The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-11
Proclamation Of Amnesty.
The following Proclamation is appended to
the Message:
PROCLAMATION.

tHc
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas in and by the Constitution of the
United States, il is provided that the President
shall have power to grant repricves and par
dons for offences against the United States OK
cept in cases of impeachment, and whereas a
rebellion now exists whereby the loyal State
Governments of several States have for long
time been subvcrted, and many persons have
committed and arc now guilty OF treason a.
gainst these, and whereas with reference to
said rebellion and treason, laws have been en-
acted by Congress declaring torfcitures and
confscation of property and liberation oil
slaves; all upon conditions and terms therein
stated, and also declaring that the President
was thereby authorized, ut any time thereafter.
by proclamation, to extend to persons who
may have participated in the existing rebellion
IN any State or part thereof, pardon aud am.
nesty with such exceptions, and ut such time,
and on such conditions rs he may deem expedi-
ent for the public welfare
Whereas, the Congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon accords with
well established judicial exposition of the par
dOning power, and whereas, with reference to
said rebellion, the President of the United
States has issued several proclamations with
provisions in regard to the liberation of slaves,
and whereas il is now desired by some persons
heretofore engaged in said rebellion, to resumc
their allegiance - the United States, and to re-
naugurate loyalState Governments within and
for their respective States
Therefore, |, Abraham Lincoln, President OF
the United States, do proclaim, declare ana
make known To all persons who have directly,
or by implication, participated in the existing
rebellion, except rs in hereinafter excepted, that
full pardon is granted to them aud each OF
them, with restoration of all rights of proper
~, except as to slaves and in property cases
where rights of third parties have interviewed.
and upon the condition that every snch person
shall take and subscribe an oath. and thence
forward keep and maintain said oath inyiola'
BILE, and which oath shall be registered for per-
manent preservation, aud shall be Of the tenor
and effect following, to witt
do Solemnly swear in presence
of Almighty God that | will henceforth faith
fully support, protect and defend the Constitu-
ton of the United States aud the Union OF the
States Hereunder, and that will IN like man
ner abide by and faithfully support all acts OF
Congress, passed during the existing rebellion
with reference to slaves, SO long and so far rs
not repealed or modified or held void by Con-
gress, or by decree of the Supreme Court, and
that will in like manner abide and faithfully
support all Proclamations of the President,
made during the existing rebellion, having ref.
erence to slayes,so long and so far rs not mod-
fed or declared void by 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 Government, oil
who have left judicial stations under the Unit:
ed States to aid rebellion, all who are or shall
have been military or naval officers OF said So
called Confederate Government above the rank
a I. e, Lao nf Inutpnlnt l.
w. and all who left seats in the United States
Congress to aid the rebellion.
All who resigned commissions in the army
ar navy of the United States, and afterwards
aided the rebellion, and all who have engaged
in any way maltreating colored persons, or
white persons in charge of such, otherwise than
lawfully prisoner of war, and which persons
may have been found In the United States SER
vice rs soldiers, scamen, or in any other capa,
city and do further proclaim, declare anu
make known, that whenever, in any OF the
States of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, MissiS-
sipi. Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,
south Carolina and North Carolina, number
of persons not less than one-tentll in number oi
the votes cas-, in such States nj the Presidential
election of the year of our Lord one thousand
EIGHT hundred and sixty, having taken the oath
aforesaid and not having since violated IL. aud
beinr qualified voter by the election law Of
the State existing Immediately before the So
called act of secession. and excluding all others,
shall rc.cstabsh u State government which
shall be republican, and in no wise cOntroyert-
ing said oath, such shall be recognized as the
true government of the State, and the State
shall receive these under the benefit of the con-
stitutional provision, which declares that the
Unitel States shall guarantee To every State in
this Union republican form of government,
and shall protect each of them against invasion
ON application of The legislative or tho cxecu
tive where the legislature cannot be convened
against domestic violence; and | do further
proclaim, declare and make known, that any
provisions which may be adopted by such State
government In relation TO the freed people Of
such State which shall recognize aud declare
their permanent freedom, provide for their cd-
ucation, and which may yet be consistent rs
temporary arrangement with their present con-
dition MS n laboring, landless and harmless
class. will not be objected to by the National
Executive.
Aud II is suggested as not improper that In
constructing loyal State Government in
State. the name Of the State, the boundry, the
sub. divisions. the constitution and the general
code of laws rs before the rebellion be main
tanned, subject only to the notifications made
necessary by the conditions herein before sta
ted. and such others. IL any, not contrayening
said conditions, and which may be deemed cx-
podent by those framing the new State Gov
eminent.
To avoid understanding, II may be proper
TO say that the proclamation so TAR Is u ro-
latcs ~ State Governments, has NO relefenco