Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-15
From WASHTNGT AND VICTNITK
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
WAsHrSuToN, May 8, 1868.
Bytle President Of the UH,ted States Of America.
A PROCLAMATION.

ny fhe frcstdtnf Of fhc tinted States Of America
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas The Congress Of the United States at it's
last session enacted law entitled An Act for Buollng
and calling out the National Forces aud for other pure
p1ses which vas approved on the Both day Of March LAST
and vhereas s recitcd u the said act that there
exists in the United States insurrccton and rebellion
against the authority thereof and il s under the Con-
stuon Of the United states the duty Of the Government
to suppress msurrccton and rebellion TO guarantee 10
each State Republican form Of government aud 70
preserve the public tranquility and whereas flf these
high purpose military force is indispensable, to raise
and support which all persons out willingly to coubute
and whereas no servcc can be more prsseworthy and
honorable than that which is rendered for the MAINTAIN
ance of the Constitution and Union and the consequent
preservation of a free government;
And whereas for the thus reoiiedit
ed by the said statute that all ableboded male citizens
of the United states and Of foreign birth, who
shah have declared oath their intentions to become
citizens under and in pursuance Of the laws thereof be-
tween The ages Of twenty and foryhve years, with
tain exceptions not necessary 20 be here mentioned and
declared TO the national forces and shallbe
Liable perform military duty In the service OF the
United states when called out by the Pfesdsat Tor that
purpose
Aud vhereasi Is claimed ard IN behalf Of persons oS
foreign birth within the ages specified In said act who
have heretofore declared oath ther intentions 20 be-
come citizens under and In pursuance u the laws Of
United states and who have not exercised the rights Of
suffrage, or any other pocd franchise under the laws
ot the United States or of any " ihe States thereof
are not absolutely concluded by their aorcssd decara-
ton Of intention from reuouueng their purpose to be-
come citizens and that the contrary, such persons.
under treaties the law Of nations retain right
nounce that purpose, and orego the privilege of cit
renship and residence within the United States under the
obligations imposed by The a'oresad act Of Congress.
Now, therefore, to avoid all Interpretations con. .
cerniug the LIABILITY Of persons concerned TO perform the
rucc required by such enactment, and to give full ef
feet do hereby order and proclaim that plea Of alien
will be received allowed to from the obi
cations imposed by the aforesaid act Of Congress.
Any persons Of foreign birth who shall have declared
on oath his intention TO become citizen Of the United
States. under the laws thereof and who shah be found
within the United States At any time during the contlau
ancc Of the present iusurrcc'on and rebellion AZ
ter the expiration OF the period Of sxtyhve days from
the date of this Proclamation shall any such plea
Acnaee be allowed n favor Of any such person who
has Aforesaid, declared hsntenon to become cit
zen u the Unsd statcs. and shall have exercised at
any time the right Of suffrage or any other political fran
the several States.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand aud
caused the seal Of the United States 70 be Affixed -
Done At the Ciiy Of ashington this eighth day Of
MAY In the year Of Lord ono thousand eight hun
dred and sixty three and the Independence Of the Uni
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
by order Of the President
wM II. sEwARD, Secretary OF ate
The Evening Star says Gen. Hooker, il is
understood, estimates his losses in the battles
at about 10000 all told-killsd wounded
and missing Also, that he brought all his
material away safely from his late position,
and while we were so unfortunate as to loose
some artillery, we have taken at least as many
pieces as we lost.
The following appears in the lntelligencer
Of this morning: Official information was re-
ceived at the War Department last evening,
which authorizes us to state that Gen. Hook
er. after waiting in the rain near Chancelors-
vile on Tuesday, for renewal of the battle
by the enemy, recrossed the Rappahannock
on the evening of that day, influenced by pru-
dent motives, doubtless springing in part
from the great and sudden rise in the Virgin
ia streams in consequence of the heavy rains
threatening our supplies. We do not learn
that General Hooker was nprrised before
making this retrograde movement of the
success which is alleged to have attended
the operations of Stoneman in breaking the
enemy's communication with Richmond.
If this last fact had been known to him, as
suming it to be fact, it may be doubted
whether Gen. Hooker would have deduced il
necessary to take a step, which must tend
to deprive him Of some, at least Of the ad-
Advantages resulting from Stonemans co-op-
erative expedition.