Year: 1865

WASHINGTON, July g..


Heaident johnson was waited on yesterday
by MeDsrs James A. Jones, T. 4. LAnees1er,
VIM. II. Hassall and j, L. Apperson, repre-.
sentatives Of merchants and othsrs, of Vir.
ginis, Who wished him to amend the Amnesty
Proclamation BY striking out the 18th excep.
don, the $50, 600 clause. They represent that
this feature interfered With the developnen,
ofindustry and by binding up capital in this way
oppress the poor, and that when they endesv.
ored to borrow money in the Northern OF
middle States, they were at once met BY the
Objection, that perhaps they had $4,000, and
II they had the accommodation could not De
extended. 20 they were unable TO give work to
the poor who called upon them &C.


The President reminded them that the Am
nesty Proclamation did not cause this distrust,
it was the commission Of treason and the yio,,
lation Of law that did it. The Amnesty Proc
lsmation left these men just where they were
before. If they had committed treason they
were amenable to the confscation law, which
Congress had passed, and which he as Presi-
dent could not alter or amend in the Amnesty
Proclamation. de had offered pardon to
some persons. He asked them if they would
like to have the proclamation removed alto
gethers Would they feel any easier in that
case7 One Of the deputation 'sNo: but It
would assist as very much if you would ex-
tend the benefits Of the proclamation to per
sons worth over $20.OOO.''


The President replied that in making ex-
ception be had acted on the the natural sup
position that these men had aided the rebel
lien according to the extent of their pecuniary
means did they not know this?


One Of the deputation-No; / did not
know it.


President-Why, yes; you do know per
fectly well that il was the wealthy men of the
South who dragged the people into secession.
! lived in the South, and | know how things
were done. Your State was Overwhelmingly
opposed to secession, but your rich men used
the press and bulles and your little army 10
force the State into secession. Take the
$4,000 clause. Suppose a man is 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, DC. We
might as weIl talk plainly about this matter
l don I think YOU are so very anxious about
relieving the poor. If you are very eager to
help the poor. why don't you take the surplus
over the 81, 900 You own, and give to them,
and IN that way you Will help them and bring
yourselves within the benefits Of the procia-
natIon- | am free to say to you that think



Sie.ooo to help the poor


When l was Military Governor of Tennes-
see, | assessed such tax on those who had
been wealthy leaders Of the rebellion, and ii
had good effect.


Deputation-It so happens that none of us
were leaders. We staid out as long as we
could, and were the last to go in.


Presideut-Frequently those who went in
last were among the worst after they got in,
but, be that as il NAV, understand our Gov
ernment- don't say this personally: am
just speaking of the general working of the
matter. l know there has been an effort
made among some to persuade the people that
the amnesty proclamation was iniuring them
by shutting up capital and keeping work from
the poor. II does no such thing. If that is
done at all, it is done in consequence of the
violation of law and the commission of trea-
son.


The President concluded by saving that he
would look at the papers they presented. but
so tar had seen no reason for removing the
18th exception.


Now that the conspiracy trial is over. and
the sentences of the Military Commission are
executed, there will soon be some definite
action On the trial OF jeff. Davis. III
It should at last be determined to try him for
treason. The proceedings will, of course,
take place before civil tribunal from presen,
Indications Il is more probable he will be
tried by military commission as leader or
lnstigator of the conspiracy. for it is said In
headquarters there is newly discovered proof
against hun IN that connection.