Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-12-26

existing rebellion, except as hereinafter ex-
cepted, that full pardon is granted to them
and each of them, with restoration of all
rights, if third parties shall have interviewed,
and upon the condition that they-such per-
sons-shall take and subscribe an oath, and
thenceforward 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:
II do solemnly swear, in presence of Al
mighty God, that will henceforth faithfully
support, protect and defend the Constitution
of the United States and the Union of States
Hereunder, and that l will in like manner
abide by and faithfully support all Acts Of
Congress passed during the existing rebellion
with reference to slaves SO long and so far
as not modified or repealed, or held void by
Congress or by decision of the Supreme
Court, and that will in like manner abide
by and faithfully support all proclamations of
the President made during the existing re-
bcllion 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 benefits of
the foregoing provisions are all who are, or
shall have been, civil or diplomatic officers or
agents of the so-called Confederate Govern
mcnt all who have left judicial stations un-
, der tho United States to aid the rebellion !;
all who are, or shall have been, military or
naval officers of or above the rank of Colon
el in the army, or Lieutenant in the navy !;
all who left seats in the United States Con-
gross 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 colorrd persons, or white
persons in charge Of such, otherwise than
lawfully as prisoners Of war; and which per-
sons may be found in the United States ser
vice as soldiers, scamcn, or in any other Ca
paci'y.
And l do further proclaim, declare, and
make known, that whenever in any Of the
States of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Flor
ida, South Carolina and North Carolina, a
number Of persons, not less than one tenth
OF the number of the votes cast in such
State at the Presidential election of the year
of our Lord 1860-cach having taken the
oath aforesaid and not having since violated
it, being qualified voter by the election
laws Of the State, existing Immediately be-
fore the so-callcd act of Secession, and OK
Guiding all ohers-shall b. established a
State Government, which shall be republic
can, and in nowisc contravcning said oath,
such shall b. recognized as the true govern
mcnt of the State. and the State shall receive
hereunder the benefits of the const itutional
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 from invasion. on
application of the Legislature, or the Exec.
utivc when the Legislature cannot be con-
vencd against domestic violence. Second-I
do further proclaim, declare and make known,
that any provision which may be adopted by
such State Government in relation to the
freed people Of such State which has or
which shall recognize and declare their per-
mancnt freedom, and provide for their cdu-
cation, and which may yet be consistent as a
temporary arrangement with their present
condition as laboring, landless, and home
less class, will not be objected to by the Ma
tipnal Executive; and it is suggested as not
! improper, that in constructing loyal State
Government in any State, the name of the
boundary, the subdivision, the Constitution
and the Federal code of laws, as before the
rebellion, be maintained subject only to mod
ficatiOns made necessary by the conditions
hcreinbcforc stated. and such others, if any,
not contravcning such condition, which may
be deemed cxpedicnt by those framing the
new State Governments.
| ~ Il ho
proper to say that this proclamation, so far as
it relates to State Governments, has no ref
erence to States in which loyal State Govern
ments have all the while been maintained
For the same reason it may be proper to fur
ther say. that whether members sent to Con-
gress from any State shall be admitted to
seats conventionally, rests exclusively with
the respective houses, and not to any extent
with the Executive. And still further, that
this proclamation is intended to present to
the people of the States, wherein the Ma
tional authority has been su6vcrtcd, mode
by which the National authority over every
loyal State Government may be established
within said States, or any Of them. And
while the mode presented is the best the Ex-
ecutNe can suggest, with his present impress
sions it must not be understood that another
possible mode would not be accepted.
Given under my hand at the City Of
Washington. the 9Th Of December. A. d.,
1858. and of the Independence of the Uni
ted States of America, the 88th.
A. LINCOLN.
BY the President
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State.