Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-05-13
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT.

PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, NAY s,-A proclamation by
the President of the United States of America.
APRocLAMATIoN.
WHEREAS. The Congress of the United
States, at its last session, enacted a law enti-
tied san Act for enrolling and calling out the
national forces and for other purposes"
which was approved on the third day of March
last;
.4md rhereas, 1t is recited in the said act
that there now exists in the United States an
insurrection and rebellion against the author
ity thereof, it is. under the Constitution of
the United States, the duty of the Govern
ment to suppress insurrection and rebellion,
to guarantee to each State republican form
of Government and to preserve the public
tranquility;
.dnd whereas, For these high purposes mil
itary force is indispe nsibe, TO raise and sup
port which all persons ought willingly to con-
tribute
.9nd rhereds, No service can be more praise
worthy and honorable than that which is rem
tion and the Union, and the consequent pres
ervatien of tree Government
find ,oaereas, For the reason recited it was
enacted by the said statue that all the able
bodied male citizens OF the United States,
and persons of foreign birth, who shall have
declared on oath their intention to become
citizens under and in Pursuance of the law
thereof between the ages of twenty and forty
five years, with certain exceptions. NOT neccs-
ary to be mentioned, are declared to consti
tute the national forces, and shall be liable to
perform military duty in the service of the
United States, when called out by the Presi-
dent for that purposes;
find achereas, 1t is claimed by and in be-
half of persons of foreign birth within the ages
specified il the said act, who have heretofore
declared on oath their intentions to become
citizens under and in pursuance of the laws OF
the United States, and who have not exercis-
ed the right of suffrage or any other political
franchise under the laws of the United States
or of any State thereof, are not absolutely in
cluded by their aforesaid declaration of inten-
tion from renouncing their purpose to become
citizens, and that, on the contrary, such per-
sons under the treaties and law of nations re-
tail right to renounce that purpose and to
forego the privilege of citizenship and resi-
dence within The United States under the ob-
legation imposed by the aforesaid act OF Con-
gress:
Now, therefore, to avoid all misapprehen-
sions concerning the liability of persons con-
cerned to perform the service required by such
enactment and to give it tull effect, L do
hereby order and proclaim, that no plea of al
ienage viii be received or allowed to exempt
from the obligations enforced by the afore-
said act OF congress any person of foreign
birth who shall have declared on oath his in
tention to become citizen of the United
States under the laws thereof, and who shall
be found within the United States at any time
during the continuance of the present insurrec-
tion and rebellion, at or after the expiration
of the period of sixty five days from the date
of this proclamation nor shall any such plea of
aienage be allowed in favor of any such per
son who has aforesaid fled his intention
to become a citizen of the United States, and
shall have exercised at any time the right of
suffrage or any other political franchise within
the United States, under the laws thereof,
under the laws OF the several States.
In witness whereotI have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United Statos
to be affixed.
Done at the city OF Washington, this the Sth
day of May. in the year of our Lord 1868, and
of the independence of the United States the
S7th ABRAHAM LIscoLs.
By the President.
Wn. H. SEWARD, Sec. of State.