Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-07-21
A Presidential Talk.

The telegraph reports an interview betwee1
/ President johnson and certain Virginia mer-
chants and planters The latter waited on
the President to say that in consequence OF
the S20. 900 execution in the Amnesty Proc
| lamatiOn, Southerncrs who had, OF were sus-
pected Of having. over $50, 900, could not
borrow money North, and so the develop
ment Of home industry was prevented. and
I they could not give work to the poor who
asked it, They consequently requested that
the amnesty might be extended to persons
worth orer 100000. Mr.. johnson did not
mmce matters in bis reply. lie told the
I Nirginians that it was their own treason that
had placed them under disabilities. and with
refreshing coolness, showed them how they
/ could come within the proclamation, by CIV
ing their property over 100000, to the
poor people they were so much concerned
for. The report says
The President reminded them that the amnes-
ty proclamation did not cause this distrust; il
was the commission of treason and the violation
of law that did il. The amnesty proclamation
left these men Just where they were before; it
did not add any disability TO them. If they had
committed treason, they were amenable 10 the
cOniscation law which Congress had passed,
and which he as President could not alter or
amend. In the amnesty proclamation, he had
offered pardon TO some persons; but that did not
injure any other person.
l. IL. IL kal L.
natural supposition that men had aided the re-
ellion to the extent of their pecuniary means
I'D they not know this
One of the deputation said-"No. | did not
nCvit."
The President-"Why,y yes you do; you know
lerfectly well it was the wealthy men Of the
South who dragooned the people into secession.
| lived in the South and | know how the thing
was done Your State was overwhelmingly op-
posed to secession, but your rich men used the
press and bullies and your little army TO force
the State into secession. | don't think you are
so very anxious about relieving the poor. You
want this clause removed go as TO enable you TO
make money, don't you If you are very ea-
ger to help the poor, why don't you take the
surplus over the $50, 900 you own and give it
TO them ! In thst way you will help them and
bring yourselves within the benefits Of the proc
lamstion. | am free to say TO you that think
some of you ought to be Ied on all over S2O,-
900 to help the poor. When was Military
Governor of Tennessee. assessed such taxes on
those who had been wealthy leaders Of ther
lior, and it had good effect
one of the deputation said /: at 50 happens
that none of rs we're leaders. We stayed out as
long q. we could and were the lsst to 60 in"
The President-"Freeuently those who went |
in last we're among the worst after they got iu. |
But be that as it may, understand me. gentle !
men, L donot say this personality am Just speak
ing of the general working Of the matter. / |
know there has been an effort among some to |
persuade the people that the amnesty procls- |
nation was iniuring them by shutting up cspi |
tai and keeping work from the poor. II does no
such thing. If that is done at all. it is done in
consequence Of the violation Of Law and the
commission of treason"
The President concluded by saying that he
would look at the papers they presented. but 50
far he had seen no reason for removing the 18th |
exception