Washington telegraph., 1863-12-30

\ Ahc toiIoWiuk ptoCihuhI0u 10 oppcuucu
President Lincoln's Message:
Whereas, On and by the Constitution Of the
United States it is provided that the President
shall have power to grant reprieves and par
dons for offences against the United States
except In cases Of impeachment; and
Whereas, A rebellion now exists. whereby
the loyal States and Governments of several
States have for long time been subverteL
and many persons have committed and arc Vow
guilty of treason against the United States. aud
Whereas, With reference to said rebellion
and treason laws have been enacted by Con-
gress declaring the forfeiture and c5nfscation
Of property and the liberation Of slaves, all
upon terms and conditions therein stated ard
| also declaring that the President was thereby
authorized at any time thereafter, by procla-
nation, to extend tc persons who may have
participated in the existing rebellion, in any
State or part thereof, pardon and amnesty.
with such exceptions and at such terms and
on such conditions as he may deem e1pedient
for the public welfare; and
Whereas, The Congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon, accorded with
well established judicial expositions of the
pardoning power; and
Whereas, With reference to said rebellion
the President Of the United States has issued
several proclamatious, with provisions in re-
gard TO the liberation Of laves; and
Whereas, 1t is n)w desired by some persons
heretofore engaged in said rebellion tC resume
their allegiance 10 the United States, AMI re-
inaugurate loyal State governments within and
for their respective States; therefore,
l, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States, do proclaim, declare, and make known
to all persons who have directly by impli-
cation participated in the existing rebellion,
except hereinafter excepted, that a full
pardon is granted TO them aud each Of them
with restoration Of all rights, if the said par
ties shall have--, ana upon the condition
that every such person hall take anl subscribe
IN oath, and thenceforwarl keep AMI maintain
said oath inviolate, aud which oath shall he
registered for permanent preservation. AMI
shall be Of the tenor and effect following, to-
wit:
Il do solemnly swear, in the presence Of
Almighty God, that will henceforth faithfully
support, protect ard defend the Constitution
of the United States and the Union Of the
States hereunder, and that will in like man
er abide by and faithfully support all acts Of
Congress passed during tie existing rebellion
with reference to slaves 20 long aud 80 far as
not yet repealed, modified or hplI voii by
Congress or by decision of the Supreme Court;
and that will in ike manner abide by and
faithfully support all proclamations Of the
resident made during the existing rebellion
hayinE reference to slaves, so long and so far
as not modified or declared void " decision of
the Supreme Court-so help me God"
The persons excepted from the benefits OF
the foregoing proclamation, are all that a re or
may have been civil or diplomatic officers, or
agents Of the so-called Confcderacy: or all who
have left Judicial stations under the United
States to aid the rebellion; all who shall have
been military or naval officers Of the rank Of
Colonel IN the ar ny, or Lieutenant in the navy;
all who left IN fha IT,.s saIS Sr.t
10 aid in he rebell'on; all who resigned their
commissions ~ the army and navy Of the United
States and afterwards aided the rebe ellion, ard
all who Fave engaged in any way in treating
cOiored persons or white persons n charge of
such otherwise than lawfully prisoners Of
war, and which persons may lie found in tn
| United States service as soldiers, seameu IT in
any 'ther capacity, AMI do further proclaim
declare and make known, that whenever in
any of the States of Arkansas. Texas. Louis
lana, Mississippi. Tennessee. Alabama Georgis.
FLORIDA, South Car lima, and North Carolina, n
number Of persols, not less than one-tenth of
the number o. the votes cast in such State Mt
the residential election of the year of our
Lord, 1860, each having taken the cath afore-
SAID, and not having since violated il, and
being qualified voter by the election laws of
the State, existing Immediately before the So
called act of secession, and excluding all others.
snail be established a State government, which
shall be republican, aud nowise contravening
SAID oath; such shall be recognized as the true
government Of the State, and the State shall
receive hereunder the benefits Of the consti-
tutional provision, which declares that the
United States shall guarantee every State in
this Union a republican form Of government; ;
shall protect each Of them against invasion,
and on application of the Legislature or the
Executive, when the Legislature cannot be
convened, against domestic violence; AMI 10
further proclaim, declare aud make known,
that any provision which may be adopted by
such State government in relation to the freed
people Of such State which shall recognize and
declare their permanent freedom and provide
for their education, and which may yet be con-
sistent as a temporary arrangement with their
present condition rs a laboring landless and
homeless class, will not be. objected to by the
national executive, and it is suggested as not
improper tina. in constructing q loyal State
government in any State, the name Of the
boundary, the subdivision, the Constitution and
the Federal code of laws as before the rebellion,
be maintained, subject only to notifications
made necessary by the conditions hereinbefore
stated, and such others, if any, contravening
ssid conditions which may be deened expe-
dent by those framing the new State govern
ment. To avoid misunderstanding. it may be
| proper to say that this proclamation 80 far -