Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-12-24

such, otherwise than lawfully as prison
ers of war, and which persons may have
been found in the United States servict
as soldiers, seamen or IN any other CO.
pi city.
And I do further proclaim, declare
and make known, that whenever. in any
of the States Of Arkensas, Texas Louis.
lama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama,
Georgia. Florida, South Carolina and
North Carolina, a number of persons,
not less than tenth in number of the
votes east in such State at the Presiden-
tal election Of the year of our Lord
1860. each having taken the oath afore-
said and not having since violated it,
and been qualified voter by the election
law of the State existing Immediately be-
fore the socalled act of secession, and cX
cluding all others, shall re establish n
State government which shall be repub-
lican, and in nowise contravcning said
oath. such shall be recognized as the
true government of the State. and the
State shall receive hereunder the ben
efits the constitutional provision which
declares that "Thc United States shall
guaranty to every State in this Uuion Q
republican form of government, and shall
protect each of them against invasion;
and, on application of the Legislature,
or the executive, (when the legislature
cannot be convened against domestic
violence.
And do further proclaim, declare,
and make known that any provision
which may be adopted by such State
Government in relation to the freed peo-
pie of such State, Which shall recognize
and declare their permanent freedom
provide for their education, and which
may yet be consistent, as a temporary
arrangement, with their present condl-
ton as aboring class will not be ob
jcctcd to by the national Executive.
And it is suggested as not improper,
that, in constructing loyal State gov,
erpment in any State, the name of the
State, boundaries the subdivisions. the
constitution, and the genera! code ol
laws, as before the rebellion, be main,
tained, subject only to the notifications
made ncc's sary by the conditons herein
before stated. and such others if any.
not contravcDing said conditions. and
which may be deemed expedicnt by
those framing the new State Government
To avoid misunderstanding. it may
be proper to say that this proclamation
so far as it relates to State Governments
has no re!ercncc to States wherein loyal
State governments have all the whilt
cen maintained. And for the same
reason. it may be proper to further say,
that whcthor members sent to Congress
from any State shall be admitted to
seats constitutionlIly, rests exclusively
with the respective Houses, and not to
any extent with the Executive.
And still further, that the proclama.
ton is intended to present the people Of
the States wherein the national authority
has been suspended, the loyal State gcv-
ernments have been subverted, a mode
in and by which the national authority
and loyal State governments may be re-
established within said States, or in any
Of them and. while the mode presented
is the best the Executive can suggest,
with his prescn Impressions, it must
not be understood that no other possible
mode would be acceptable.
Given under my hand at the city of
Washington. the 8th day of De-
cember, A. d. 1868, and of the
SEAL independence Of the United
States of America, the eighty
eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President,
WILLIAM II. SEWARD, Secretary oi
State.