Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-10

mighty God that will henceforth faithfully
support, protect and defend the constitution
of the United States and the Union of the
states hereunder, and that will in like man
ner abide by and faithfully support all acts Of
congress passed during the existing rebellion
with reference to slaves so long and so far rs
not repealed, modified, or held void by con-
greSs, or by decision of the supreme court,
and that | will in like manner abide and faith
fully support all proclamations of the presi-
dent made during the existing rebellion hav-
ing reference to slaves so long and so far as
not modified or declared void by decision of
the supreme court. SO help me God.
The persons excepted from the benefits of
the foregoing provision are all who are or
shall have been civil or diplomatic officers or
agents of the so-called confederate govern
ment; all who have left judicial stations UNI
der the United States, TO aid the rebellion; all
who are or shall have been military or naval
officers Of said so-called confederate govern
ment, above the rank of colonel IN the army,
and OF lieutenant in the navy; all who left
seats in the United States congress to aid the
rebellion; and all who have engaged in any
way in treating col0red persons, or white per-
sons in charge OF SUCH otherwise than law
fully, as prisoners OF war, and which persons
may have been found in the United
States service, as soldiers, seamen, or
in any other capacity; and do further pro-
claim, declare and make known, that when
ever in any of the states of Arkansas, Texas,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama,
Georgia. Florida, South Carolina and North
Carolina, II number of persons not less than
One-tenth in number of the votes cast in such
state at the presidential election of the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
slXlN puph having takan fha Noflt ofor ai1
and not having since violated it, and being
qualified voter by election law of the state
existing Immediately before the so-called act
OF secession, and excluding all others, shall
re-establlsh state government which shall
be republican, and in nowise contravening
said oath. such shall be recognised as the true
government Of the state, and the state shall
receive hereunder the benefits of the
constitutional provision which declares
that ''the United States shall guarantee to ev-
cry state in the Union republican form of
government, and shall protect each or them
against invasion, on application of the legisla-
ture or the executive, when the legislature can
be convened, against domestic violence
And | do further proclaim, declare, and
make known, that any provision which may
be adopted by said state government, in rela.
ton to the freed people of such state, which
shall recognize and declare their permanent
treedOui provide for their education, and
winch may yet be consistent as Il temporary
arrangement with their present condition as
labOring, landless, and homeless class, will
not be objected to by the national executive.
And it is suggested, as not improper, that in
constructing loyal state government in any
state, the boundary, the divisions, the
constitution, and the general code of laws, as
before the rebellion, be maintained, subject
only to the notifications made necessary by
the conditions hereinbefore stated, and such
others, If any, not cOntravening said condi.
ton, and which may be deemed expedient by
those framing the new state government.
70 avoid misunderstanding it may be prop.
er to say that this proclamation, SO far as it
relates to state governments has no reference
to states wherein loyal state governments
the same re rSas shft hfap Baiptaained and for
say that whether members sent to congress
from any state shall be admitted to seat
constitutionally, rests exclusively with the re-
spective houses, and not to any extent with
the executive. And still further, that this
proclamation is intended to present the people
OF the states wherein the national authority
has been suspended, and loyal state govern
ments have been subverted-a mode in and
by which the national authority and loyal
state governments may be re-established
within said states or in any of them; and
while the mode presented is the best the ex-
ecutiye can suggest-wth his present impress
siOns, it must not be understood that no other
possible mode would be acceptable.
Given under my hand at the city of Wash
ington, the eighth day of December, A. ID.
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three,
aud of the independence OF the United States
of America, the eighty eighth.
(Signcd) ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
BY the president:
WIN. IL. SEWARD, Secretary of State.