Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-14
LATER FRoM THE UNITED STATES
We are indebted to the Exchange Bureau for thu
Philadelphia Inquirer of the 10Th:

We are indebted to the Exchange Bureau for the
Philadelphia Inquirer of the 10Th
LINCoLA's PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY.
Whereas In aud by the Constitution Of the United
States il is p Tided that the Presdent shall have power
to graft repeVs and pardons for offences against the
United States, except in cases Of impeachment, and
| Whsreas A Rebellion now exists whereby the loyal
Stats Governments of several States have for long
time been subveIted and many persons have committed
and guilty of treason against the United sateG;
| and
Whsrsas With reference to said rebellion and trea-
soo laws have been enacted BY Congress declaring for
fixture and cOnfscaton OF property and Liberation OF
slaves all upon terms and conditions therein stated
and also declaring that the President was thereby au
thorized at any time thereafter, by proclamation, to ex
tend to parsons who may have participated in the pre;
ent Rebellion in any State part thereof pardon and
amnesty with such exceptions and at such times and
on such conditions he may deem expedient for the
public welfare and
Whereas The congressional declaration for limited
aud conditional pardon accoTds with well established
Judicial exposition of the pardoning power and
Whereas WITH reference to said rebellion, the Pres
id.nt of the United States has issued several procAma
lions with provisions in regard to the liberation ofsaves;
and
Whsrsa, 1t is now desired by some persons hereto
fore engaged in sad Rebellion to their allegiance
to the United States and to rensugurate loyal State
Governments within and for their respec i've States
Therefore, /, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the
United Sats, do proclaim, DECLARE and make known to
all persons have directly, or by implication, par
tcpated in the existing Rebellion, except hereir-
after excepted that PARDON is hereby granted to
them aud Zach of them, with restoration of all rights
of property except to saves and in property
where the rights Of third parties wno shall have inter
vened aud upon the condition that every such person
shall tak0 and subscribe OATH and thenoeforward
keep and maintain said oath inviolae and which oath
shall be registered for permanent preservation, and
shall be of the tenor and eIest Of the following to-
| witt
81 do solemnly swear,n the presence of Almighty
God, that will henceforh faithfully support protect
and defend the Constitution of tie United States and
the Ur Of the States Hereunder and that will in
like inner abide BY and faithfully support all Acts Of
Gong passed during the existing Rebellion with ref
erence to slaves long and 80 far as not repealed,
modfed or held void by Congress- or by decision Of
the Supreme Courts and that will Ia like manner abide
BY and faithfully support al Prooamations Of the Pres
dent made during the existing Rebellion having refer
eucs slaves go long and not modified or de-
cAred void by decision Of the Supreme Court. So help
me God"
The persons excepted from the beneitfof the fore
going provisions are all who are, shall have been,
civil or diplomatic officers agents of the so called
Confederate Government; all who have lie judicial sta
tons under the United States to aid the Rebellion all
who are or shall have been military naval officers Of
said Confederate Government: above the rank OF Colonel
il the army or Of Lieutenant in the navy all who sft
oil Who resigned their commissions in the army navJ
of tho United Shes aud afterward, aided the Rebel
on aud all who have engaged in any way in maltrea-
ing coored persons white PERSONS in chrge Of SUCH
otherwise than lawfully prs 1ners Of war; and which
persona may be found in the United States service a.
soldiers 81 amen, or in any other capacity. Aud do
farther proclaim declare and make Known that when
ever in any of the States Of Arkansas Texas L1uiiians,
Mississippi, Tennessee Alsbans Georgia, Fords South
Carolina and North Carolina number Of persons not
less than oneenth in number OF the vote cast In such
State az the Presidential election Of the year Of our
Lord $780, each having taken the oath aforesaid, and
not having since violated it. and being qualified voter
BY the election law Of the State existing Immediately
before tho so called act of Secession and excluding all
Others shall establish Stale Government which shall
be republican and in no wise contravenrg said oath,
such shall be Recognized the true Government Of the
SAFE and the state snail receive hereunder the benefit
of the constitutiona provision which declares that the
United States shall guarantee 10 every State in this
Union republican form o. government, aud sh. pro-
tect each OF tR against invasion, and on application
Of the legislature or the executive when the legislature
cannot be convened, against domestic violence. O.
And do further proclaim, declare and make known,
that any provision which may be adopted BY such Safe
Government in relation to the freed people Of such