Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-09-13
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.

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AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
The long anticipated Amnesty Proclamation
has Mt last hecn issued. bu. there Is nothing in
It's provisions it would seem, to justify tn. hope
which has been very generally indulSed that it
will extend the .lective franchise Mt The South.
by the removal OF existing disabilities. Indeed
to do ihis. seeins to be beyoud the. power Of
the President. 1t is not very apparent how a
general amnesty can. have greater, effect than
Il special pardon in indiri1aal cases, and as
even those who have been specially pardoned
are not allowed to register and vote, the pre-
sumption is that those who come within the
terms Of general amnesty will not enjoy
great er immunities. The effect Of the Prcsi-
dents pardon is to relieve from punishment for
treason in participating in the so-cnll.d rebel
lion and from it's legal incidents aud civil disa.
bilities. but it eau hardly relieve from the
restrictions ind disabilities Of The reconstruetion
acts. which have been imposed by those acts.
upon the right to regisler and vote. and which
IL expressly provided shall not l'~ remove ed
by uny Executive pardon. Tie reconstruction
acts arc NO Doubt, entirely unconstitutional,
but the President .oculd scarcely intend TO ig-
moro them Oh that grouod in an Executive
proclamation; 6efure the,r validity had been
tested before the courts .,Phere is nothing in
the terms Of the present proclamation to give
it political Significance. or to Justify the fears
Of the Philadelphia Press a violent orpaneut
of the President. who in anticipation Of the
proclamation, belle we'd that Mr.: johnson would
make his amnesty effective by a Presidential
order thraughl Genera. Grant, based upon An,
opinion of the Attorney General. The Press
says: -. ..
AT any rate Mr.. Johns on:wiH assume to In:
terfere with lie regis. ration Of voters. by or
dering The reopening Of tlls registration lists.
ss we'll as The postpouenent Of all alections
that have been ordered xnd in this coinec-
tion the long talked Of amnesty proclamation
which is now promised to the public iu q few
days. is Of great sign iieanee. 1t has hsen
argued that the post pom ement Of elections Or
dered by Sheridan. and the reopening Of t,e
registration. would not amount to anythiug,
ssve.couir,ning the opinion Of al ,loyst meu
that johnson was opposed to Congressional
apd districtional reconstrpction but the prep
nration Of this amnesty proclamation probably
disc!osss The plot IN all its hideous erlmipnlify.
In short IL is. surmised t6 be the Intention Of
the Adlsi inistration mol only 10 reopeb registra-
'ion whnre it has beeg closed, but by granting
pardon TO thousands. of voters who are. ~
disfr nehised. 10 override The Union maiorities
promised blythe present situation in tie south,
and insure rebel victories at tie cconiiing eies.
tiop, or, wha. is the same thing, tbs. election
of supporeers Of thssAdmipis.taiioui 10 all Of
the offices in the Southern slstess.a ,,,ct- 4
the mere propulgation. Of ,.ans. smpesty
proclamation will not effect this: object 1uh-
out another epinion from, Anorney oe,.sral
Stan5ery, istaedso she SohAst,s <coms,andsts al
q military order by, tts 0apmander ip,chisE.
i will be. remembered, in thisepnnsciio,t, that
the first opinion from stsubefy:. regarding re-,
garding seeeastfnction WA ipispdsa to, bs iss
sded IN that form. but as lntspt5oa was
tfatedb ny seess.lry stsntoas iSppositiob 10 ii
Id the Cabinet. No ono eai, doatt i rs ,,or no;
dasut thst hsasrs: 5ssaosbssy$s and Btaet Gan
tussnfastnrs arguments Tor ana opinion, suh1sti
's.ssd BY tbs military: sathgrj.y Of tho, Prssi.
dsas.will eyads the points in the .Kseons1ruc-
lion ~hfck are4now spparsatIy ptsssns incur .
fnoansa 'obsfsetes to tbs: tusoess 81 Iii
schsiiie. 'AItsgsttsf. t,,s Asitas.iSh W Ssofs
saaddlsa tfaq ever and stiis u issn1at asfs=t ti
thi. igpetars @ ospasks say st4ju. ssssaisssi,
~ ,thsnew 'deseloPefssastof NE, Joietansss
policy. De psbsis nay. sst as,y,sd .ta.st ~.
lS6psoH .ssitt *hot aSy ~ ssS IL
Aat5af1ais ~ psSis,ss1s Sshi sh. .sts Seaissssss
fssy ysspsetnaws md nora ssssiiss ssse1