The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-05-14
The COnsCripsEOB---Afiens---
Important proclamation.
WASHINGTON. May 8. 1863.


WHEREAS, The Congress OF the United
States, at its last session, enacted law
entitled an act for enrolling and calling
out the national forces, and Coz other'pur-
poses, which was approved on the third
day of March last aud,
WHEREAS, 1t is recited In the said act
that there now exists in the United States
an iusurecsion and rebellion against the
authority thereof, and it Is, under the
Constitution Of the United States, the
duty Of the Government to suppress in
surrectiof and rebellion, to guarantee to
each State Republican form OF govern
ment and to preserve the public trapquili-
ty ; and,
WHEREAS, For these high purposes q
military force is Indispensable, to raise
and support which all persons ought
willingly to contribute and,
WHEREAS, No service can be moro
praiseworthy and honorable than that
which is rendered for the maintenance of
the Constitution aud the Union, and the
consequent preservation OF free govern
ment; and,
WHEREAS, For the reasons thus recited,
it was enacted by the said statute that ali
able bodied male citizens of the United
States and person; of foreign birth, who
shall have declared, on oath, their inten-
ton to become citizens, under and in pur-
suance of the laws thereof, between the
ages of 20 and As years, with certain ex.,
csptions, net necessary TO be mentioned,
are declared to constitute the National
frees, and shall be liable to perform
military duty in the service Of the United
States, when called out by the President
for that purpose; and,
WHEREAS, 1t is claimed BY and in be-
half of persons Of foreign birth within the
ages specified in the said ac.,, who have
heretofore declared on OATH their lnten-
tions to become citizens, under and in
pursuance Of the Jaws Of the United
States, and who have not exercised the
right of suffrage or any other polite
al franchise under the laws of the United
States or of the States thereof are not
absolutely included by their aforesaid
declaration Of intention from renouncing
their purpose to become citizens, and that,
on the contrary, such persons, under the
treaties or law OF nations, retain right to
renounce that purpose and to forego the
privileges of citizenship aud residence
Nllnlu- the Suites, uuQCT ODIl-
cations imposed by tho aforesaid act of
Congress.
Now, therefore, to avoid all misappre
hension concerning the liability of persons
concerned to perferm the service required
by such enactment, and to give it full
effect, | do hereby order and proclaim
! that no plea of alienage will be received
| or allowed to exempt from the obligation
imposed bv the aforesaid act of Congress,
any persons of fcreign birth who shall
have declared on oath his intention to
become citizen of the United States,
under the laws thereof, aud who shall be
found within the United States at any
time during the continuance of the pre-
sent insurrection and rebellion, at or after
the expiration of the period of sixty-five
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, or under the laws of any
of the several States.
In witness whereof, have hereunto
set my hand, and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. Done at the
city of Washington, this the 8th day OF
May, in the year of our Lord, 1863, aud