Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-12-14
Guattbman s. Stair Journal.
BY +. p. WALTON.
MONTPELIER. DECEMBER n, 1866.
REPEAL or rns AMNESTY AND PARDol

MONTPELIER. DECEMBER Il, 1866.
REPEAL or THE AMNESTY AND PARDON
part Of the debate in the Senate to show
the ground on which the passage Of the
House bill was urged Immediately. The bill
was subsequently referred, promptly reported
iayorably by the judiciary committee. and it
will undoubtedly receive the support of the
Senate. We know not whether the charge
Of Senator Chandler be altogether true, or
exaggerated ;, but be it one way or the other,
there is the best of reasons why this part of
the conhscauon act should be Immediately
repealed, as it should have been at the very
first session of Congress after the surrender
of the rebels. That reason is that it was
purely war measure, originated in the mid
die of the war, and designed to induce rebel
States to lay down their arms and submit to
the authority Of the Government. 1t was
pledge Of clemency, on condition of surren-
der. But it failed the rebels persisted in
ipAtt AbkAA hh1 last VI tuCCtsh was CFukH-
ed out by the superior force of our arms, and
from that moment there was no reason for
the continuance of the pardon and amnesty
clause. From that moment, without that
clause, it was,in the power OF the Executive
to show clemency by retaining from prosecu-
ting for treason las he has done, and to par
don In eaeas nf oonv;ctiop ;,stoad % 90 T..
has largely done, without conviction. On
this subject we speak with perfect confidence,
because we have personal knowledge of the
history OF the amnesty clause, and Of its de-
sign. 1t was drawn by Senator Colamer,
and presented. almost simultaneously, to the
Senate by its author, and to the House by the
writer of this article. April %, 1862, Mr..
Walton, in the House, explained its purpose
to be to give "ths President power to extend
pardon and amnesty to the masses, and to
hold the guilty leaders for condign punish
ment;" and on the Oath of April Senator
Collamer explained it in like manner, and in
dicaed the mode OF executing it so as clear.
ly to show that it was war measure-tha,
is, measure to be executed during the war
on only sixty days notice, and for the purpose
of bringing the war to a speedy end HI
said:
| propose in the next section that tn,
President shall be authorized to issue hi,
proclamation Offering indemnity and pardon
to the people with such exceptions and upor
such conditions and az such times as he shall
point out. Suppose we take possession Of ,
State, and the people remain the presiden
issues Proclamation to the people, saying
to them, have appointed officers and no
If you will within sixty days, all OF you, ex
cept Jefferson Davis, Robert ToOmbs, OF
their generals-what exceptions he think,
the public safety requires should be condign
ly punished with these exceptions, if yot
will come in to the officers | have appointed
and take your oath OF allegiance, | give you
amnesty and pardon
We have no doubt, therefore, that if the
author of the amnesty provision were now in
the Senate, he would hasten to repeal it, a,
provision entirely unnecessary and we dc
not know but that be would justly com
plain that it has not been executed in tn,
way designed, but rather has been perverted
and abused5