Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-03
LAWTON NOT CONFIRMED.
HOW HE REGARDS The FAIL
URE OF HIS NOMINATION.

His Pardon by President johnson in
IS67-His Frinnds Believe that IL IL
Not Affected by the Fourteenth
AmsEdment--Othsr Nominations I'm
der Similar Ctreumstsnoes Confirmed
The news that the nomination of Gen.
A. r. Lawton as Minister to Russia had
been Withdrawn from the Senate beca Sc
it was claimed by some OF the Senators
that his political disabilities had not
beon rem owed was the occasion
Of considerable surprise yesterday. No
one had doubted but Gen. Law
toms nomination would be promptly con-
fir1ned, and, as the people Of 2avannan
have so long looked upon the war as d
thing Of the remote past, noor ly had
thought about the question Of political dis
abilities.
A NEWS reporter called on tire General
last night TO obtain his views on the un-
lOoked-f0r turn his nomination had taken,
and found him quietly enjoying himself at
his home on Perry street. He SAID the
first iptImatiou he had that the question
would or could be raised in the Senate
when his nomination by the President
came up for confirmation, was telegram
from Senators Brown and CoQu,tt o.
Wednesday evening. The telegram stated
that it had been claimed that bis political
disabilities had not been removed, ana
that he could not, therefore, hold tAe
Office.
us it true that your political disabili-
ties then have never been remOYedY' IN
quircd the reporter.
The General replied that they had been.
He said, i'm substance, that in February
1864. he received a ull and unconditional
pardon from PfesidentJohns0n. After tdis
pardon had been granted the fourteenth
amendment 10 the constitution Of the
United states was passed, which provides
that political disabilities must be remoYed
by tWO-thirds vote Of Congress-.
1t is now claimed thai the fourteenth
amendment annulied that pardon, and
that as his disabilities have never been
removed by act OF Congress the General
is not now eligible 10 the Office for which
he has been nominated, he having held
state and national Offices before the war.
After receiving the telegram from The
Georgia Senators, stating that the ones
ton had been raised he received
another from Senator Brown stating
that majority of the Repub-
lican Senators and some ID mooratie
Senators thought he was not eligible
lie appeared TO regard this as a
strange proposition Of law, but said he
would not express legal opinion ON the
subject because he is personally interested
He showed the reporter seyerai dispatches
he had received from leading members OF
the barin Washington and elsewhere, Wht
are his personal friends, al Of them ok
pressing the opinion that his pardon, be-
ing granted before the fourteenth amend
ment was passed. covered the ground, ana
that no aci OF Congress is necessary in
his case. They all hold that 1t has long
been settled that the President has ful
and complete power to pardon, and
that Gen. Lawt0n's pardon could not
be affected by q constitutional amendment
passed after the pardon was granted
The General said that other nominations
that have been confirmed are in the same
condition, and he appeared to think Il
strange that his case should be singled
out when others had passed without oh
lection. He said he would have been sat
isfied to have had his case brought to ;
vote in the Senate and decided this SEES
sion, but he did not want to do anythins
10 embarrass the President. He did no
know what action would now be taken
and would leave the matter in the hand
of the President and Secretary o
State. As the Senate has adjourned
nothing can now be done unit
next December. His name can then be
sent i'm again If the President desires C
do SO. Gen. Lawton does not contemplate
going to Washington at present, but wheI
next there on business will call on thu
President and Secretary Bayard and THANH
them personally for the honor they con
ierred on him.