Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-12-15

pardon Is granted to them and each Of them,
with restoration Of all rights Of property except
as TO slaves, and in property cases where rights
Of third parties shall have interveneo, and upon
the condition that every person shall taks and
subscribe an oath, and thenceiorward keep and
maintain said oath Inv olate, and which oath
shall be registered for permanent preservation,
and shall be OF the tenor aud effect following, to
wit
L do solemuly swear IN the presence
of Almighty God, that will henceforth faith
fully support protect and defend the Constitu-
ton Of t6e United ates and the Union Of the
United States Hereunder, and that will, in like
manner, abide BY and faithfully support all acts
OF Congress passed during the existing rebellion
with reference to slavery, as long and as far AS
not modified OF declared void by decision Of the
Supreme Court. 50 help me God.
The persons excep ed from the benefits Of the
foregoing provisions are all who are or shall
have been evil OF diplomatic officers or agents
Of the socalled confederate government, all who
have left Judicial tations under the United
States to aid the rebellion, al who are or shall
have been military or naval officers OF the 60
called confederate government above the rank
OF Colonel in the army or Of Lieutenant IN the
navy, all who left seats in Congress " aid the
rebellion, all who resigned commissions in the
army or navy OF tho United States, and after
warks aided the rebellion and all who have
engaged in any way IN treating colored persons
or white persons otherwise than lawfully as
prisoners Of war, and which persons may have
been found in the UAited States service as sol
diers, sgamen, or in any other capacity
And do further proclaim, declare and make
known, thai whenever IN any Of the States of
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ten
nessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Caro-
lima aud North Carolina, number Of PERSONS
not less than one tenth in number Of the votes
cast in such Stale al the Presidential election OF
the year Of our Lord 1860, each having taken
the oath alOl said and not having since violated
it, and beng qualified voter during the cleo
ton law OF the State existing immediately be-
fore the soc lied act Of secession, and excluding
all Others, shall re establish u State government
which shall be republican and in no wise con
trayening SAID oath. such shal be recognized az
the true government Of the State, and the STATE
shall receive hereunder the benefit ol the con
stitutional provision which declares that Jht
United States shall guarantee to every State II
this Union republican form Of government
and shall protect each Of them against invasion
on application Of the legislature, or the executive
when the legislature cannot be convened, agalDs
domestic violence
And DO further proclaim, declare, and m Ak
known, that any provision which may be adopteC
by such State government Ia relation 10 tn
freed ople Of such State which shall recognIz
and declare their permanent freedom, poyid
for their tducatIou, and winch may yet be con
sisteht, as temporary arrangemebt, with thei
present condition as a labOrlng, land.ess an'
homeless class, will not be objected to by th'
national executive.
And it is suggested az not improper, that il
constructing loyal State government in an,
State, the name OF the State, the boundary, tn
subdivisions, the constitution and the genera
code Of laws as before the rebellion, be main
talned subject only TO the modification mad
necessary by the conditions bereinbefore stated
and such others il any not coniravening sal,
conditions, and which may be deemed expedien
by those forming the new State government
To avoid misunderstanding it may be prope
to say that this proclamation, 80 far as it relate
10 State governments, has no reference to State
wherein loyal State governments have all tn
while been maintained.
And for the same reason it may DO prope
further to saw, that whether members sent Il
Congress from any State shall be admitted t,
seats, consttutionallY rests exclusively with tn
respective Houses, and not to any extent witt
the executive
And still further, that this proclamation il
intended TO present The people Of the State
wherein the national authorly has been suspen
ded, and loyal STATE governments have been sub
vertcd mode In and by which the national au
tbority and loyal State governments may be re
established within said States, or in any OF them
And Will, the mode presented is the best tn
executive can suggest, with his present impress
sons, IT must not be understood that no Othe
possible mode would be accepta, lie.
Given under my hand At the city of Wash
ington, the 9th day Of December, A. d. 1863
and of the independence OF the United States O
America the eigbty-eighth
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
BY the President,
w II Su.x.on So nl Stat