Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-09-11
The Presidents Amnesty Proclama

tlOus
The whole country is looking with Eager anI-
iety for the forthcoming Amnesty Proclamation
of President JOHNSON. In our news column will
be found IN announcement, in advance, of the
classes excepted in this Proclamation. The Pro-
clamation is daily expected to be officially pro.
mulgated. Upon this subject We gvo the follow
ing from the Charleston Mercury:
It has heen great question in the South what
practical benefit was to be expected from the
promised amnesty proclamation. Even those
persons nlready specially pardoned are not al
lowed to register; and it was, naturally, argued
that general proclamation of amnesty, in the
face Of the provisions of the Second Supplement
tary act, would not have greater effect than m
individual amnesty granted before Congress had
declared that an Executive pardon should not en-
title any person, otherwise disqualified, to regis.
ter or vote. The Philadelphia PreH, violent
and interruptions opponent Of the President be.
lieves, however, that Mr.. johnson will make Luis
amnesty effective, and that this will be done by
Presidential order, through General Grant, based
upon mn opinion of the Attorney General.
The Pre,s says:
Atasy rate, Mr.. johnson will assume to inter.
fere with the registration of voters, by ordering
the reopcnng Of tho registration lists, AS we'll a,
the postponement of all elections that have been
ordered and in this connection the long talked
of amnesty proclamation, which is now promised
to the public in few days, is of great signif-
cancc 1t has been argued that tho postponement
of the elections ordered by Sheridan, and the re-
opening of tho registration, would not amount to
anything, save confirming the opipion Of all loyal
men that johnson was opposed to Congressional
and disrictional reconstruction but the prepara-
tion of this amnesty proclamation probably dis
closes tho plot in all its hdeous criminality. In
short it is surmsed to be the intention of the Ad-
ministration not only to:eopen registration where
it has been closed, but by granting pardon to
thousand, of voters who are now disfranchised, to
override the Union majoritics promised by tho
present situation in the South, and insure rebol
victories st the coming election, or, what is the
same thing, tho election of supporters of The Adj
miuistration to all of the Offices in tho Southern
States.
The mere promulgation Of an amnesty procla
nation will not effect this object without another
opiaion from Attorney General Stanbery, Issued 10
the Southern Commanders military order by
the Commander in CHIEF. 1t will be remembered,
in thi, connection, that the first opinion from
Stanbcrry regarding reconstruction ras intended
to be issued in that form. but the intention WINS
frustrated by Secretary Stantnns's opposition TO
il in the Cabinet. No ono can doubt for mo-
ncnt that Messrs. Stanberry and Black can man.
ufacture arguments for an opinion. which, issued
by tho military authority Of the President, will
evade the points in the Reconstruction laws which
now apparently present insurmountable obstacles
to the success OF this scheme. Altogether, the
situation is more muddled than evor, and while
it is mot safe at this juncturc to make any certsin
prediction as to the new developments of the
John,cuan policy, the public may feel a''"red
that Mr.. johnson riH not retrace any Of the steps
he has taken in the premises, but on the contrary
may expect new and more startling evidences of
his madness, as he has within the past few days
earnestly promised his Copperhead advisers to
curry out the programme which he hrs begun TO
tho bitter end, even if impeachment is sure to
follow.