Amnesty

In 1862 Congre authorized the President to offer full pardon to all persons, excepting the most prominent movers in the Rebellion who would swear an oath of allegiance to the United States. President Lincoln i ued the first proclamation of amnesty December 8, 1863. On March 26, 1864, a supplementary proclamation was i ued. The next proclamation was i ued by President Johnson May 29, 1865. A bill ‘ was pa ed in 1867 repealing the act of 1862, but President Johnson ignored it, adhering to his constitutional right to pardon. On September 7, 1867, President Johnson i ued another proclamation extend. ing pardon to all but a few cla es, July 4, 1868, pardon was offered for treason to all, except those under indictment, and December 25, 1868, full amnesty to all. The Congre ional Act of May 22, 1872, removed political disability from all but the most prominent Confederates, “ Amy Warwick,’ a ve el belonging to persons living in Richmond, and captured July 10, 1861, by the U. S. cruisers as ‘‘enemy’s property.”” The ve el was at the time of capture on the high seas from Rio Janeiro to Richmond, laden with tobacco and not attempting to rum the blockade. This capture first distinctly raised the question of the right of the United States to exercise war powers in suppre ing the Confederacy.