Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-05-16
9EsOCEAM NATION.
WAsuINGToN. May s, 1868

WHEREAS, The Congress of the Uni
ted States at IFS last session. enacted a
law, entitled an act for enrolling and
calling out the national forces and for
other purposes, which was approved on
the third dry Of March last, and, =
WHEREAS. Il is recited in said act that
there now exists in the United States an
Instruction and rebellion against the
authority thereof. and it is under the
the Constitution of the United States,
the duly Of The Government to suppress
Instruction and rebellion to guarantee
to each State Republican form of gov
ernment, and perserre the public tran
guilty; and
WHEREAS, For these high purposes a
military force is Indispensable, to raise
and support which al! persons ought will
inglv to contribute; and
WHEREAS No service can he more
prai~eworihy and honorabIe than that
which is rendered for the maintenance
Of the Constitution and the Union, and
the consequent preservation of free gov
eminent. And
WHEREAS, For the reasons thus recited
it WAS enacted by the SAID statue that all
able bodied male citizens Of the United
States, and persons of foreign birth who
shall have declared on oath thor inten-
ton to become cit zens under aud in pur-
suauce the law thereof, between the
ages OF 20 and IS years, with certain ex E.
ceptlons not necessary N h, - --.,.''
t.dnoSI, orc declare Ell ~ constitute the ma
tional forces, and shall be liable to per-
form military duty in the service OF the
United States, when called out by the
President for that purpose. And
WHERAs, Ii is claimed in behalf Of
persons Of foreign birth, within the ages
specified in said act, who have heretofore
declared on oath their intentions to be-
come citizens. under and in pursuance of
the laws of the United States, and who
have not exercised the right of suffrage,
or any other politica franchise, under the
laws of the. U aited States or any of the
States thereof are not absolutely preclu-
ded ~ their afeiesaid declaration ofin-
tentions from renouncing their purpose to
become citizens and that on the coutray,
such persons under treaties and the law
of nations retain n right TO rcHounce that
purpose, and to Iorego the privilege Of
citizenship and residence within the Uni
tel States, under tue obligations iinpos-
Ell by the aforesaid a. of Congress.
Nor, therefore, To avoid all misap
prehensjons concerning the liability Of
persons concerned to perform the services
required by such enrichment, and to give
it full effect. do hereby ORDER AND
PRoCLAIM that 10 plea Of alieaago will
be received or allowed to exempt from
the obligations imposed Icy the aforesaid
act Of Congress, any person of foreign
birth who shall have declared on oath
his intention to become citizen of the
United States under the laws thereof and
who shall be found within the United
States at any time during tho continuan
CO of the present insurrection and re-
bellion, at or after the expira ion of six
ty-five days from the date of this procla
nation; nor shall any such plea Of alien
age be allowed in favor of any such per-
SOUS who have SO, as aforesaid, declared
their intention to become citizens of the
United States. and shall have exercised
at any time the right Of suffrage or any
other politica! franchise, wi hin the Uni
ted States, under the laws Of any Of the
several States.
(Signed.) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President.
VIM. II. SEWARD, Sec Of State.