Ellsworth American., 1863-12-18
December s, 1868.
Tie following proclamation is appended to
bl m
a Proclamation,


BY the President of The United Siates.
Whereas, In and by the Constitution Of
the United States. it is provided that tho
president shall have power to grant reprieves
and pardons for offences against the United
States, except in cases of Impeachment; and
whereas, a rebellion now exists whereby tho
loyal State governments of several States
have for q lorg 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
AMI treason, laws have been enacted by Cam
grcss declaring forleitures and confscation OF
property, and liberation of slaves, all upon
conditions an terms therein stated, and also
declaring that the President was thereby au-
thorized at any time thereafter, by proclaim
alton, to extend to persons who may have
participated in the existing rebellion in any
State or part thereof, pardon and amnesty,
with such conditions as h, rhay d,em exps-
diert for the public welfare; and,
IfhereGs, The Congressional declaration
for limited and conditional ipardsn accords
with we'll established Judicial exposition of
the pardoning power and, whereas, with
reference to said rebellion, tho President Of
tae United States Las issued several procla-
nations with provisions in regard to the lib
Grafton Of slaves and, whereas, it is now
desired by some persons heretofore engaged
in said rebellion to resume their allegiance
to the United States, and to reinausurate
loyal Sta:e Governments within and fer their
respective States therefore,
/, Abraham Lincoln, President Of the Uni-
ted States, DO proclaim, declare and ruako
known to all persons who have directly, or
By implication, participated in the existing
rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, that
a full pardon is granted to them, and each
OF them, with restoration Of all rights of
property, except as to slaves, and in property
cases where rights of third parties have in
teryened, upon the condition, that every such
person shall take and subscribe an oath, and
tlenceforward keep and maintain said oath
inyiodablc, and which oath shall be register
G for permanent preservation, and shall be
of the tenor and effect following, to wit:
"I, - do solemnly swear, in presence
Of Almighty God thai / will henceforth
! faithfully support, protect and defend the
Constitution Of the United States and the
/ Uuion of the States Hereunder. and that
will in like manner abide by and faithfully
support all acts Of Congress passed during
the existing rebellion with reference to slaves
50 long and so fara not repealed or modi6-
ed or held void by Congress or by decree Of
the Supreme Court and that will in like
manner abide by and faithfully support all
rroc,amations Ut the President made during
the existing rebellion having reference &,
slavcs, 50 long and 50 far as not modified ot
declared void by tho Supreme CouIt,-S,
help me God. -
The peis3ns excepted from the benefits Ok
the foregoing provisions arc, all who are Of
shall have boon civil or di matte officers, or
agents OF the 80 called Confederate Govern
ment; all who have left judicial stations un :
der the Unitcl States, to aid rebellion ar
who are or shall liage been military or IA, al
OH ers of said so,cllled Confederate Gu ssr,-
/ y,
or Lieutenant in the navy, and all who l.ft
seats in the United States Congrs IS to aid tn,
rebellion all who resigned G. ,mmissiona n.
the army or nayy of the Ur tied Stascs am,
afterwards aided the rebel ion, and Oh, v6a
have engaged in any W. in trcatisg colored
/ persons or White perS ons in change Of such
otherwise than lawfully as prsoncrs Of war
and which rcrs lus may haze hasn found in
the United St,te service as gp!aiers. seamen
or in any other capacity. :
And do further Froe!sm, declare, and
make known, that oheaevor, in anv Of the
stttes Of Arkansas. Texas, Louisiana, Mis-.
sissippi, Tennessee, Alabama. Georgia, Elori-
da, South Cslolina and North Carolina. a
number ol persons not less than ons- tenth
ia nuiaber Of the votes east in such States ID
'A' tte'ilsA'isl 'Ieetiqn Of the year es WI
r -