The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-05-14
Proclamation by the President Of the
United States.
WAs4rScroS, May 8.
By MG President of lie Lhitd Sales:
A PRpCLANATIj ~.

WAsAiSGThE, May 8.
! BY hc President Of tie tni'ed Sales:
A PRpcLAAArI3S.
WHEREAS, The Congress The Uni
Ted States, at its last session. enacted
law entitled IAN Act for enrolling ant
calling out the National forces, aud 70
other purposes" which was approved OF
the third day Of March last; and,
/ WaEGGAs, 1t is reciicd in said ac
thlt there now exists in the Unitet
States an Instruction and rebellion
against the authority thereof and it il
underihe Constitution of tho United
States, the duty of the Government t.
suppress instruction end rebellion
to guarantee 10 each Stale republican
form ofGOveroment, and 10 preserve the
public tranquility; and,
WHEREAS, For these high purposes
a military force is indispensable, to raise
and support which, all persons ought
willingly 10 contribute; and,
I WHEREAS, No service can DO more
praise worthy and honorable, than that
which is rendered for the maintenance Of
the Constitution and the Union, and the
consequent preservation of free govern.
mcnt; and,
WHEREAS, For the reasons thus reci'
ted, it was enacted by the said statue
that al! able bodied male citizens of the
United States, and persons Of foreign
birth who shall have declared on oath
their intention to become citizens under
and in pursuance Of the laws thereof, be-
tween the ages Of twenty and forty five
years, with certain exceptions not nee
essary to be here mentioned, are decIar.
ed 10 constitute the national forccs, and
shall be liable to perform military duty
1.-THE service OF the United States, when
kdraled out by the President for that pur.
Ifpi aud.
u WHEREAS, il is claimed in behalf Of
sFSFsons Of foreign birth within the ages
specified in said act, who have hereto
fore declared on oath their intentions 10
become citizens under and in pursuance
Of the laws Of the United States, and
who have not exercised The right OF
suffrage or any other political fran
elise under the laws Of the United
States, orof any of the States thereof,
are not absolutely concluded by their
Aforesaid declaration of intentions from
renouncng their purpose to become cit
liens, and that on the contrary, such
persons under treaties or the law Of /.
tons, retain right to renouncs that
purpose and to foregoe the privilege oil
citizenship and residence within tho
Unitel States, under the obligations i'm
Iposed by the aforesaid act of. Congress;
now, therefore, to avoid, all misappre-
tensions concerning the liability Of per-
sons concerned 10 perform tho service
required by such enactment, and 10 give
it iull effect, l do hereby order and pro.
claim that no plea Of alienase viii be re-
ceived or allowed to exempt from the
obligations imposed by the aforesaid act
Of Congress, any person Of foreign birth
who shall have declared on oath bis in.
teution to become a citizen of the Uni
ted States, under the laws thereof, and
who shall be found within the United
States any time during the continuance
Of the present Instruction and rebellion
at, or after the expiration OF the period
Of sixty-Gve days from the date Of this
proclamation, nor sholl any such plea oil
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 Tine the right Of suffrage or my
other political franchise within the Uni.
ted States, under the laws ofany Of the
several S'aes.
Signedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
BY the President,
WM. II. SEWARD, Sec'y Of State.
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