Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-16

| aided the Rebellion, and all who have-engaged
10 any way in treating coIored persons or
"hite persons in charge of such, otherwise
4 man lawfully as prisoners of war, hase oeeh
found in the United 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 Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Missis-
/ sippi, Tennessee, Alabama. Georgia, Florida,
! South Carolina and North Carolina, Dunber
| of the votes cast in slch States, at the Presi-
dental election of the year of our Lord, 1860,
each having taken the oath aforesaid, and not
/ having since violated it, aud being qualified
/ voter by the election law OF the State existing
Immediately before the so-called act of Sc
cession, and excluding all others, shall re-es-
/ tablish State Government, which shall be
republican, and in nowise contravening said
| oath, such shall be recognized as the true
Government of the State, and the State shall
receive hereunder the benefit of the consti-
tioual provision which declares that s.the
United States shall guarantee to every State
in this Union Republican. form of Govern
ment, and shall protect each of them againts
invasion, on application of the Legislature,
or OF the Executive, when the Legislature
cannot be convened, against domestic vio-
ience.''
And do further proclaim, declare, and
make known, that any provision which may
relation 10 the freed people OF such State,
which shall recognize and declare their per-
manent freedom, provide for their education
and which may yet be consistent, a temporary
arrangement. with their present condition. as
laboring, landless and harmless class will
not be objected to by the National Executive.
And it is suggested as not improper that in
constructing loyal State government in any
State, the name of the State. the boundary,
the subdivisions, the Constitution and the
general code of laws as before the rebellion
be maintained, subject only to the modifica-
tons made necessary by the conditions here
IN before stated, and such others, if any, not
contravening the said conditions, and which
may be deemed expedient by those framing
the new State Government.
To avoid misunderstanding, it may be prop
er TO say that this proclamation, SO far as it
relates to State Governments, has no refer
ence to the States wherein loyal State Gov
ernments had all the while been maintained.
And for the same reason it may be proper
to further say that whether members of Con
gress from any State shall be admitted TO
their seats cOnstitntionally. rests exclusively
with the respective Houses and not TO any
extent with the Executive. And still further
that this proclamation is intended to present
the people of the United States wherein the
National authority has been suspended and
the loyal State Governments have been sub
Nefted, mooe Dy winch the atIonal author
Ity and loyal State Governments may be
re-established within the said States or in
any of them, and while the mode presented is
the best the Executive can suggest with his
present impression, it must not be understood
that no other possible mode would be accept
able.
Given under my hand at the city of Wash
ingtoH, the eighth day of December A. ID.
one Thousand eighth hundred and sixty-three,
and OF the Independence OF the United States
of America the eighty-eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
By the President.
VIM. Ii. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.