Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-14
OFFICIAL.
BIZ the President Of the United States Of America.
PROCLAMATION.


WHEREAS the Congress of the United States, at
It's last session, enacted law entitled An act TOR
enrolling and calling out the national forces ana ior
other purposes" which was approved on the ID oay
of March last and whereas il is recited in the said
act that there now exist in the United States in
surrection and rebellion against the authority there
Of and it is under the Constitution of the United
States the duty of the Government to suppress in
surrection and rebellion, to guaranty to each State
a republican form of government, and to preserve
the public tranquility; and whereas for these high
purposes 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 rem
dered for the maintenance Of the Constitution and
Union and the consequent preservation OF free gov
ernment and whereas, for the thus recited,
it enacted by the said statute that all abe-bo-
died male citizens of the United States and persons
Of foreign birth who shall have declared on oath
their intention to become citizens, under and in
pursuance Of the laws thereof between the ages OF
twenty and forty-five years, with certain excep-
lions not necessary to be here mentioned) are de-
clared constitute the national forces, and shall be
liable to perform military duty in the service OF the
United Stetes when called out by the President for
that purpose; and whereas it is claimed by and in
behalf of persons of foreign birth within the ages
specified in said act who have heretofore declared
or oath their intentions to become citizens under
and in pursuance of 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, Of any Of the States thereof are
not absolutely concluded by their aforesaid deciara
ton of intention from renouncing their purpose to
become citizens; and that, on the contrary, such
persons under treaties the law of nations retain
right to renounce that purpose and to torego the
privileges Of citizenship and residence within the
United States, under the obligations imposed by the
aforesaid act of Congress
Now therefore, TO avoid all misapprehensions
concerning the liability 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 alenage will be received or allowed
to exempt from the obligations imposed by the afore-
said act of Congress any person of foreign birth
who shall have declared 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 during the continuance OF the
present instruction and rebellion, at or after the
expiration of the period of sItyfv days from the
date of this proclamation, nor shall any such plea
Of alienage be allowed in favor of any such person
who has SO, as aforesaid declared his intention to
become citizen of the United States, and shall
have exercised at any time the right of suffrage or
any other political franchise, within the United
States under the laws thereof under the laws of
any Of the several States.
10 with whereof have hereunto caused the seal OF
the United States to be affixed.
Dane the city Of Washington this eighth day Of May
in the year of our Lord thousand eight
IL. ~ hundred and six y-three, and OF the ind-pen-
dence Of tie United Sta the eghy-sevenih.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
ny the President
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary OF State.