Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-12-18
Proclamation.

Whereas, by the Constitution of the
United States, it is provided that the pre-
sident shall have power to grant repreves
and paIdons for offences against the Uni
ted States, except in cases OF impeach-
ment; and whereas, rebellion now ex-
lists whereby the loyal state governments
of the several states have for a long time
been subverted, and many persons have
committed and are now guilty of treason
against the United States and whereas,
with reference to said rebellion and trea-
son, laws have been enacted by Congress
declaring the forieitures and coniiscaton
of property and the Liberation of slaves,
all upon terms and conditions therein
stated, and also deel"riug that the prasi.
dent was thereby authorized at any time
thereafter by proclamation to extend to
persons who may have participated in
the existing rebellion in any State or part
thereof, pardon and amnesty, with such
exceptions, and at such times, 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 the
well established judicial exposition Of the
pardoning power; and whereas, with re-
ference TO said rebellion the president of
the United States has issued several pro-
CARNATIONS with provisions in regard to
the liberation of slaves; and whereas, it
is now desired by some persons hereto
fore engaged in said rebellion, to resume.
their allegiance to the United States, and
to re-inaugurate loyal State governments
within and tortheir respective States:
Therefore, |, Abraham Lincoln, Pres
ident of the United States, do proclaim,
declare and make known to all persons
who have, directly or by implication, par.
ticipated in the existing rebellion, except
as hereinafter excepted, that afull pardon
is hereby granted to them and each of
them, with the restoration of all their
| rights as property except as to slaves and
in property cases where the rights Of
third parties shall have interviewed, upon
the condition that every such person
shall take and subscribe to an oath and
thenceiorward keep and maintain said
oath inviolate, which oath shall be regis
tered for permanent preservation, and
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 aud defend the
Constitution of the United States, and
the Union Of the States hereunder and
that | will, in like manner, abide by and
faithfully support all the acts of Con-
gre>s passed during the existing rebellion
with reference to slaves, so long and SO
far as they are not repeated, modified or
held void by Congress or by decision Of
the Supreme Court; and that | will, in
like manner, abide by and faithfully sup
port all the proclamations Of the Presi-
dent made during the existing rebellion
having reference to slaves so Tar as they
are not modified or declared void by the
decision Of the Supreme Court. So help
me God"
The persons excepted from the bene-
h's OF the foregoing provisions are all
who are, or shall have been. civil or d.
plomatic officers or agents of the so-called |
confederate government; all who have /
left judicial stations under the United
States TO aid the rebellion; all who are.
or shall have been. military or naval Off
GERS of said so-caled confederate govern 1
ment, above the rank. of colonel in the
army and of lieutenant in the navy; all
who left seats in the United States Con-
gress to aid the rebellion; all who resign
ed commissions in the army or navy of
the United States and afterwards aided
the rebellion, and all who have engaged
in any way in treating colored persons.
or white persons in charge of such, 9th
erwise than lawfully as prisoners of war.
such persons having been found in the
United States service as soldiers, seamen,
or 10 any other capacity. !