New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-09
PARDONING.

PARDONING.
1t seems that our anticipations in reference to
the effect of the pardoning business as now
managed in Washington are being realized.
When the pardons were first issued there was a
rush of business, and the lawyers took their fees
as rapidly and as anxiously as though they were
ordinary claim cases. Finally the rush became
so great that scandal was created, and the Pres
ident hearing of the business, put his foot down.
The Washington jobbers are not TO be fright
ened by the stamp of any mans foot, and so
they took care not to be again detected. The
news We have from the capital every day as
sures us that tho business of pardon brokerage
is being carried on furiously. Rings are formed,
with agencies extending into the South, solicit
ing the patronage of all gentlemen who desire
pardons; and the Washington gentlemen, III
that quiet, easy, hidden way so familiar to
them. are making heaps Of money. The delay
of applications in passing through the bureaus
the care and thought given by the President to
each case, only make the applicants more anx-
ious and business more brisk. Influence is re-
quired, and influence must be bought. Gentle
men known to the President must be induced
in some way to interest themselves, and so they
are interested. The pecuniary Importance OF a
pardon is great, apart from any other considera-
ton. When q Rebel is not pardoned his prop
erty is liable to confiscation-he has no political
rights-he is a man without home aud country.
When Rebel is pardoned be receives amnesty
for all ofienses against the United States during
the late Rebellion; be obtains all his property
rights, even where legal proceedings are tend
ing under the confscation laws. Ifany suit has
commenced in the United States Court the par
don has the effect of quashng it upon payment
of costs by the party pardoned. So we see what
a good thing pardon is to a man who has a
large plantation and good amount of money.
He will gladly give one-fourth of what he owns
to possess the remainder
II we look over the Southern papers We find
advertisements about "agency for procuring
special pardons." One especially sets forth that
Wright and Gibson, in Georgia, 81 have secured
|
at Milledgeville and Washington" At Nil.
ledgeville Gov. Johnson's friends are to be-
fixed, and at Washington President Johnson is
to be approached by liable and influential gen.
tlemen" Who these gentlemen are we are not
told, but Wright and ellison have confidence in
them for they say " our facilities for securing
speedy decision in all cases presented by us
are such as to offer inducements parties inter
ested to make their applications through U.S.
Henry w. billiard, attorney at Augusta, also
announces that he will give /" his Personal at
tention" to the business and Washington firms
also advertise their facilities. This is above.
board, and shows system and care and laud-
able desire to patronize the newspapers. What
is underneath What is done by sly gentle.
men over their wine in private parlorS How
many nice presents are sent by par
doned Rebels to wives Of able and
influential gentlemen" who would crimson
with rage if the word pardon-broker was wits.
pered in their presence How many ten-dollar
pictures are sold for thousand dollars to pas
sionate admirers of art who come from the
South, and by some mysterious agency find
themselves high in Presidential grace The
thing is done, and done nicely. How, we can
not always say. Col. Baker and his detectives
might find ont.
We do not for an instant censure the Presi-
dent. We believe Andrew Johnson to be a
pure, good man, and above the suspicion OF
tampering with his high and mcrciful preroga-
tive But he is man, and a sadly worried and
burdened man. He is neither omniscient nor
omniprescnt. lie is surrounded by class OF
corrupt, bad men, who fattened and robbed in
Washington long before he was born, and who
will fatten and rob long after he has been gath
cred to his fathers. If there is money in any
thing they will most certainly find ii aud there