Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-09-17


celve and welcome them. In view of the
important influence that the present course
OF the President will exercise upon the con-
dltlon OF the. country, have sought oppOr-
tunitIes to inquire OF prominent individuals
OF the Radical party, one of whom is a dis
ungulshed lawyer. what their opinions on the
subject are. and what, in their judgment. will
be the consequences of such course.
ln relation to the proclamation of amnes-
ty, the opinion seems to be that Mr. johnson
has clearly acted without even u shadow of
authority; that he has usurPed the power of
granting amnesty. and manifested, beyond all
doubt, his intention to disregard the leglsla-
ton OF Congress 1t is denied by them that
the Constitution gives the Executive power to
proclaim amnesty. They claim that the word
amnesty is totally different in its meaning
from the word pardon. The Constitution,
they say. authorizes the President ITO grant
reprieves aud pardOns for offences against the
United States, except in cases of impeach-
ment' that this clause has reference only to
cases of individuals either before or after tri-
al and sentence by United States courts, and
does not include the power to proclaim am
nesty, which is forgiveness extended TO COM
.nunIty, aud which must necessarily be grant.
ed by whole people TO portion of the peo-
pie; in other words, by Legislative act of
the representatives Of the people.
Mr.. Lincoln, it is urged, by way of illus
tratiOn, when he had under consideration the
question of issuing proclamation of amnes.
ty, believed that the power delegated to him
by the Constitution was not sufficient to au.
thOrize the act. lie, therefore, asked Con-
gress TO confer upon him the necessary au.
thOrity, which it did in the thirteenth Sec
tiol of the COnfscatiOn act. This section
was repealed ut the second session of the
Thirty-ninth Congress with the express in
tention Of depriving the President of the
power to issue amnesty. Hence, they say,
either Mr.. Lincoln and the Thirty ninth Con-
gresS were wrong or President johnson is
wrong.
As to the effect of the amnesty prociama-
ton, there appears to be an unanimity Of opin-
ion among the Radicals. No doubt is enter
tanned that its effect will be to give the right
of suffrage 20 all the classes included in the
proclamation. There is nothing, they believe,
to prevent the President from re-Opening
the registration lists in all the military dis
tricts, aud there is nothing to restrain those
whose franchise has been restored from reg
istcring, aud having registered, from voting.
The clause Of the reconstruction act which
by the President shall entitlc any person
to registration or to vote, they say, will
of course be disr0garded by the President,
as being in his opinion Just as uucon,
sttGtionnl as the clause which deprives him
of the power to proclaim amnesty. If the
President should order military commanders
to admit the newly pardoncd to the registra
ton lists aud the ballot box. they could do
nothing but obey; and the belief SO widely
entertained, that such orders, if given, could
be countcrmunded by General Grant, is en-
tlre!y erroneous. General Grant has no more
power under the act than any one of the mill
itary commanders, except that he may re
move any officer by them appointed.
The result OF the late elections is regarded
here as certain indication Of popular re-ac-
ton. The President halls it as a sign of the
reawakening Of the masses, aud confidently
believes the people are at last beginning to
realize the disastrous tendencies Of Radical
legislation and the revolutionary aims Of the
Radical leaders.
Some time ago story was put into circula-
ton to the effect that the President had said
at Cabinet meeting that he contemplated
resgning the Presidency for the good Of the
country. On good authority l cUntradicted
the story at the time. 1t grew out of the fact
that the President said on several occasions
that if he believed his resignation or even
the sacrifice of his life could restore harmony
to the country, he would gladly give either
But to resign with any other assurance, OF
merely to yield TO some Radical fanatic whose
elevation would only add to the peril of the
country and hasten the establishment Of negro
supremacy in the South aud the oppression
of Southern whites, would, in his opinion. be
only desertion Of his post in the hour OF
danger, and n criminal abandonment of the
trust which he has sworn TO protect and de.
tend. Ii may be written down, therefore
that the President has no idea Of resigning.
have kept you advised from time to time
as to the rumors aud sayings in relation to pro
posed changes in the Cabinet. The announce
ment has been so often made that changes are
about to occur that the public must begin t.
regard it as purely sensational. The real ex
PLANTATION OF the affair is that the President ha:
repeatedly made up his mind to rid himself o.
certain members of his Cabinet and as otter
changed his mind, owing to the immense pres
sure brought to bear upon him. Every weeI
he is besiegGd with appeals to make a change
| The efforts for reorganization of the Cabine
| do not. as stated, come merely from Democratic
politicians Democrats, in fact, have haC
| little to say in the matter. Conservativ,
Republicans and business men are the chic
movers in the matter, and urge the remova
| OF Seward, McCulloch aud Kendall for various
reasons. | have reason to believe that in cas-,
of Stewards removal either Adams or Reverb,
johnson would be an acceptable substitute
Farther than this shall not say at present.
Gov. Throokmorton's Defence.