The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-01-29
FRIDAY, JANUARY, 90 1869.
just fiC alton Of the Christ
mus Amnesty PrOClamO-
GlOR-The Presidents Reply
t0th0 senate.

=
fothe senate.
TO the Senate of the United
States The resolution adopted OF
the 5th inst, requesting the Presi.
dent to transmit to the Senate q
copy Of any proclamation Of am
nesty made by him since the last
adjournment of Congress, and also
to communicate to the Senate by
what authority Of law the same was
made, has been received. | &C.
cordingly transmit herewith a copy
of proclamation dated the goth
day Of December last. The authori-
" Of law by which it was made is
set forth in the proclamation itself,
which expressly affirms that it was
ISSUED by virtue of the power and
authority in me vested by the Con
stitution, and in the name Of the
sovereign people of the United
States, and proclaims and declares
Internationally and without rescr'
ration to all and to every person
who directly or Indirectly partici-
pated in the late insurrccticn or re.
hellion, full pardon and amnesty for
the offence of treason against the
United States or of adhering to
their enemies during the late civil
war, with the restoration Of all
their rights, privileges and immuni-
ties under the Constitution and the
laws which have been made in pur-
suance thereof. The federal Con-
stitution is understood to be and is
regarded by the Executive as the
supreme law of the land. The sec
and section, article two, IF that
instrument provides that the Prcsi-
dent shall have power to grant re-
pfieyes and pardon for offences
against the United States, except
ia cases Of impeachment. The
proclamation of the o5th ultimo is
in strict accordance with the jude
ial cxpositions Of the authority thus
conferred upon the Executive, and
as will be seen by reference to the
accompanying papers, is in con-
formity with the precedent estab-
lished by Washington in 1875, and
followed BY President Adams IN
1900, Madison in 1915, Lincoln in
1868, and by the present Executive
in 1865, 1867 and 1868.
ANDREW JouNsoN
Washington, D. G., Jan. Is, 1869.
The Accompanying Papers.
The copies accompanying the
Presidents answer to the Senate
are as follows:
l. The proclamation Of General
Washington, dated July 10, 1895,
granted to citizens who had been en-
ga ged in insurrection and in resist
ing the collection Of revenue on dis
titled spirits and stills in the wes-
tern counties Of Pennsylvania, ex-
cepting certain classes described in
the proclamation, general pardon
Of all treasons and other indictable
oifenscs. ..-"
2. The proclamation Of John Ad-
ans, dated May 81, 1900, granted
full pardon to all and every person,
including some persons excepted in
Washington s. Proclamation, engag-
cd in the said instruction, thereby
rcmedying and releasing unto all
such persons all pains and penalties
incurred or supposed to BIO incurred
for CT on account of the premises.
8. The proclamation Of James
Madison, dated January 16, 1915,
concerning certain foreigners flying
from the danger Of their own homes,
and certain citizens of New Orleans,
who forgctfui of their duty, had CO.
operated in forming an establish
,nent on tho island of Barrataria,
near the mouth OF the River Miss
issirpi, for the purpose of clandes-
tine and lawless trade. The Gov
crnment of the United States caused
tho establishment to be broken up,
and prosecuted the offenders by in
dictmcnt sc. For reasons set forth
in the proclamation President Mad
ison granted to the offenders full
pardon Of all offences committed
against the laws, or touching the
intercourse and commerce of the
United States with foreign nations,
and the President directs all such
amerccments, and prosecutions fer
fines, penalties, folfeitures, &c., to
be discontinued and released.
S. The Proclamation Of President
Lincoln, dated the sth day of De-
cember, 1s63-familiar to the pub
lic-granting to all persons, certain
classes excepted, who had partici-
pated in the rebellion full pardon
and restoration Of all RIG hts Of
property except as to slaves, and in
property cases where the rights of
third parties shall have interviewed.
In this proclamation Mr.. Lincoln
begins by citing the provision in the
Constitution empowering tho Presi.
dent to grant rcprieyes and pardons.
The laws OF Congress declaring for
fixture, &C., and authorizing the
President to issue proclamations Of
pardon aud amnesty, With such ex,
ccptisns as the Executive may
deem proper is then cited. Mr.
Lincoln, in referring to this act
adds: "Whereas the Congressiona