St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-12-17
PROCLAMATION BY THE PREsI
DENT.


President Lincoln sent forth procla-
nation bearing on the question Of re-
construction From the following out
liue tie reader gan judge of its pur-
port.
,Itsbciag provided by the Coastitu-
ii, hlat the President shall have pow
or TO grant, reprieve and pardon for Of:
fences against the United States cx-
ccpt in cases of impeachment, therefore
he proclaims that he will grant free
! pardon " all WHO may have been d.
rcctly or Indirectly engaged in the re-
bcllion upon th~ir taking and subscrib-
ing to the following oath
I'll do solemnly swear in the presence OF
Almighty God that will support, protect
States, and the Union Of States therein
That l will in like manner uphold and
faithfully support all acts Of Congress pass
ed during the existing rebellion, with ref
erence to slaves. so long and so far as not
repealed, modified, or held vetoed by Con-
gress, or by the decision Of the Supreme
Court; and that will in like manner abide
by and faithfully support all proclamations
of the President during the existing rebel
lion having reference to slaves, so long and
50 far as not modified or declared void by
decision Of the Supreme Court-so help me
The persons excepted from the tore
going provisions ere al who are or shall
have been civil or military Offices or
agents Of the so-eaued Confederate
Government; all who have lett official
stations under the Un,ted States, to aid
the Rebellion; all who are or shall
have been military or naval officers Of
the rank Of Colonel i" the army, or like
rank in the navy all who left seats in
:she United States Congress to aid in
the Rebellion; all wao resigned their
commissions in the army aod aavy Of
tie United States and afterwards aid
ed the Rebellion, and all who have
engaged in any way in treating colored
persons or white persons in charge Of
such otherwise than lawfully as pris-
oners Of war and which persons may
be found in the Confederate service as
soldiers, sergeants, Or in any other Ca
pacity.
And he further proclaims that when.
ever, in any Of the States of Arkansas,
Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Car
Dina and North Carolina, number Of
persons not less than one. fourth Of
the number Of the vote cast in such
State, at the Presidential election of the
year of our Lord 1860, having taken
the oath and not having since voted
and being qualified voters by the cleo.
ton laws Of the State at, or immediate
" before the act Of secession and OK.
Guiding all oshers, shall have been es.
tablished a State Government, in no.
wise contravening said oath, it hall be
recognized as the true Government OF
the State; and the State shall receive
hereunder the benefits of the Consti.
tutiouai provision which declares that
the United States shall guarantee to
e~cry State in this Union Republican
forsa Of Government, and shall protect
each Of them against incursions and on
application Of the Legislatures or exc
cative, when the Legislature cannot be
convened against domestic violence.
1.-The President speaks fayorably Of
educating the enancipated slaves; and
suggests that ia sustaining loyal State
Government in any 8tate the name O
the boundary, the sob division, the
construction, and the federal code o.
laws, as before the rebellion be main
tanned subject only to the modification
accessory By the conditions %ereinbe
I. fore stated and such others if any no>
,c,lootsavening said conditions which may
be deemed cxpedient by tboss framing
80, S...o no,,.r.n, , =, ertt.: s:H.