The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-20

The Amnesty Proclamation = Mes
sage of the Pre.i;ens.
The President transmitted the following
message to the Senate yesterday:
To the Senate of the United States:
The resolution adopted on the 9Th instant
requesting the President "to transmit to
the Senate copy Of any proclamation OF
amnesty made by him since the last ad-
journment of Congress, and also to commu.
nicate to the Senate by what authority OF
law the same was made" has been re-
ceived.
accordingly tranamit herewith copy
Of a proclamation dated the 25th day OF
December last. The authority OF law ny
which it was made is set forth in the procia-
nation itself, which expressly affirms that 1t
was issued by virtue of the power and au-
thority in me vested by the Constitution:
and in the name of the sovereign people OF
the United States" and proc|aims and de-
clares Internationally, and without re-
seryation, to all and to every person VINO
directly or Indirectly participated in the
late instruction or rebellion, q full pardon
and amnesty for the offence OF treason
against the United States, or OF adher1ng 10
their enemies during the late civil war,
with restoration of all rights, privileges,
and immunities, under the Constitution and
the laws which have been made in pursu-
ance thereof"
The Federal Constitution is understood
to be, and is regarded by the Executive, as
the supreme law of the. land. The second
action of article second Of that instru-
ment provides that the President "shall
have power to grant reprieves and pardons
for offences against the United States ex-
cent in cases of impeachment" The pro
clamation of the 25th ultimo is in strict
accordance with the Judicial expositions OF
the authority thus conferred upon the Ex-
ecutive, and, as will be seen by reference
to the accompanying papers, IS IN con
formity with the precedent established oy
Washington in 1875. and followed by Pre-
sidents Adams in 1900, Madison in 1913,
and Lincoln in 1868, and by the present
Executive in 1865, 1867, and 1868.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, D. G., January Is, 1869.
The COPIES accompanying the Presidents
answer to the Senate are as follows
|. Proclamation of General Washington,
dated 10th day of July, 1875, granting to
citizens who had been engaged in insurrec-
ton resisting collection of revenue on dis
titled spirits and stills) in the western
counties of Pennsylvania, excepting GER
tain classes described in proclamation, q
general pardon of ell treasons and other
indictable offences.
Q. Proclamation of John Adams, dated
2lst day of May, 1900, granting full pardon
to all and every person (including some ex-
cepted in Washington's proclamation en-
gagged in said insurrection whereby RENE
diving and releasing unto all such persons
all pains and penalties incurred, or sup
posed to be incurred, for or on account OF
the premises. ;,
8. Proclamation of James Madison, dated
9Th day Of February, 1915.
Certain foreigners, flying from the dam
gers of their own homes. and some citizens
of New Orleans, " forgetful Of their duty"
had co0perated in forming an establishment
on the island of Barrataria, near the mouth
of the river Mississippi, for the purpose of
q clandestine and lawless trade. The Go
vernment of the United States caused the
establishment to be broken up, and pro-
ceeded to prosecute the offenders by indict-
ment, etc.
For reasons set forth in the proclamation,
President Madison grants to the offenders
a full pardon of all offences committed
against the laws, or touching intercourse
and commerce of the United States with
foreign nations and the President directs
all suits, indictments, and prosecutions for
fines, penalties, forfeitures, etc., to be dis
continued and released.
4. Proclamation of President Lincoln,
dated eighth day of December, eighteen
hundred and sixty-three, familiar to the
public, granting to all persons Certain
classes excepted) who had participated in
the rebellion full pardon and restoration of
all rights of property, except as to slaves
and in property cases where rights OF third
parties shall have interviewed.
In this proclamation Mr.. Lincoln begins
by citing the provision in the Constitution
empowering the President to grant re-
prieves and pardons. The law of Congress
declaring forfeitures, etc., and authorizing
the President to issue proclamation of par
don and amnesty, with such exceptions as
the Executive may deem proper, is then
cited. Mr.. Lincoln, referring to this act,
adds:
Whereas the congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon accords
with well-established judicial exposition Of
the pardoning power, therefore, etc.
5. Proclamation Of President Lincoln,
dated 10th of March, 1864, defining cases
in which persons are entitled to benefits of
the preceding proclamation.
G.. Proclamation Of President Johnson,
dated 10th May, 1865, similar to the Lin
coin proclamation of December 8, 1868,
granting pardon and amnesty, except in
cases therein named.
7. Proclamation of President johnson,
dated September Z, 1867, extending full
pardon to certain persons engaged in the
rebellion. This proclamation extends par
don to classes mentioned who were not par
doned by preceding ptoclamations.
S. Proclamation of President Johnson of
July 4, 1868, granting general pardon and
amnesty to persons engaged in the late re-
bellion, with certain exceptions and reser-
vations.
The STATES RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN
IN PERIL.-In the Senate Monday Mr..