The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-05-29
Proclamation by the President.
WASHINGTON. Nav S. 1863

Whereas, the Congress of the United
States at It's last session enacted law, en-
titled San Act for Enrolling and calling
out the National forces, and tor other pur-
poses - which was approved on the 30th
day of March last and whereas; it is re-
cited in the said act that there now 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 Govern
ment to suppress insurreetion and rebel
lion; to guarantee to each State repub-
hcan form of government and to preserve
the public tranquility; and whereas, for
these high purposes d military force is
indispensable, to raise and support which
all persons ought willingly to contribute !;
and whereas, no service can be more
praiseworthy aud honorable than that
which is rendered FIR the maintenance of
the Constitution and Union, and the con-
segment preservation of free government;
And whereas, for reasons thus recited,
it was enacted BY the said statute that
all able-bodied citizens of the United
States, and persons of foreign birth who
shall have declared on oath their inten-
ton to become citizens under and in pur-
suancc of the laws thereof, between the
ages Of twenty and forty-tvs years, with
certain exceptions not necessary to be
hero mentioned, are declared to consti-
tute the national forces, and shall be liza
BILE to perform military duty in the SER
vice Of the Uuited States when called out
by the President for that purpose
And whereas it is claimed, and in behalf
Of persons of foreign birth within the ages
specified in said act, who have heretofore
declared OH oath their intentions to be-
come citizens under and 10 pursuance of
the laws of the. United States, and who
have not exercised the rights of suffrage
or any other political franchise under the
laws of the United States, or of any of the
States thereof, are not absolutely included
by their aforesaid declaration of intention
from renouneing their purpose to become
citizens; and that, on the contrary, such
persons, under treaties OF the law Of ma
tions, retain right 60 renounce that pur-
pose and residence within the United
States, under the Obligations imposed by
the aforesaid act of Congress.
Now, therefore, to avoid all misappre-
tensions concerning the liability Of per-
sous concerned to perform the services re-
CURED Of such enactment and to give full
effect, | do hereby order and proclaim that
no plea of aliepage will be received or al
lowed to exempt from the obligations i'm
posed by the aforesaid act Of Congress,
any person Of foreign birth who shall have
declared on oath his intention to become
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 allienage be allowedin favor
of any such person who has so, as aforesaid,
declared his intentions to become citizen
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 thereof or
under the law Of any Of the several States
In witness whereof ! have hereunto set
my hand, and caused the seal of the u nited
States to b. affixed, Done at the city of
Washington this eighth day Of May, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight