Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-09
THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION

The Presidents new proclamation Of an
nesty, in reference TO which rumor has been
busy for some days past has at length made
Its appearance, and Will be found in another
column Of our paper. 1t is sweeping in its
provisions, the only exceptions made from tn
benefits granted by it bang: First-The chic.
executive officers OF the late Rebel Govern.
ment, including the President, Vice President,
heads OF departments, agents in foreign coun-
tries, military officers above the grade of Brig
adler General, naval officers above the grade
OF Captain, and Governors of States Second
All who were guilty of treating otherwise than
as lawful prisoners Of war those captured du
ring the war. Thrd-All persons IN civil,
military or naval confinement, or legally held
to bail for acts committed in behalf OF the re.
bellion, and all persons who were in any way
engaged directly or indirectly in the assassi-
nation of President Lincoln.
But little importance attaches to the proc.a.
ton itself-the country cares very little wheth-
er the rebels are pardoned one at a time, or By
thousands at a stroke of the pen-but as an ill.,
oica'ion OF the purpose OF the President to
thwart the Congressional plan of reconstruc-
ton, as a link in the chain which he is en-
oeavoring to forge With which the
Gisloyal in the South may securely
bind the loyal. 1t possesses grave
significance. We referred on Saturday to the
lntelligencer's foreshadowing OF a design to
claim the franchise for all who are entitled to
pardon under this proclamation. that is virtu.
ally all the late rebels, and of the results
which will probably follow. 1t is not neces.
sary to recur to that branch OF the subject ex.
cept to repeat that in this, as in other of his
late acts, the President is strengthening the
hands Of Congress for the approaching strug-
gle.
There is one point in this connection which
dent LincOln's amnesty proc lama atoms, to
which President Johnson refers in his string
OF whereases, Were issued in accordance with
and under the authority ST the thirteenth Sec
tion OF the act to suppress the rebellion, of
July Il, 1862, which daclared that the ssPresi-
cent is authorized, al any time hereafter, by
proclamation, 10 extend to persons who may
have participated in the existing rebellion in
any State or part thereof, pardon and amnes-
~, with such exceptions and at sue times and
on such conditions as he may deem expetient
for the public welfare" This section was re-
pealed by Congress in January, 1867. and the
act repeating i. was retaine ID by the President
beyond the time prescribed by the Constitution
and allowed to become law without his sig.
nature. This leaves the pardoEing power to
be exercised according to its definition in the
Constitution, where the President is vested
with power 10 grant reprieves and pardon for
offences against the United States, except in
cases of impeachment " II Congress had
thought that the Constitution contemplated
such sweeping use Of this power as
the pardon Of an entire community, OF course
there would have been no necessity for the
passage Of the law giving the authority to
President Lincoln which has since been re.
Iealed.