The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-07-21

The $4,000 Clause..Interview Re-
tween the Virginia Merchants
and the President,

sOn was waited on yesterday by 4eesrs.
James A. Jones, r. A. Lancaster, VIM. 81.
HAxal and ]. L, Apperson, representative
of merchants and Others Of Virginia, who
wished him to amend the amnesty procla-
nation by striking out the 18th exception,
the $4,000 clause. They represented
that this feature interfered with the devel-
opment of industry by binding up capital,
and in this way expressing the poor and
that when tLey endeavored to borrow
money in the Northern and Middle States,
they were ct once met by the objection
that perhaps they had go, 600, and II they
had, the accommodation could not be ex-
tended. 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
distrnst. It was the commission of treason
and the violation of law that did it. The
amnesty proclamation left them Just where
they were before. It did not add any
disability to them. If they had committed
treason they were ameAable to the confisca-
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
that did not injure any other persons.
Would they like to have the'amnesty pro-
clamation 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
extend the benefits of the proclamation to
persons worth over $50, 0OO." H
The President replied, that in making
that exception he had acted on the natural
supposition that men had aided the rebel
lion according to the extent of their Pc
cuniary means. Did they not know this !?
One Of the deputation: "Nol I did not
know it."
President: "Why, yes you do. You
know perfectly well it was the wealthy
men of the South who dragged the people
into secession. / have lived in the South
and I know how the thing was done. Your
State was overwhelmingly opposed to e.
cession, but your rich men used the press
and DULLES and your little army to force
the State into secession. Take the $40.
600 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, DC. We
might as well talk plainly about the mat
ter. don't think you are 30 very anxious
about relieving the poor! Why then
don't you take the surplus over sac, 900
of your own and give to them, and in that
way you viii help them and bring your
selves within the benefits of the proclama-
ton. ! am free to say to you that I
think some of you ought to be taxed on
all over SIC, 900 to help the poor. When
I was Military Governor of Tennessee, I
assessed such tax on those who had been
wealthy leaders OF the rebellion, and 1t
had a good effect"
One of the deputation: cit so happens
that none Of us were leaders. We staid
out a. long as we could, and were the last
to 60 in"
The President frequently those who
went in last were among the worst after
they got in, but be that as it may, under.
stand me, gentlemen. I do not say this
personally; am just speaking of the gen.
eral working of the matter. know there
has been an effort ameng some to per-
suade the people that the amnesty procla-
nation was injuring them by shutting up
capital and keeping work from the poor.
1t does no such thing. If that is done at
all, it Is done in consequence of the viola
lation OF the law, and the commission Of
treason"
The President concluded by saying that
ne would look at the papers they present.
ed, but 30 far had seen no reason for re-
moving the 18th exception.