The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-03-04
from the Weekly Age, Philadelphia
Tho Trade In PArd0ns.

brokers, passed both House and Senate on
Tuesday W hen the January batch was act
ed on, We took the occasion to point out the
patent, obvious rascality Of the whole bust
ness. OF the long lis! contained in the Con-
gressional Globe, of the 21st January, only
one case was presented to the House, as a
specimen. Here was a statement of the
crime pardoned, on the certificates of various
Radical carpet -baggers, given, Of course,
gratuitousy it.5 AE F
REMARKS.
'.The following is an accurate statement of
the Offices held before the war, the acts COM
mitted in support Of the rebellion, and the
present political status Of the above named.
Mr.. Ira Garrett is seventy six years of age
was elected cle.k of the County Court in
1881, and clerk of the Circuit Court of AL
bemarlc, in 1852, and has continued to act in
each court to the present time. zg* .r-.,
lie gave no support to the rebellion other
than sympathy, which was carried out by
feeding the hungry soldiers and attending to
the wants of the sick. ..5a a f...4
He accepts the political situation of the
country. oai ,e.s5 H.s.afs -.
He is now Republican. and Endorsed the
reconstruction policy of Congress. -.v~ ,.l. 4.
~ G. j.. THOMPSON, 4.
W Member of Convention, Chairman asa
Republican Committee, Albemarle co, Va.
49, 4-.+ JAMES I. L. TAYLOR, "a,
Member Constitutional Convention
The pretext for all this pardoning is found
in the XIV. amendment, said to be a part,
now, of the Federal Constitution. = That
amendment provides that Congress, by two.
thirds vote, may remove the disabilities Inn
posed on those who, having taken an oath to
support the Constitution Of the United States,
'shall have engaged in insurrection or rebel
lion against the same, or given aid or comfort
to the enemies thereof" In January, Con
gress, as is seen above declared this descfipt-
ion to include any one who had fed hungry
soldier or attended to the wants Of the sick
We need scarcely say that this is monstrous-
" raise Interpretation Of the sense of that
amendment, as it was understood BY nine
hundred and ninety nine in a thousand of
those who favored its adoption. +, We think it
would have been killed dead in this State, if
any single Radical, organ had avowed that it
meant the disfraachisement Of those who had
only performed the common offices of humani-.
ty. On the contrary, it was constantly said
that it was aimed at the great promoters of
the rebellion, and the peopleof the Southern
States were abused for not being willing to
set this mark Of condemnation on Those who
had misled them. The Interpretation now
put on it is, we believe an AFTER thought, to
make tia means and instrument of extortion
In the February batch Of two hundred and
thirty-fve acted upon on Tuesday last, the
credentials of two "criminals" were called
forth, as specimens. For, though Mr.. Paine
said that really there was no objection to any
of these men, yet NJ. Schenek wanted to see
the vouchers, at least of some of them.
Mr.. Paine. "Before the gentleman puts
that motion. which | know he has a right to
make, [ wish to state respecting this bill that
though the number of names is quite large,
the committee have inserted only the names
Of men from the States lately in rebellion
who seem to be entirely without objection"
Mr.. Sehenck. II do not know single
man whose name is in the bill, and having
only heard them read from the Clerks desk
| cannot now recall any name. But [ did.
at very early day. when this process Of re-
moving disability was commenced, take the
ground which in some respects I and others
appear for time to have abandoned, that in
every instance the name, with petition and
an abstract Of the case and the particular
reasons for removing the disability ought to
be brought to the notice aud knowledge of
the House before we acted on The case That
may have been done to the satisfaction of the
committee, and if we had time to go over the
information the committee have it might,
perhaps, be satisfactory to the House, SO far
as these names are concerned" a.
In Difference to the curiosity of Mr.
Schenck, the case Of Robert Cawthon was
taken up specially. Here are the facts of his
case, and the vouchers for them IL
IL am native Of Virginia, and under the
administration of President Polk, in 1876,
was appointed postmaster in the city of
LyncEburg, Virginia, from which position re-
suit my disabilities. In 1862 | was a clerk
in the Confederate postoffice department, So
called, which | held but short time. I
took no part whatever in the late war, being
of that age which exempted ME from militia
ry service. sr a4- 1856 L
1t is my fixed purpose to support the re-
construction acts Of Congress with all their
requirements, and shall favor and support
General Grants administration to the extent
of my humble ability $50 - isxrs
All OF which is respectfully submitted,
ROBERT CAwTHoN" 80.
"From> my personal acquaintance with Mr.
Cawthon and the representations of others,
have full confidence in his statements, and re-
commend the removal of his disabilities 4
~ Very Respectfully, I'D. HUBBARD"
| concur in the above statement of Hon.
G. D. Hubbard. .s J.J. GRAvELY."
"EBB1Tr HOUSE, January s, 1868.
My DEAR SIR: can with much confidence
recommend for release from disability, Robt.
Cawth ION, iEsq., of Virginia. He was exempt by
age from military duty at the opening of the
rebellion; and had no connection with it.
| have not doubt it is his honest and firm
purpose to be a faithful citizen of the United
States and to submit himself to the Constitu-
ton and laws Of the United States. ~.
: trust he will be relieved. ,~-s ,.z.-
VI l am, very respectfully,
ID iliis it- your obedient servant, |
~. ~ rs-5s aJosEPH SEaAR""
Hon MIR. Beck, of the Reconstruction Com
mlttee. .Gr 9-s7 f;.s I'd " --t.Af.. |