyal, and 3
ffeeeom-loFing basis. II is manifestly
for their goo1, and the good or
er Of pardon and mercy Is adequate to this
end. euch condition, precedent and suhs:-
Quent, can legally and properly be appended
as will 1oot out the split Of rebellion aud
bring society In those STATES In perfect accord
with the wise and thoroushIy tried PRINCIPLES
Of our Government. Ifthis power Of pardon
is wisely used, peac, will be established on q
surc a1G permanent basis"
military Matters.
The HeraTs Washington special says:
"Gcntrals tf the regular a1uy hare hcen as
signed as follows; 'sHa 1eck lakes command
OF the Pacific S'ascs; Sherman of the Militia
r Division Of the Mississippi mpr4lng
Ohio. Kentucky. Tennessee and, Probably,
Louisiana; Meade of the Atlantic Stat 5 !;
Sheridan Of the Trans Mississippi; Thomas
OF North Carolina, md pe'haps other South
EN- Stats.
"Gcne1al Warren has resigned his commits
sion MS Major General OF Volunteers.
"General Logan hns received orders to
transfer tie Army Of the Tennessee: to Louis
ville."