The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-05-14
ProcIamatton bx fine President.

Proclamation by the President.
Aliens soho Haze Declared on Oath
their Intention to become Citizens,
Liable ito Draft
A PROCLAMATION.
By the President of the United States:
Whereas, The Congress of the
United States, at its last session en-
acted a law, entitled An Act for the
Enrolling and Calling o ut the National
Force, and for Other Purposes" which
was approved on the Sd day of March
last; and
Whereas, 1t is recited in said act
that :" there exists in the United States
an instruction and rebellion against
the authority thereof, and it is, under
the Constitution of the United States,
the duty of the Government to suppress
instruction and rebellion, to guarantee
to each State Republican form of
government, and to preserve the pub
lie tranquility; and,
Whereas, For these high purposes,
a military force is indispensable, to raise
and support which all persons ought
willingly to contribute; and
Whereas, No service can be more
praiseworthy and honorable than that
which is rendered for the maintenance
of the Constitution and the Union, and
the consequent preservation of free
Government; and
Whereas, For the reasons thus re-
Cited, it was enacted by the said Statute
that all able bodied males, citizens of
the United States, and persons of for
eign birth who shall have declared on
oath their intention to become citizens
under and in pursuance of the laws
thereof, between the ages of 20 and 45
years, with certain exceptions not nee
essary to be herein mentioned and de-
clared, to constitute the National Force,
and shall be liable to perform military
duty in the service of the United States
when called out by the President for
that purpose; and
Whereas, 1t is claimed in behalf of
persons of foreign birth, within the
ages specified in said act, who have
heretofore declared on oath their inteD-
ton to become citizens under and in
pursuance to the laws of the United
States, and who have not exercised the
right of suffrage or any other political
franchise under the laws of the United
States, or any of the States thereof,
are not absolutely concluded by their
aforesaid declaration of intentions from
renouncing their purpose to become
| aIt hot ha
persons, treaties of the law of nations,
retain right to renounce that purpose,
and to forego the privilege of citizen
ship and residence within the United
States under the obligation imposed by
the aforesaid act of Congress, now,
Therefore,, to avoid all misapprehen-
sions concerning the liability of per-
sons concerned to perform the service
I rcquircd by such enactment and to give
it full effect, | hereby order and pro
claim that no plea of allegiance will be
received or allowed to exempt from the
obligations imposed by the aforesaid
act OF Congress, any person OF foreign
birth who shall have declared on oath
his intention to become citizen of the
u nlteu states unQer the laws tnereO1.
and who shall be found within the
United States at any time during the
continuance of the present insurrection
and rebellion at or after the expiration
of the period of sixty FIVE days from
the date of this Proclamation. Nor
shall any such plea of alienage be al
lowed in favor of any such persons
who have, as aforesaid, declared their
intention to become citizens of the
United States and shall have exer.
cised at any time the right of suffrage
or any other political franchise within
the United States, under the laws OIL
any of the several States.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President.
MILAN IL SEWARD Sec'Y of State.