The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-01
President JOhnsOa,s amnesty Proofs


The Proclamation of the President, isSu
ed on the 18th ult, offering amnesty to al.
engaged in the late rebellion, with certain
exceptions and upon certain conditions, i,
va are glad to see, meeting with approval
on All hands. The legality and necessity
of such 3 proclamation, as 8 Substitute fOF
those of the late President wsre,ably DEM
onsirated in the 'opinion" Of Attorney
General Speed, of which the telegraph has
furRiahed US s synopsis. The former proc
lsmations of amnesty, while they we're ne
cessary and proper SIS indications Of the
mAgnanimous and forgfving spirit of the
United States Government, were prsctE
cslly ineffective as means for subduinR re-
belion. The mass of the Southern trait
ors so far from a~vAiling themselves Of their
privileges, scofsd at them and continued
in open rebellion. By this course they de-
nrived themselves of their benefits Nov
fhst the rebellion is ended, and there is no
other course left for the people of the re-
belIious States but to renew their allegiance,
It is highly proper-it il, indeed, absolutely
essential-that the President shsll definite
" prescribe by proclamation the classes
who shall be allowed to return, and the
conditions on which they shall be permitted
70 resume the rights and duties Of citizsnf.
So much for the ~propriety Of the proc
lsmstion itself. lis details cannot fail 70
satisfy the people. The large class Of the
Southern people who are permitted to re-
turn, are, it will be observed, required to
take an oath to support not only the Con-
stitution and Union but also al laws and
proclamstions regarding Emancipation
So each repenant rebel will be individual
" made to understand that he comes back
not into the Union IS If Wa, but into = re-
deemed and regenerstsd Unions RePub-
lie of freedom. Every n Of them must
pass sub jugo-under the yoke of Emsn-
cipation. They must understand that the
cause of tae rebellion-the thing for which
they wsged war for four years. forever
abolished, and they must resign them
selves to the new state Of affairs.
The exceptions to the amnesty include
all tbst the most radical hsters of treason
could desire. 1t would be difficult to name
8 class Of persons who ought ODE excluded
from amnesty not named in the ProclAma-
ton. On the other hand the respective
reasons for excluding each of the classes
named are so obvious that they do mot need
argument and those. who are pleading that
mercy rather than Justice should be deslt
out to the msjority ven of rebel leaders
are satisfied by tie provision in the proc
lamstion declaring that liberal clemeney
will be extended, on ProPerspphcAtion' e
individuals belonging to the excepted
classes. Il is we'll that this means o.
hardening leading rebels is adopted
zach individual case under the exceptions
of the proclamation should be brought be,
fore the government before pardon il
granted. In this way nc dangerous and
ILdeserving persons win be admitted t.
the benefits of the amnesty, and every
leading rebel who is pardoned will fee
that he is individually the recipient o.
special favor, for which he is bound to b
humbly and duly grateful