Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-09-25
The Power of the President Il
Pardon UDOu Conviction.

me- ROVER OF Ume 1-ECStUcnA ~
Pardon Upon Conviction.
y The late amnesty proclamation of Presi-,
dent JOHNSON is denounced by the Radical
disunion press from one end of the country
to the other, as not warranted by the Con-
Fstitution, but in derogation of its pro-
visions.
The power to grant pardon to those who
were in arms against the laws of the land
and the integrity of the Union, iscontained
in the 1st section of article 2 OF the CONSTR
tuition OF the United States, which, in enum-
Grating the power and duties of the Presi-
dent, says he may require the opinion, in
writing, of the principal officer in each of
the Executive Departments, &C., "and he
shall hare poaoer to grant reprieres and pardons
for ofenses against the United States, except in
cases of impeachment"
This power, the Abolition press assert,
does not carry with it the right to pardon
before conviction. Perhaps they are right,
but if they are, they know more about the
Constitution than did WASHINGTON, who
was President of the Convention that franz
edit. Tr f
In 1895. an insurgent force appeared in
arms in Western pennsylvania, rebelling
against the excise laws. This rebellion,
known in history as the Whisky Insurrec-
tion, because of the excise duty on spirit
nous liquors was the great cause of COM
plant, was put down by an armed force. On
the 10th of July, 1895, WASHINGTON, then
President of the United States, issued his
Amnesty Proclamation, from which we
copy the following: I"rLi
And whereas, have since thought
proper to extend the said pardon to all
persons guilty of the said treasons, mis-
prisons of treason, or otherwise concerned
in the late insurrection within the survey
dicted or convicted thereof, or any other
offence against the United States:
Therefore, be it known, that /, George
Washington, President of the United
States, have granted, and by these presents,
do grant, a full, free and entire pardon to
all persons, excepting as is hereinaf-
F ter excepted, of all treasons, misprisons
of treason, and other indictable offences
against the United States, committed
} within the fourth survey of Pennsyl-
vania before the said 22d day of August
last past, excepting and excluding there
from, nevertheless, every person who re-
fused or neglected to give and subscribe
. the said assurances in the manner afore-
said Cor having subscribed, hath violated
the same) and now standeth indicted or
convicted of any treason, misprisOn ot
treason, or other offence against the United
States: hereby reInitting and releasing un-
to all persons, except as before excepted
all penalties incurred, or supposed to be
incurred, for, or on account of the premi-
ses. D..
Il In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
Il United States, 20. be affixed this 18th day
of July, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand seven hundred and ninety-five and
twentieth year of the independence of the
j United States. ,...--.,,s- ,,--..-,....
i GEORGE WASHINGTON.
+ If President JOHNSON was 'sguiIty Of
usurpation and violation of law" so was
GEORGE WASHINGTON, and the Negro Suf-
frage editors, in denouncing ANDREW
JOHNSON, are denouncing GEORGE WASH
INGToN. President JOHNSON requires n
other defense for issuing his proclamation
of pardon to the repentant rebel of tn
South, than the precedent furnished by th
first President of the United States, GEoRG
WASHINGTON.
The orators and editors of the so calle
Republican, party, are wise. in their ow1
conceit. but we did not suppose that they
would pretend to know more about th,
Constitution than WASHINGTON, who signed
it as President of the Convention thai
formed it, but in that itseems we were mis-