The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-05-22
A pKuvLAnsrIoN-

A PKUCLAuITIoN
BY TUE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES.
Whereas, The Congress of the
United States at its last session enact
ed law, entitled, "An act for enroll
ing and calling out the National fore
es, and for no other purposes" which
was approved on the 3D. day OF March
last; and "a ..... .-...
Whereas, 1t is recited in said act
that there now exists in the United
States an instruction and rebellion
against the authority thereof, and it
is under the Constitution ofthe Unit
ed States the duty of the Government
to suppress insurrection and rebel.
lion. to guarantee To each State re-
publican 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
ofght willingly to contribute: and
Whereas, No service can he more
praiseworthy and honorable than that
which is rendered for the maintain.
auce OF the Constitution and the
Union, and the consequent prcserva-
ton of free Government; aud
Whereas, For the reasons thus re
cited it was enacted by the statute,
that all able-bodicd male citizens OF
the United States, and persons of
foreign birth, who shall have declar.
ed, on oath, their intention to become
citizens under and in pursuance of
the laws thereof, between the ages OF
20 AMI Is years, with certain except.
ions not necessary to be herein men-
toned, are declared to constitute the
national forces, and shall be liable tC
i perform military duty in the service
of the United States, when called out
by the President for that purpose,-
and
Whereas, II is claimed on behalf OF
persons of foreign birth within the
ages Specified in said act, who have
heretofore declared on oath their in
teutioh to become citizens under ant
in pursuance of the laws ofthe UuiteI
States, and who have not exercised
the right OF suffrage or any other po
litical franchise under the laws of th'
United States, or any of the State
thereof, are not absolutely excluded
. by their Aforesaid declaration of in
tentions from renouncing their pur
pose to become citizens, and that, ol
the contrary, such persons unde
treaties or the law Of nations retain
right to renounce that purpose. an,
80 forego the privilege Of citizenship
! and residence within the Unite
States under the obligations imposet
: by the aforesaid act of Congress.
Now, Therefore, to avoid all mis-
: apprehensions concerning the liabili
e ty OF the persons concerned to per
c form the service required hy such eu
; actment, and to give it full effect d
K hereby order and proclaim that N
e plea Of alienage will be received o
Il allowed to exempt, from the ohlig:
}, ton imposed by the aforesaid act {
: Congress, any person Of foreign brit
1 who shall have declared, on oath, hi
intention to become II citizen Of Ii
n Untted States under the laws thereo
II anl Who shall be .found within tl
> United States ut any time during I'll
e continuance OF the present insure
;, tloh and rebellion, ut or after the e.
Il piration Of the periol Of siXty-ii'
- days from the date OF this proclaim
le ton, nor shall any such plea or allie
- age be allowed in favor of any su'
- persoI VINO have 50, rs aforesaid, Il
=, ciafel his intention to become q ci
A. zen of the United States and sh
as nave exercised, at any time, the rig
he OF suffrage or any other political fra
chise within the United States, und
IN the laws OF any Of the several Stat'
at ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
le BY the President.
ed WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of Sta
III