The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-23
Ought the President 10 Publish u Com.
plete Amnesty
From TIE World


From the Wor7d'
The small bubbles which the Times brings to
the defense of tannble position (quiobles
which we will explode before we get through
have no value as arguments, but they are of
some importance as divulging the determina-
tion of the Republicans to dispute in the ap-
preaching session of Congress, the Authority of
the President to dispense any further relief to
persons liable under the Confscation act. When
a journal affecting so much moderation as the
Times, has the hardihood to claim for Congress
one of the most unquestionable prerogatives of
the President, and to eXpend all the cavilling
ingenuity it possesses in arguing against fact,
we are justified in inierring that there is fore
gone purpose on the part of Congress to usurp
9hetpard onlng power, or. at least, to arrest Its
further exercise.
The disclosure of this purpose IS new reason
why the President should Immediately com
plete the work of grace begun in his first procla-
nation of amnesty. 1t he makes clean work
before the beginning of the session, Congress is
precluded, by its own act, from raising the
question of regularity. Bat if the President
waits until the permIssive section OF the confs.
cation act is repealed, he will give his enemies
an advantage in enabling them 20 bewilder the
popular judgment. The permission OF Congress
to exercise power with which he is explicitly
clothed by the Constitution, is indeed piece of
officlous impertinence, and he will be diyested
| OF no auth ority by its withdrawal. but he
should Dear in mind that the mass of the people
are not exact reasoneIs On such subjects and
that il is Just as easy 10 act before Congress
meets as to leave loop for the cavllers by
needless delay.
The most fitting time for general amnesty
was when he published his final proclamation
declaring the war at an end, and disseminating
martial law. There was, indeed at that time. a
prudential reason for delay, since the Repub
lIcans would have made great handle OF the
Presidents lenlty lin the elections. But now
hof no mast there ic
any reason for postponement, and many for
| prompt action. The twenty thousand dollar
| Limitation rests on no solid ground A Rebel
| worth twenty thousand dollars was not more
! guilty than one worth nineteen thousand or ten
thouSaDd-the guilt OF Rebel being measured
| by his virulence and activity, not by the amount
| OF his property. Men OF wealth had perhaps
| more power to rekndle the Rebellion, and it was
| therefore wise precauton to keep them under
| restraint until the President deemed it safe to
| proclaim 10 the country that all danger was
| finally past. When he declared that in his
| proclamation of peace, there was no reason
! (beyond the prudential one connected with the
| elections) why an amnesty should not have i'm
medatey followed, excepting by name such
malignant Rebels as it might be eXpedient to
| punish.
The most solid reason for a general amnesty
does not rest on sentimental bottoms OF magma
nimtty, but as busiDesshke regard for the
general welfare The capital, which the South
so much needs for the revival OF its prosperity,
will not 90 into that section in small dribets.
Wealthy individuals or associations must borrow "
in large sums, in the first instance, and serve
as reservoirs for distribution among weaker
men whose credit is known only in their own
localities The class excluded from the first
amnesty comprises all the men with credit
enough to make loans outside of the Southern
States but until their titles are restored to them
by an amnesty, they can give no solid security,
and are as badly of as distant borrowers as
ii they were not worth dollar. Moreover, the
men Of wealth possess the business talent, the
energy the enterprise Of the South. They are
the e 20 SCI hg bv their actyR 6Se sapSc
and force of character, as we'll as by their pecu.
MARY means. But until they are amnestied,
they are bound hand and foot Tue SHOCK
which has tumbIed the old industrial system O.