New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-09-09
THE PRESIDENTS AMNESTY

President Johnson issues to-day second
Proclamation of Amnesty to those engaged i'll
the late Rebellion. His former ediCt excluded
fourteen distinct classes, amounting in all TO
not less than one hundred thousand persons
This one reduces the exceptions to high civil
functOnaries OF diplomatic agents of the Con
fedeTacy and military officers above the grade
of Brigadier General, who cannot in all exceed
one or two thousand i'll number. If il be wise
TO prOtier an Amnesty so nearly Universal,
would it not be wiser still to make it wholly
so 1t seems TO us that it would be-
We were in favor of a sweeping Amnesty
when Mr.. Johnson was raving and roaring
thrice a day that treason was crime, and
traitors must be punished We are in favor
of it now, and would gladly have every peace
able, well-diSpOsed man in the South assured
that no harm will befall him because OF his
share in the Rebellion so long as he dcports
himself as good citizen should. Let those
who were Rebels feel and know that they may
plant and ill., build and trade, buy lands and
sell them, without fear of cOnfscation or mo-
lestation. SO far as President JOhnSOns new
PRESERVATION tends to secure this end, it has
our hearty approval.
But the President is evidently reaching far
beyond this His domestic organ, The National
InteIlgercer, in foreshadowing the new mani
festo OH Saturday, says:
During the deliberations Of the Cabinet yesterday II
Is understood that became evident that In the opinion
OF every member present the legal effect OF the cOniem
plated Amnesty Proclamation would be to relieve all per
included within Its terms from all diSqatfcaonS
well all penalties incurred by their completely the
late Rebellion, and of course $50 far the of the
General Government is concerned from disability as 10
he cr@ctse Of me TDm Of Suyid0e"
TO the same effect, but more bluntly, The
Sunday Mercury says:
"The President is said to be the point Of Issuing
proclamation Of amnesty, to include an the late Rebels
except limited number, whose status cannot affect the
course Of events BY doing So the great mass Of the
White men OF the South who now disranchised to
the negroes the asccndency will be reStOreH 10 the
exercise Of all her political rights, and except in
states, he White cOe WR be IL tie mGjortiy and
troll tuih1e electioHS."
In other words The President renews his
original claim of a right to dictate the essen
tal terms of Reconstruction, and in a more
offensive form. In 1865, he sought to lead and
guide Congress; In 1861, he assumes to defy
and subvert the pancst provisions of law.
Congress, by the pending Constitutional
Amendment Cart. XIV.) has expressly provided
that
SEC g. NoperSon shall be Senator or Representative
In Congress or eecOr Of President and Vice President
or hold any Office, civil or military, under the United
states or under any State who having previously taken
an Oath as member OF Congress- officer OF the
United States or as member of any state legislature
or as an executive or judicial officer Of any State 10 sup
port the Constitution Of the United States, shall have en-
gagged IN instruction rebellion against the same or
aid or comfort 90 the enemies thereof C1OesS
may by vote OF twothrds Of each House, remove such
disability"
Hereupon, the original Reconstruction Act
March 2, 1865, Sec s. closes thus:
Prorided That no person excluded from the nr
OF holding office by said proposed amendment TO the Con
stuton Of the United States shall be eligible 70 election
as member OF the Convention 10 frame Constitution
Tor any OF said Rebel States shall any person roe
Tor members of such Convention"
And the supplementary Reconstruction Act of
July IA, 1867 (Sec. y, prescribes that
person shall at any time, be entitled TO be regis
~ VI 10 NOte oy reason or any EIecuire pardon or d,
nesy ior any act or thing which, tcOut such pardon or
ahesy "ouo dsqualify him for registration or voting"
This is the law of the land. It is in precise
accordance with the doctrine uniformly main.
tanned by President Lincoln, especially at the
Peace Conference in Hampton Roads Och. 2.
1869, wherein he informed the Confederate
envOys-(as was stated in the dispatch of Gov
Seward to+Mmistet Adams at London, trans.
@j!tSa Py PGs3ident kise9ls 70 COasyess On the