, 1863-12-26
Presidents Proclamation.
The following is the proclamation referred
to in the Message:
WASHINGTON, Dee. 8, 1868.

to IN the Message:
WASHINGTON, Dee 8, 1868.
Whereas, in and by the Constitution of
the United States it is provided that the
President shall have power to grant reprieves
and pardons for all ofenses against the Uni
ted States, except in cases Of impeachment;
and whereas, rebellion now exists where
by the loyal States and the Governments of
the several States have, for long time been
subverted, and many persons have been.
committing and are now guilty of treason
against the United States and whereas,
with reference to said rebellion and treason,
laws have been enacted by Congress calling.
for the forfeiture and confscation Of proper
ty and the liberation of slaves, al upon
terms and conditions therein stated, and also.
declaring that the President was thereby au-
thorized at any time thereafter, by procla-
nation, to extend to persons who may have
participated in the existing rebellion in any
State or part thereof, pardon, or amnesty,
with such exceptions and on such terms and
on such conditions as he may deem expedi
ent for the public welfare and whereas, the
Congressional declaration for limited and
conditional pardon accords with well estab-
lished judicial expositions of the pardoning
power; and whereas, with reference to said
rebellion the President Of the United States
has issued several proclamations with pro
visions in regard to the liberation of slaves;
and Whereas it is now desired by some per-
sons heretofore engaged in said rebellion to
resume their allegiance to the United States
and re-inaugurate loyal State Governments
within and for their respective States
Therefore, l, Abraham Lincoln, Presi-
dent Of the United States, do proclcim, de-
clare and make known to all persons who
have directly Or by implication participated
in the existing rebellion, except as herein
after excepted, that a full pardon is granted
to them and each of them, with restoration
of all rights, if third parties shall have in
tervened and upon the condition that they
such persons-shaIl take and subscribe
an oath, and theneeforward keep and main
tain said oath nviolate, aud which oath shall
be registered for permanent preservation,
and shall be of the tenorand effect following,
to-wit:
81 do solemnly swear, in presence Of AL
fully support, protect and defend the Con-
stitutiOn Of the United States and the Union
of States Hereunder, and that l will in like
manner abide by and faithfully support all
Acts Of Congress passed during the existing
rebellion with reference to slaves 50 long and
so far as pot modified or repealed, or held
void by Congress Or by decision of the Su-
preme Court; and that viii in like man
ner abide by and faithfully support all proc
lamations Of the President made during the
existing rebellion having reference to slaves,
SO long and SO far as not modified or de-
clared void by decision Of the Supreme
Court; SO help me God :"
The persons excepted from the benefits of
the foregoing provisions are all who are, or
shall have been, civil or diplomatic officers
or agents Of the so-called Confederate Gov
enmentj all who have left judicial stations
under the United States to aid the rebel
lion all who are, or shall have been, mill
tary or naval officers Of or above the rank of
Colonel in the army, or Lieutenant in the
navy; all who left seats in the United States
Congress to aid in the rebellion all who re-
signed their commissions in the army and
navy of the United States and afterwards
aided the rebellion; and all who have en-
gagged in any way in treating colored per-
sons, or white persons in charge of such,
than lawfully as prisoners of war,
and which persons may be found in the Uni
ted States service as soldiers, seamen, or in
any other capacity.
And do further proclaim, declare, and
make known, that whenever in any of the
States Of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, tennessee, Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, South Carolina, and North Carroll
ma, a number Of persons, not less than one
tenth Of the number Of the votes cast in such
State at the Presidential election in the
year of our Lord l860-each having taken
the oath aforesaid and not having since VIC.
lated it, being qualified voter by the elec-
ton laws of the State, existing Immediately
before the so-called act Of Secession, and ex-
Guiding all Others-shall be established a
State Government, which shall be republi-
can, and in nowise contravening said oath,
such shall be recognized as the true govern
ment Of the State, and the state shall receive
Hereunder the benefits of the constitutional
provision which declares that the United
States shall guarantee to every State in the
Union republican form of Government,
and shall protect each Of them against lnva-
sion, on application of the legislature, OR the
Executive when the legislature cannot be
convened, against domestic violence. Sec
Ond-I do further proclaim, declare, and
make knOwd, that any provision which may
be adopted by such State Government in re-
lation to the freed people of such State,
which has or which shall recognize and de-
clare their permanent freedom, and provide
for their education, and which may yet be
as a temporary arrangement with
their present condition as labOring, landless
and homeless class, will not be objected to
by the National Executive; and it is sug-
gested as not improper, that in constructing
a 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 sub
ject only to notifications made necessary by