Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-10

Proclamation .

Proclamat iOn.
The following proclamation accompanies the
message:
WHEREAS. On and 5y the Constitution Of the
United States, it is provided that the President
shall bave power to grant feprieves and pardons
for offenses against the United States except in
cases OF impeachment; and.
WHEREAS, A rebellion exists whereby the
loyal States and the governments of the several
states have tor long time been subyerted, and
many persons have committed 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 de-
clsrng the forfeiture and eonfscation of property
and liberation of slaves, all upon terms and con-
editions therein stated, aud also declaring that the
President was thereby authorized at any time
thereafter, by proclamation, 10 extend to persons
who NAV have participated in the existing re-
bellion in any State or part thereof. pardon. and
OH such terms and conditions he NAV deem
expedien tor the public welfare; and
WHEREAS The Congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon accorded with well
established exposltions of the pardOning power;
and,
WHEREAS, With reference to said rebellion the
President of the United States has issued several
prOclamati0ns with provisions in regard to the
liberation of slaves, and
WHEREAS, 1t is now desired by some persons
heretofore engaged in said rebellion to resume
their allegiance 10 the United States and rein
augurate lOyal State governments within and
for their respective States; therefore /, Abraham
Lincoln, President of the United States, do pro-
claim, declare and make known TO all persons
who have directly or by implication participated
in the existing rebellion, except herein after
excepted. that full pardon is granted to them
G.f .el. r II
if third parties shall have interviewed and upon
the condition that every such person shall
take and subscribe oath and thenceferward
keep and maintain said oath inviolate and
which oath shall be registered for permanent
preservation, and shall be of the tenor and effect
following, to Wit: Il do solemnly swear in pres
ence of Almighty God. that | will henceforth
faithfully support. protect and defend the Consti-
tuition Of the United States and the Union of
States hereunder; and that will in like manner
abide by and faithfully support all acts OF Con
gress passed during the existing rebellion, with
reference to slaves 30 long aud so far as not vet
repealed, modified, or held void by Congress or
by decision OF the Supreme Court; and that will
in like manner abide by aud faithfully support all
proclamalions of the President made during the
existing rebellion, having reference to slaves, so
long and so far as not modified or declared void
by decision OF the Supreme Court. So help me
God" The persons excepted from the bene-
hts OF the foregoing provisions are all who
are or shall have been civil or dpo matte officers
agents Of the SO called Confederate govern
ment; all who have left judicial stations under the
United States to aid the rebellion; all who are or
shall have been militlry or naval officers of the
rank of Colonel in the army Lieutenant in the
navy; all who left seats ia the United States Con-
gress TO aid in the rebellion; all who resigned
their commissions in the army and navy of the
United States and afterwards aided the rebellion,
and all who have engaged in any way in treating
colored persons white persons in charge of
such otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war.
and which persons may be found in the United
States service as soldiers. seamen. in any other
capacity. And do further proclaim declare and
make known that whoever in any of the
States OF Arkansas. Texas. Louisiana, Mississ-
ippl, Tennessee, Alabama. Georgia, Florida,
South Carolina aud North Carolina, a number of
persons not less than or e-tenth of the number of
the votes east in such State at the Presidential
election OF the year of our Lord 1860, each hav-
ing taken the oath aforesaid, and not having
since violated il, end being qualified voter by
the election laws of the State existing the Janu-
airy before the Of secession, and excluding all
Others, shall be established State Government
which shall he republican, and no wise coniraven
ing said oath. Such shall lie recognized as the
true government Of the State and the State
shall receive hereunder the benefits of the con
stitutional 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 invasion. and on application OF
the legislature, or the Executive when the Lee
gslatnre cpnor he convened. against domestic
violence Aud | DO further proclaim. declare
and make known that provision which may
be adopted hy such State Government ia relation
TO the freed lepple of such State which shall re
cognize and declare their permanent freedom and
provide for their education, and which NAV vet be
consistent, as temporary arrangement, with their
present condition as laboring. landless and
homeless class. will not be objected TO by the
National Executive. And it is suggested as not
improper that in constructing LOYAL state gov
eminent in any State, the name OF the boundary
the subdivision, the constitution, and the federal
code oflaws as before the rebellion. be maintain
ell. subject only 20 notifications made necessary
by the conditions hereinbefore stated. and such
others. IL any. contfavening said conditions. and
Which may be deemed expedien by those fran
ing the new state government To
avoid misunderstanding. IL may be pro
per to say that this proclamation 80 far
"a IL relates 10 a State government. has no refer
ence to States wherein -loyal State goyeruments
have all the while been maintained. and for tho
same reason Il may be proper To further say tha,
whether members sent 10 Congress from any
State. shall be admitted 20 soats oonsttotionally,
rests exclusively with the respective House,.
not 20 any extent with the executive. and state
further that this proclamation i intended 10
present. 20 the people of the States where tho
national authority has been suspended aud loyal
State governments have bosn snbver,cd, mode
by which the national authority over every loyal
State goyernmen, may be established within said
States or any Of them. and whom the mode pre-
scntcd j. the best the Executive can suggest with
biz present impression. il must not be understood
that another possible mode would no, be accept
able.
Given under ny hand 81 the city OF washIns
ton this. the eth day Of December. A. D.. 1868.
and OF the Independence Of the United States OF
america. the eighty eighth,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Rv the prssfdent,