The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-12-11

the rebellion. and all who have engaged in
any way in treating colored persons or white
persons in charge OF such. otherwise than
lawfully as prisoners of var. and which
persons may be found in the United S,ates
as soldiers. seamen, or in any other capac.
i,y.
And l do further proclaim. declare and
make known that whenever. in any Of the
STATES of Arkansas. Texas, L,..isiana. Miss
issippi, Tennessee. Alaoama, Georgia. Flori.
ia, South Carolina and North Carolina, q
number of persous. not less than one tenth
o. the number Of the votes cast in such
State at the Presidential election, Of the
yaar of our Lord, 1860. each having taken
the oath Aforesaid. and not having since VI
olated it and being qualified voter by the
election laws Of The State. existing imme-
diately before the so-cslled act Of secession.
and excluding ali others shall be established
a State Government which shall be republi
can. aud no wise contraveniny sail oath.
Such shall be recognized rs the true gov
ernmen, of the s ate and the State shall re-
ceise Hereunder the benefits of the Corsti-
.u,ional provision which declares that the
United States shall guarantee to every State
in this Union republican form of govern
meRt. and shall protect each Of them against
invasion. and on application Of the Legisla.
ture or the Executive when the Legislature
cannot be convened. against domestic vio-
lence.
And l do further proclaim. declare aud
make known that any provision which may
be adopted by such State Government. in
relation 10 the freed people Of such State,
which shall recognise and declare their per-
mauent freedom. aud provide for their edu.
md rat ho ~
temporary arrangement with their present
condition. as \ laborin,. lAndless and home
less class. will not be objected to by the Ma
tional Executive. And it is suggested -
not improper that in constructing a loyal
State government in any State the name Of
the boundary. the Subdivision. the Constitu-
ton and the Federal code Of laws, as before
the rebellion. be maintained. subject only
to notifications made necessary BY the DON.
ditons herein before stated and such others
if any contravening said conditions whic6
may be deemed expedient by those RAINING
the new State government. To avoid mis-
understanding. it may Be proper TO say that
this proclamation so far rs it relates to State
government. has no reference to States
wherein loyal State governments have all
the while been maintained.
And for the same reason il may be proper
TO further say, that whether members sent
TO Congress from any State shall be admit
ted to seats consti,utionally. rests exclusive-
~ with the respective Houses. and not to
any extent with the Executive: and still
further that this proclamation is intended
10 present to this people Of the Safes
wherein the national authority has been sus-
pended, and loyal State Governments have
been subverted, q mode toy which the ma
tional authority over every loyal State gov
ernment may be established within said
States for any of then; aud while the mode
prese nted is the best the Executive cac sug-
gest with his present impressions. it must
not be understood that another possible
mode would not be acceptable.
Given under my hand At the city of
Washington. the s,h day OF December. A.
u. one thousand eight hundred and SIXTY
three. and Of the independence of the Uni
ted States of America the eighty eighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President.
WV. H. SEWARD. Seo'y Of State.