American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-07-13
President Lincoln's PrOclama-
tion.
WASHINGTON, July 5.

the President of the United Statcs an
nounced and declared that the laws OF the
United States had been for some time
past aud then were opposed, and the exc
cution thereof obstructedin certain States
therein mentioned, by combinations too
powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings, or by the
power vested in the Marshals by law;
And whereas, Immediately after the is-
suing of the said proclamation, the land
and naval forces of the United States we're
put into activity to suppress said insur-
pection and rebellion. Aud whereas, the
Congress of the United States, by an act
approved on the Sd day of March, 1868,
did enact that during the said rebellion
the President of the United States, when
ever in his judgment the public safety
may require it, is authorized to suspend
the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus
in any case throughout the United States
or any part thereof.
And whereas, the said insurrection and
rebellion still continues endangering the
existence of the Constitution and the gov
ernment of the United States, and where
as the military forces Of the U. s. are now
actively engaged in suppressing the said
insurection and rebellion in various parts
of the States where the said rebellion has
been successful in obstructing the laws
and public authorities, and especially in
the States of Virginia and Georgia
And whereas, on the 10Th day of Sep
tember last the Presidedt of the United
States duly issued his proclamation, where
in he declared that the privilege of the
writ of hobeas corpus should be suspend
ed throughout the United States in cases
whereby. by the authority of the Presi-
dent of the United States, the military,
paval and civil officers of the United
States, or any of them, may hold persons
under their command or in their custody,
either as prisoners of war, spies or aiders
or abetters of the enemy, or officers, SOL
diers or seamen enrolled or drafted ormus-
tered or enlisted in or belonging to the
land or naval forces of the United States,
as deserters therefrom, or otherwise amen
able to military law, or the rules and ar
ticles of war, or the rules and regulations
prescribed for the military or naval scrv-
ice, by the authority of the President of
the United States or for resisting draft,
or for any other offence against the mill
tary or naval services
And whereas, many citizens Of the State
Of Kontncky have joined the forces of the
insurgents; have, on several occasions,
entered the said State of Kentucky in
laage force, and not without aid and COM
fort furnished by disalfected and disloyal
citizens of the United States therein not
only greatly disturbed the public peace,
but overborpc the civil authorities and
made fragrant civil war, destroying prop
erty and life in various parts Of that
State.
And whereas, it has been made known
TO the President of the United States by
ths officers commanding the National ar
mics that combinations have been formed
in said state of Kentucky with purpose
of melting the rebel forces to renew the
said operations of civil war within the
said State, and thereby to embarrass the
United States armies now operating in
said States of Virginia and Georgia, and
to endanger their safety.
Now, therefore, /, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Con-
stitution and laws, do hereby declare that
in my judgment the public safety especi-
ally requires that the suspension Of the
privilege Of the writ of habeas corpus so
proclaimed in said proclamation Of the
18th of September, 1868, be made effec-
tual and be duly enforced in and through
out the said State of Kentucky, and that
martial law be for the present declared
therein
do therefore hereby require of the
military officers in the said State, that the
privilege Of the writ of habeas corpus be
cffectually suspended within said State,
according to the aforesaid proclamation,
and that martial law be established there
in, to take effect from the date Of this
proclamation. The said suspension and
establishment of martial law to continue
until this proclamation shall be revoked
or modified, but not beyond the period
when said rebellion shall have been sup.
pressed, or conc toan end; and | do here
by require and command you, as well as
military officers, all civil officers and au-
thorities existing or found within said
State of Kentucky, to take notice of this
proclamation, and to give full effect to the
same. The martial law herein proclaim
ed, and the things in that respect herein,
ordered, will not be deemed or taken to
interfere with the holding of lawful cleo
tions, or with the proceedings of the Con-
stitutional Legislature of Kentucky, or
with the administration of justice in the
courts of law existing therein, between
citizens Of the United States in suits or
proceedings which do not affect the mill
tary operations or the constituted author
tiles Of the Government of the United
States
In testimony whereof l have hereto set
my handand caused the seal Of the United
States to be affixed
Done at the city of Washington this
9Th day of July, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty
four, aud of the Independence of the
United States the eighty-cighth.
(SignedD ABRAHAM LINCOLN.