The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-16
President,s Proclamation.

Presidents Proclamation.
WASHINGTON, May 8.-WHEREAs, The
Congress of the United States at its last
session created q law entitled an act for en-
rolling and calling out the national forces
and for other purposes, which was app
proved on the third day of March last; and
whereas it is recited in said act that there
now exists in the United States an insur-
rection and rebellion against the author
ity thereof, and it is, under the Consh-
tuition of the United States, the duty. OF
the Government to suppress insurrection
and rebellion, to ensure to each state q
republican form of government and
to preserve the public tranquility ana
Whereas. For these high purposes NH.
itary force is Indispensable to It's support
all persons ought. willingly to contribute;
and whereas no service can be more praise
worthy and honorable than that wmch Is
rendered for the maintenance ofthe consul
tion and the Union, and the consequent
preservation of this free Government.
Whereas, For the reason thus recited,
it was enacted by the said statute that all
able-bodied male citizens OF the United
States and persons of foreign birth who
shall have declared on oath their intentions
to become citizens under and i'm pursuance
of the law thereof, between the ages OF ~
and 45 wears; with certain eXeptlons,
not necessary to be herein mentioned, are
declared to constitute the national forces
and shall be liable to perform military duty
in the service of the United States when
called out by the President for that purpose.
Whereas. it is claimed in behalf of per-
sons of foreign birth within the ages specl-
fed in said act, who have heretofore de-
clared on oath their intentions to become
citizens under and in pursuance OF the laws
of the United Suites, and who have not ex-
ercised the right of suffrage or any other
political franchise under the laws of the
United States, or of any of the States there
of, are not absolutely covenented by their
aforesaid declaration of intentions from
renouneing their purpose to become citl-
zens, and that on the contrary such per-
sons under treaties or the laws of nations,
retain a right to renounce that purpose and
to forego the privilege of citizenship and
residence within the United States, under
the obligations imposed by the aforesaid
act of Congress, now therefore to avoid all
misapprehension concerning the inability
of persons concerned to perform the service
required by such enactment and to give it
full effect, do hereby order and proclaim
that no plea of aliens 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 be-
come a citizen of the United States under
the laws thereof, and who shall be found
within the United States at any time dur
ing the continuance of the present insur-
rection and rebellion, at Or after the expi
ration of the period of sixty-fve days from
the date Of this proclamation nor shall
any such plea of ahenage be allowed
in favor of any such person who has so
as aforesaid declared his intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States and
shall have exercised the right Ofsutfrage or
any other political franchise within the
United States, under the laws of any of
the several States.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
W. H. SEWARD. Sec. of State.
THE PANIC IN RIcHMoND.-Incredibl
as the report of the officers who have just
returned from Richmond with regard to
the alarm caused by Stoneman's approach
may appear, it is concurred in, so far as is
known, by all of them, both naval and mill
itary. Some say that only the parole eX-
torted from the prisoners prevented them
from rising upon the few and feeble guards.
Others communicate the fact that on Mon
day last several members Of the Richmond
City Guard, which was composed of be-
tween six and seven hundred of the Oldest
citizens, returned to Richmond reporting
that their battalion was taken prisoners by
Stoneman's cavalry, about Is miles from
the city, on Sunday night, while on re-
connoissance to ascertain the cause of the
interruption of travel and released on par
ole, Gen. Stoneman being then in no con-
dition to incumber himself with prisoners.
On their voyage down the river the return
ing officers saw two divisions of Long
streets force coming from Suffolk toward
Richmond.