Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-15
NEW YoEk, May 5.
Gold .oll today at l55.
WAsHIseroN. Nav 5.
By the President Of the l. S Of America
4 PROCLAMATION.

By the President Of the L. s. Of America
a PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, The Congress of the United
States at its last session enacted a law
entitled an Act for enrolling and
calling out tine national forces and for other
purposes which was approved on the 81 day
OF March last ; and icherods. 1t is rccited in
said act that there exists in the United
States an Instruction and rebellion against
the authority thereof and it is under the
Constitution Of the United States the duty
Of Government u suppress instruction and
rebellion. 10 guarantee 70 each State rcpub-
lican form Of government and 10 preserve the
public tranquility ; and
Whereas, for these high purposes mill
tary force is indispensable to raise and sup
port, to which all persons ought willingly 70
contribute and
Whereas, No service can he more praise
worthy and honorable than that which Is
rendered for the maintenance Of the Consti-
tuition and the Union and consequently the
preservation Of free government and
Whereas from the reasons thus recIted 1t WIS
enacted by said statute that all able bodied
male citizens Of the United States and PER
SONS Of foreign birth who shall have declared
on oath their intentions 70 become citizens
under and in pursuance Of the laws
thereof, between tho ages Of ~ and IS wears,
with certain exceptions not necessary u he
here mentioned, are declared 10 constitute the
national forces, and shall he liable to perform
military duty in the service of the United States
when called on by the President for that Pur-
pose and
Whereas. 1t Is claimed in behalf Of persona
of foreign birth within the ages specified In
said act who have heretofore declared on oath
their intention TO become citizens under amp
in pursuance of the laws Of the United
States, and who have not exercised the right
/ Of suffrage OF any other political
franchise under the laws of
the United States or Of any States thereof
that they are not absolutely prccluded BY
their aforesaid declaration Of intention from
renouncing their purpose 70 become citizens
and that on the contrary such persons under
treaties or law Of nations retain the right 10
renounce that purpose and TO forcgo the
privilege Of citizenship and residence within
the United States under obligations imposed
by the aforesaid Act of Congress
Noi1 therefore to avoid all misapprehcn-
sions concerning the liability Of persons con-
eerned to perform the service required by
such enactment, and to give It full effect,
do hereby order and proclaim thar no plea Of
alienage will De received or allowed to e1-
empt from obligations imposed by the afore-
said act of congress any person of foreign
birth who shall have declared on oath his in
tention TO become a citizen OF the United
States under the laws thereof and who
shall be found within the United States at
any time during the continuation Of the
present instruction and rebellion, at or after
the expiration Of the period of sixty-fve
DAYS from date OF this proclamation
nor shsll any such plea of alienage be allow
ed in favor OF any such person who has so rs
aforesaid declared his intention to become
a citizen of the L. S. and shall have excrcis-
ed at any time the right OF suffrage or any
other political franchise within the t. S. un-
der the:laws of any Of the several states.
In witness thereof have hereunto set my
seal and caused the seal Of the United States
to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this sth
day Of May, A. d. 1868, aud Of the indie
pendence of the United States the s7th.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President,
W. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.