Year: 1865

The Richmond Deputation and the President.
The President was waited on, Saturday by
deputation of Virginia gentlemen who wished
him to alter the Amnesty Proclamation by
striking out the 18th exceptions 1.-THE 100000
clause) They represented that this clause
interfered with the development OF industry
by binding up capital, and so oppressed the
poor. They said that when they endeavored
to borrow money in the Northern or Middle
States they were met at once by the objection
that perhaps they had over $20,000, and if
they had they could not lend it to them So
they were unable to assist in work the poor
men that called upon them.


The President reminded them that the


Amnesty Proclamation did not cause this


distrust. It was the commission of treason
and the violation of law that did it. The
Amnesty Proclamation left these men just
where they were before It-did not add any
disability to them If they had committed
treason they were amenable to the confscation
law which Congress had passed, and which he,
as President, could not alter nor amend.
In the Amnesty Proclamation he had


offered pardon to some persons, but that did
not injure any other persons. Would they
S like to have the Amnesty Proclamation
removed altogether? Would they feel any
easier in that case?


One Of the deputation But it would
assist us very much if you would extend the
over $4,000.


The President replied that in making that
exception he had acted on the natural
supposition that men had aided the rebellion
! according to the extent OF their pecuniary
] MEANS Did they not know this?
One of the deputation. he didn't


know it.


4 The President Why, yes you do; you
. know perfectly we'll it was the wealthy men of
!. the South who dragooned the people into
!. secession. lived in the South, and | know
q how the thing was done. Your State was
q overwhelmingly opposed to secession, but your


rich men used the press and bullies and your
B little army to force the State into secession.
3 Take the $4,000 clause. Suppose a man is
h worth more than that now the war is over, and


the chances are ten to one that he made it out OF
the rebellion by contracts, &c. We might as
. we'll talk plainly about this matter. | don't
think that you are so very anxious about
relieving the poor. You want this clause


removed so as to enable you to make money,


don't you? If you are very eager to help the


poor why don't you take the surplus over the


$4,000 you own, and give it to them? In


that way you'll help them, and bring


yourselves within the benefits OF the procla.


nation | am free to say to you that | think


some of you ought to be taxed on all over


$4,000, to help the poor. When was Mill
tary Governor of Tennessee | assessed such
taxes on those who had been wealthy leaders
of the rebellion, and it had good effect.
One of the deputation. SO happens that
none Of us were leaders. We staid out as
long as we could, and were the last to go in.
The President Frequently those who went
in last were among the worst after they got IN.
But be that as it may. Understand me, gen
tlemen, do not say this personally | am
just speaking of the general working OF the


matter I know there has been among some


an effort to persuade the people that the Am


nesty Proclamation was injuring them, by


poor. It does no such thing. If that is done at


all, it is done in consequence of the violation


of law and the commission of treason.


The President concluded by saying that he


would look at the papers they presented, but


so far, he had seen no reason tor removing the
18th exception.


The late Admiral Dupont has tequeathediu in


lis will all his prize money, amounting to one


hundred and seventy-fve thousand dollars, to


5he asylum for the education and relief OF the


orphan children Of the sailors and soldiers OF


the Republic which is soon to be organized by
an act Of Congress-


The price of gold is steady at about l40 J. 1t
tell in June to l28, it rose again to l4z, and