The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1863-12-17
reclamation Accompanying the Message
The following proclamation is appended to the

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PrOclamationAccomp the essage
The following proclamation is appended to tn.
message: & O. ~ IN E5N
WHEREAS, In and by the Constitution of the
United states, It is provided that the Presiden,
shall have power grant reprieves and pardons for
ofenses against the United States except in cases
of impeachment; and t-.
loyal States and the Governments of several States
have, for long time, been subverted, and many
persons have committed, and are now guilty of,
treason against the United States; and
WHEREAS, With reference to said rebellion and
treason, laws have been enacted by Congress de-
claring the forfeiture and confscaton of property
and liberation of slaves, all upon terms and condi-
tions therein stated; and also declaring that the
President thereby authorized at any time
thereafter, by proclamation, to extend to persons
who may have participated in the existing rebel
lion, in any State, or part thereof, pardon and am
nesty, with such exceptions, and at such times and
such conditions he may deem expedient for
the public welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon, accords with WELL
established judicial expositions of the pardoning
power; and
WHEREAS, with reference to said rebellion the
President of the United States has issued several
proclamations, with provisions in regard to the
liberation of slaves; and
WHEREAS, it is desired by some persons,
heretofore engaged in said rebellion to resume their
allegiance to the United States, and renaugrrate
spective States, therefore,
I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the
United States, do proclaim, declare, and make
known to all persons, who have directly, or by i'm
plication, participated in the existing rebellion,
except as hereinafter excepted, that full pardon
is granted to them and each of them, with restora
ton of all rights if third parties shall have inter-
vened, and upon the condition that every such per-
son shall take and subscribe oath, and thence
forward keep and main ain said oath inviolate and
which oath shall be registered for permanent preser
o~1 shol Ho SC kHok 81 rolI
ing, to-wit:
az do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty
God, that will henceforth faithfully support, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution of the United
States, and the union of States Hereunder, and
that will in like manner abide by and faithfully
support all acts of Congress passed during the ex
isting rebellion, with reference to slaves, long
and so far as not yet repealed modified held void
by Congress, or by decision of the Supreme Court,
and that will in like manner abide by and faith
fully support all proclamations of the President,
made during the existing rebellion, having refer
ence of slaves, so long and far lot modified
declared void by decision of the Supreme Court, so
help me God"
The persons excepted from the benefits of the
foregoing provisions, all who shall have
been civil diplomatic officers agents of the so
called Confederate Government; all who have left
judicial stations under the United States to aid the
all who are or shall have been military
naval officers of the rank of Colonel, in the army
or Lieutenant, in the navy; all who left seats in the
United States Congress to aid in the rebellion; all
VINO resigned commissions
navy of the United States, and afterward aided the
and all who have engaged in any way in
treating coored persons WI lite persons in charge
of such, otherwise than lawfully prisoners of
war, and which persons may be found in the United
States service, soldiers seamen, or in any other
And I do further proclaim, declare and make
known that whenever, in any of the States of
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi Tennes-
see, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and
North Carolina, number ofpersous, not less than
IL - 81
State the Presidential election of the year of
Lord 1850, each having taken the oath aforesaid,
and not having since violated it, and being quail
fed by the election laws of the State existing
ediately before the so called act of secession
and excluding all Others shall have estat lished a
State government which shall be republican and
nowise contravene said oath, such shall be recog-
nzed "a the true government of the State, and the
State shall receive hereunder the benefits of the
provision which declares that the
United States shall guarantee to every State in this
Union a republican form of government, and shall
protect each of them against invasion, and ap-
plcation of the Legislature, or the Executive when
the Legislature not be convened, against
domestic violence and
And do further proclaim, declare and make
known, that any provision which may be adopted
by such State government in relation to the freed
people such State, and which shall recognize and
declare their permanent freedom, and provide for
heir education, and which may yet be consistent
rs temporary arrangement with their present con-
lition abOring, landess, and homeless class,
will not be objected to by the National Executive.
And it is suggested not improper that, in con- !
tructing loyal State Government in a1y State, |
he of the boundary, the subdivision, the |
Constitution and the Federal code of laws before
he rebellion, be maintained, subject only to the
notifications made necessary by the conditions
lerenbefore stated, and such Others if any, con-
ravening said conditions, which may be deemed |
,xpcdIent by those framing the new State Govern |
nent. To avoid misun understanding, it may be pro-
Ter to say that this proclamation, so far as it re-
ates to State Governments, has no reference to
states wherein loyal State Governments have all
he while been maintained. -
And for the same reason it may be proper to
urther say that, whether members sent to Congress
rom any State, shall be admitted to seats, consti
utionally, rests exclusively with the respective
Iouses, and not to any extent with the Executive;
md still further that this proclamation is intended
o present to the people of the States wherein the
atiOnal authority has been subverted, mode by
which the national authority every loyal State
Government may be established within said States,
any of them and while the mode presen ted is the
est the Executive can suggest with his present inn
ressions, it must not be understood that another
ossible mode would not be acceptable.
Given under my hand at the City of Washington,
the 8th day of December, A. D., one thousand
eight hundred and six ty three, and of the In
pendence of the United States of America, the
eighty eighth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President,
WIN. H. sEwAKD, Secretary of State.
Britannia and Japanned Ware!