Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-12-11

sable arms, we do also honorably recognize tue
gallant men, from commander to sentinel, who
compose them, and to whom, more than to others
the world must stand indebted for the home OF
freedom disenthralled, regenerated, enlorged,
aud perpetuated.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
DECEMBER 8, 1868.
The following proclamation is appended to the
message;
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, In and by the Constitution of the
United States ii is provided that the President
shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons
for offences against the United States, except in
cases of impeachment and whereas, a rebellion
now exists whereby the loyal State Governments
OF several States have, for long time, been sub
verted, and many persons have committed and
are now guilty of treason against the United
States and whereas, with reference to said re-
bellion and treason, laws have been enacted by
Congress declaring forfeiture and confscation Of
property aud liberation Of slaves, all upon terms
and conditions therein stated, and also declaring
that the President was thereby authorized, at any
time thereafter, by proclamation, to extend to
persons who may have participated in the exist
ing rebellion in any State or part thereof pardon
aud amnesty, with such exceptions, and at such
times and on such conditions as lie may deem ex-
pedient tor tue public welfare; and
Whereas, The Congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon accords with well
established judicial exposition of the pardoning
power ami
Whereas, With reference to said rebellion tho
President of the United States has issued several
proclamatiOns with provisions i'll regard to the
liberation Of slaves and
Whereas, 1t is now desired by some persons
fnfn In,
their Allegiance to the United States, and TO re-
inaugurdte loyal State Governments within and
Tor their respective States,
Therefore, l. Abraham Lincoln, President of
the United States, do proclaim, declare, and make
known to all persons who have directly OF by i'm
plicatOn participated in the existing rebellion,
except as hereinafter excepted, that FULL PAR
DON is hereby granted to them aud each OF them,
with tho restoration Of all rights of property ex-
eept as to slaves, and to property cases when the
rights Of third parties shall have interviewed and
upon the condition that every such person shall
take and subscribe an oath and thenceforward
keep and maintain said oath inviolate, and which
oath shall be registered for permanent preserya-
ton, and shall be Of the tenor and effect follow
ing, to wit:
" do solemnly swear, in the presence Of AL
mighty God, that l will henceforth faithfully
support, protect, aud defend the Constitution Of
the United States and the Union of the States
aud that | will, in like manner,
abide by and faithfully support all acts of Con-
gress, passed during the existing rebellion with
reference to slaves, 80 long and far as not re-
pealed, modified or held void by Congress, or by
decision Vi tue Supreme Court; and that will,
in like manner, abide by and faithfully support
all proolamatiOns Of the President made during
the existing rebellion having reference to slaves,
80 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
nave been, civil or diplomatic officers or agents
If the so-oalled Confederate Government; all
Who have left judicial stations under tue United
States to aid the rebellion; all who are or shall
nave been military or naval officers of said So
called Confederate Government above the rank of
colonel in the army or of lieutenant in the navy 4;
III who left seats in the United States Congress to
lid the rebellion; all who resigned their COM
Missions in the army or navy of the United
States, aud Afterwards aided the rebellion, and
Ill who have engaged ia any way in treating
,O0red PERSONS, or white persons, in charge of
such, otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of
war, and which persons may be found in the Uni
ed States service as soldiers, seamen, or in any
,tLer capacity. And do further proclaim, de-
,lare, aud make known, that whenever in any of
he States of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mis- |
,issippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida
South Carolina, and North Carolina, a number
II persons not less than one-tenth in number Of
he vote cast In such State, at the Presidential
election Of the year of our Lord 1860, each having
AIKEN the oath aforesaid, and not having since
Violated it, and being qualified voter by the |
Election law of the State, existing Immediately |
,efore the so-called act of secession, and exclu-
ling all others, shall establish a State Govern
nent which shall be republican, and in no wise |
said oath, such shall be recognized |
IS the true Governmentof the State, and the |
State shall receive Hereunder the benefits of the
constitutional provision which declares that the |
United States shall guarantee to every State in |
his Union republican form of government and |
hall protect each of them against INVASION and, !
III application of the Legislature, the Execu-
i've when the Legislature cannot be convened, |
gainst domestic violence.
Aud do further proclaim, declare, and make |
nown, that any provision which may be adopted |
" such State Government, in relation to the |
reed people of such State, which shall recognize |
nd deslare their permanent freedom, provide |
or their education, and which may yet be con-
istent, as temporary arrangement, with their |
resent condition, as laboring, landless, and |
omeless class will not be objected to by the |
National Executive.
And it is suggested as not improper that in |
constructing loyal State government in any |
itate, the name Of the State, the boundary, the |
the Constitution and the general |
ode of laws as before the rebellion be maintain
ID, subject only to the notifications made ne
essary by tue conditions hereinbefore stated, |
md such others, if auy, not contravening the said
conditions, and Witch may be deemed expedient |
" those framing the new State Government.
To avoid Misunderstanding, it may be proper to
'ay that this proclamation, far it relates to
State Governments, has no reference to the States
wherein loyal State Governments have all the
while been maintained.
And for the same reason il may be proper to
urther say that whether members OF Congress
rom any State shall BIO admitted to their seats
rests exclusively with the re-
ipective houses, aud sot to any extent with the
Executive. And still further, that this procla-
nation is intended to present to the people of
the United States wherein the National authority
has been -nsnendel aud the loyal State Govern
ments have been subgetied, a mode by which the
National authority and loyal State Governments
may be re-estahiished within the said States or
in any of them, sut while the mode presented is
the best i've can suggest with his pre-
sem int &C.. Il not be understood that
no other posslD i le would be acceptable.
Given under my hand at the city of Washing
ton, the eighth day Of December, A. D onS
thousand eight hundred and sixy-three, and Of
the Independence of the United States of Ameri-
CO the cighty-eighth.
BY the President.
WM II. SEWARD, Secretasy ofState.
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