The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-12-22
LINcoLN's ORGANIZATION.

that he is willing to pardon southern men with
certain exceptions) who will go forward and take
an oath to support and protect eight for) the yam
kee Government, and in accepting of such pardon
they are to relinquish the right to own slaves.
The persons exempted from the privilege of this
pardon are, civil and military officers agents,
judges, members of Congress and the Legislatures,
&c.-they of course are to be executed traitors.
With the exception of this portion of fellow
! citizens, all are to be pardoned who will humble
themselves, relinquisb their rights as white meu,
and take an oath of allegiance to Abraham Lin
, coin. If there is southern man who is willing
to submit on such terms, and see any portion of
his countrymen executed by the yankee govern
ment, he ought to receive swift punishment and
be put to death cowardly villain and atraitor.
The following is the proclamation, which we
publish for the purpose of letting southern men
see what is to be their fate if the is stopped
short of the independence of the Confederate
States. And in view of such fate, is it not
shame that some of our own people should be en-
gagged in abusing our authorities and alternating
the affections of the people from the cause? Is it
not shame that, while brutal enemy is trying to
South who are growing because they have to pay
a tax, who are cursng the authorities and throw
ing obstacles in their way, and thus helping to
bring an awful calamity upon us. Men who have
property had better even sell ouehaf Of it to Sc
independence than to fail in the struggle and
lose all. But here is the proclamation
PROCLAMATION. ....
yIyl-- I r.
States it is provided that the President shall have
power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences
against the United States, except in cases of i'm
peachment and whereas, rebellion now exists,
whereby the loyal State governments of several
States have for long time been subverted, and
many persons have committed and now guilty
of treason against the United States and Whereas
with reference to said rebellion aud treason, laws
have been enacted by Congrcss declaring forfeit
ures and contscaton of property and liberation of
slaves all upon and conditions therein stated
and also declaring that the President was thereby
authorized at any time thereafter by proclamatiou
to extend to persons who may have participated 10
the existing rebellion in any State part thereof
pardon and amnesty, with such exceptions and at
such times and on such conditions he may deem
expedent for the public welfare; aud Whereas the
Congressional declaration for limited and cond
tonal pardon accords with the we'll established
whereas, with reference to the said rebellion the
President of the United States has issued several
proclamations with provisions in regard to the lib
Grafton Of slaves; and whereas, it is now desired
by some persons heretofore engaged in the said
rebellion to resume their allegiance to the United
States and to lenaugurate loyal State governments
within and for their respective States therefore,
l, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States do proclaim declare and make known to all
h0 hav hv Mi iosfi0
tcil ilated in the existing rebellion, except here
matter excepted, that a full pardon is hereby
granted to them and each of them, with restora
ton of all rights of property except to slaves
and in property cases where the rights of third
parties shall have intervened, aud upon the condi-
ton that every such person shall take and SUBJ
scribe an oath, and theneeforward keep and main
tain said oath inviolate, and which oath shall be
registered for permanent preservation, and shall
be of the tenor aud effect following, towit:
81 do solemnly swear in presence of Almighty God,
that will henceforh faithfully support protect and
defend the constitution of the United States, and the
Union Of the States hereunder, and that will in like
manner abide by and faithfully support all acts Of Con-
gress passed during the existing rebellion with refer
encc slaves long and so far repealed, modi-
fed held void by Congress by decision of the
Supreme Court and that I will in like manner abide
by and faithfully support all proclamaOns of the Pre-
dcnt made during the existing rebellion having refer
to slaves, so long and far not modified or
help me God.
The persons excepted from the benefits of the
foregoing provisions are all who are or shall have
been civil OF diplomatic officers agents of the
so-caled Confederate govern ment, oil who have
left judicial stations under the United States to
aiG the rebellion, all who or shall have been
military or naval officers of said socalled CoDfed-
crate government, above the rank of colonel in the
army, of lieutenant 10 the navy all who have left
seats in the United States Congress to aid in the
rebellion, all who resigned commissions in the
Amy or navy Of the United States and afterwards
aided the rebellion and all who have engaged in
any way in treating colored persons, white per-
sons in charge Of such, otherwise than lawfully as
prisoners of war, and which persons may have
been found In the United States service sudiers,
seamen or in any other capacity. And do fur
ther proclaim, declare and make known that when
ever, 10 any of the States of Arkansas Texas,
Lousiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama Geor-
cia, Florida South Carolina and North Carolina,
number of persons not less than one-tenth In
number of the votes cast in such States at the
Presidential election Of the year Of our Lord 1850
each having taken the oath aforesaid, and not
having since ,iolated it, and being qualified vo-.
ter By the election law of the State existing imme-
dately before the so-called act of secession, and
excluding all others-shal re-establish a State
government, which shall be republican, and in no.