Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-02-13
The Amne.s, I.raeIamalIon.

feelly satisfied with Mr. johnson :
last message, defninga and defending
his Christmas amnesty prorlama'
tiOn:
I TO ths Senate Of he URiiri States,
Tho resolution adopted on The 5lh
inst, requesting the President To
transmit 10 the Senate copy ofany
proclamation OF amnesty made by
him since tho last adjournment ol
Congress, and also To communicate
to the Senate by what authority Of
law the same was made, has been
received. | accordingly transmit
herewith a copy Of proclamation,
dated the 25th day of December last,
Tho authority of law by which it
was made is set forth in the procla'
nation itself, which expressly af.
firms that il was issued by virtue Of
the power aud authority in me YES
ted by tho Constitution, and in the
name of the sovereign people of tho
United States, aud proclaims and
declares, Internationally y and with
out reservation, TO all and TO every
person who, directly or indirectly,
participated in the late insurrcction
or rebellion, a full pardon and am
nesty for tho oiienso of treason
against tho United States, or Of adj
herring to thoir enemies during tho
late civil war, with tho restoration
of all their rights, privileges, and
immunitics under the Constitution
and the laws which have been made
in pursuance thereof. The Federal
Constitution is understood to be and
is regarded by the Executive MS the
supreme law of the land. The sec.
ond section of Article III of that in
strument provides that the Presi'
dent shall have power TO grant re-
pricvcs and pardon for offences
against the Uuited States, except in
cases of impeachment. The procla-
nation cf the 25th ult, is in strict
accordance with the judicial eXposi-
tions of the authority thus conferred
upon the Executive, and, as will be
seen by reference to the accompany
ing papers, is in conformity with
the precedent established by Wash
ington in 1895, and followed by
Presidents Adams in 1900, Madison
1915, and Lincoln in 1868, and by
the present Executive in 1862 1867,
and 1868. ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, d. C., Jan. Is, 1869.
The copies accompanying the
Presidents answer to the Senate arc
as follows:
/. The proclamation ofGen. Wash
ington, dated July 10, 1895, grant
ing to citizens who had been en-
gagged in insurrcction and in resisting
the collection Of revenue on distilled
spirits and stills, in the Western
Counties of Pennsylvania, except
ing certain classes described in the
proclamation, general pardon of
all trcasons and other indictable
offenscs.
2. The proclamation Of John Ad-
ans, dated on the 2lst Of May, 1900,
granting "full pardon to all and ev
cry person, including some persons
excepted in Washington's Proclama-
ton engaged in the said insurrection,
thereby remedying and releasing
unto all such persons all pains and
penalties incurred, or supposed to
be incurred, for or on account of the
premises" , ...
3. The proclamation of James
Madison, dated Feb. 16, 1916, con-
cerning certain foreigners flying
from the danger Of their own homes,
and certain citizens OF New Orleans,
forgetful of their duty, had coop
Grated in forming an establishment
on the Island of Barrataria, near the
mouth of the river Mississippi, for
the purpose a clandestne and law
less trade. The Government of the
United States caused the establish
ment to be broken up, proceeded to
prosecute the Offenders by indict-
ment, &c. For reasons set forth in
the proclamation, President Madison
granted TO the offenders full par
don of all offenses committed against
the laws, or touching the intercourse
and commerce of the United States
with foreign nations; and the Presi
dent directs all suits, indictments
and prosecutions for fines, penalties,
forfeitures, &C., to be discontinued
and released.
4. The proclamation of President
Lincoln, dated the Sth day Of De-
cember, 1863, familiarity known 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 slavesand
in property cases where therights of
third parties shall have intervencd.
In this proclamation, Mr.. Lincoln
begins by citing the eprovision in the
Constitution empowering the Presi-
dent to grant reprieves and pardons.
The law of Congress declaring
forfeitures, etc, and authorizing the
President to issue proclamation of
pardon and amnesty, With such ex-
ceptions as the Executive may deem
proper. is then cited. Mr. Lincoln,
referring to this act, adds: where
as. the Congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon ac-
cords with the well-established ju-
dicial exposition of the pardoning
power, therefore, etc
5. The proclamation of President
Lincoln, dated the 26th of March,
1864, defining cases in which per-
sors are entitled TO benefits of bis
preceding proclamation
6. The proclamation of President
johnson, dated the 18th Of May,
1865. similar to the Lincoln procla-
nation Of December 6, 1863, grant
ing pardon and amnesty excepting
Tor cases therein n1fDed