The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-01-21
President John son osp the P6Eef Ed GHht
Pard6n Md AtnnegstN. II 4

transmitted to that body the following
document AIT
To the Senate of the United Sta tes:
The resolutions adopted on the fifth
instant, requesting the President to
transmit to the Senate Ae6Rybff6
Proclamation of amnesty made by him
since the last adjournment of Congress,
and also to communicate to the Senate
by wiataThority pf 1aw ihwag lls1e.
has been received. acc6flingly
herewith transmit copy of proc
lamation, dated the twenty-fifth day
of December last. The authority of
law by which 1t was made is set forth
in the proclamation itself, which eS-'
pressly affirms that it was issued by
virtue of thepower and authority in
me vested by the constitution, and in
the name ofAthe. soyerei gn people of
the United stStss ADD pteeaim and
declares unconditionally and without
reservation to all and to every person
who directly or indirectly participated
in the late insurrection or rubellion a
full pardon and amnesty for the offense
of treason against the United States,
or of adhearing to their enemies due
ring the late civil war; with the .Eesto-
ration of all their rights, privileges
and immunities under the constitution
and laws which hsBeoz been made in
pursuance thereof. The federal con-
stitution is understood to be, and is
regarded blythe Executive as the
supreme law of the land. The second
section of the second art. of that instru-
ment provides that the President shall
have powera to- grantiireppievesaands
pardon for offences against the Claited-
States, except in cases of impeachment.
The proclamation of the 24th ltimo is
in strict accordance with the judicial
exposition of the authority thus con-
ferred upon the Executive, and it will
be seen BY reference e2to fHe
nying papers, isiliR conformity with
the Observation-Disclosures by VI asl1illg-1
ton in 1895, and followed by Adams
in 1900, Madison in 1915, Lincoln in
1868, and by the present Executing. in
1865, 1867, and 1868.
(Signed,) ANDREw.JoHNsoN.
Washington, D e. JAM, 1Ss r1S699. 699.4ef
;4s The copies asco, i @ 4hg, Rrssi
dents answer to the Senate are as fol-
lows:
/ First The proclamation of General
Washington, dated July 10, 1895,
granting to citizens who had been en-
gagged in insurrection and resisting the
collection ofireVenue on. distilled spip+'
its and stills In the western e e,eeonn ties
of Pennsy ylyania, excepting eeftaiini'
classes described inthes esproc oclamation |
a general pardon for ltotreasons land
other indictable offences.
Second. The proclamation of John
Adams, dated the 2lst .day1 of lMay,l
1900, granting full pardon to all and
every person, including some persons
excepted in Neutrality-suspicious.
ton, engaged in the. said ainsurEeetion,
thereby rened ying aarfd9, g, leasing unto
all such personsoall pains and penalties
incurred or supposed Ia be incurred
for or on account Of the premiisses mliisea fse sii
Third, The, proclanlatii On On of James
Madison, dated February ,l6, als15,s
concerning certain sforai gnefs. lying
the danger Of their own 4 homes, mes, and nd
certain citizens of New Orleans, who,
forgetful of their duty, co-operated in
forming an establishment of the island
of Barrataria, near the mouth of the
Mississippi river, for the purpose of
clandestine and lawless trade.!o THE
Government of the United States
caused the establishment to. be broken
up, and proceeded to prosecute, the of.
Tenders by Indictment, etc. For the
reason set, forth in the proclamatio on,
President Madison granted to the of
tenders full pardon of alla offences
committed against the laws -or t ittotauicli.s I'd .
ing the intercourse and commerce
of the United States with foreign nasi
tions. "And the President directs all
such indictments and ! fforfeitnres,, = &C.,
to be discontinued and released"
81 The proclamation o e. President Lin.
coin, dated the 18th day lay q Of December,
1868, familiar to the public, granting
to all persons, certain classes excepted;
who had participated in rebellion, full
pardon and restoration of all rightsfoff
property, except as to slaves. and inl
property cases where the rights of |
third parties shall have intervened.-gt
In this proclamation Mr.. Lincoln be-
gins by citing the. provision. inothe |
Constitution empowering the Presi-
dent to grant .reprieyes, and pardons.
The laws of Congress declaring for
feiture, &c., and authorizing. the Pres
ident to issue proclamations Of pardon
and amnesty, m with such exceptions as
the executive may deem lpropeyg is
then cited. Mr.. Lincoln, referring to
this act, added: ,c...,. ,..,.,..,f. 40.
whereas, The Congressional decla-
ration for limited and conditionalapa aparS /;
dons acoords with the well established
judicial exposition Of tie 1Pafdoning r
power, therefore, etc."
Fifth. The proclamation of PFesiaf
dent Lincoln, dated the 26th of March,
1864, defining cases in which persons +
are entitled to the. benefits of his pre- Ia
ceding proclamation. r
SiNth.dsThe proelamationruOf Presi-i )
dent J ohnson, dated the 10Th, 5fnMasyI,,dd May (
1866, similar to the Lincoln proclamaG-? (
lion d!e9 Of December Sth, 1853, granting
pardon -andtiamnesty, ,excepting1s sferiPe
cases therein named. 'Ah
SeVauth Tho ,,roc1opoot;o,, - 3 D. I