, 1864-07-11
PR0CLANIATI0 or THE
PRESIDENT.


WHEREAS, At the late session, Congress
passed bill to guarantee to certain States
whose governments have been usurped or
orerthrown, republican form Of govern
ment, copy Of which is hereunto annexed;
und srhereas, the sald bill Was presented to
the President Of the United States for bis ap-
proral less than an hour before the sine die
adjournment Of said session, and was not
signed By him, and whereas the said bill con
tuins, among other things, plan for restor
ing the States In rebellion to their proper
practical relation to the Union, which plan
expressed the sense Of Congress upon that
subject, and which plan it is now thought
tit to lay before the people for their consider
alton:
Now, therefore, i, Abraham Lincoln, Pres
ideot Of the United States, do proclaim, de-
was in December last, when by proclama-
ton propounded plan for restoration, nn-
prepared, BY formal approya! Of this bill,
to be inaexibly committed to any single plan
Of restoration, and while an also unpre-
pared to declare that the free state constitu-
tions and governments already adopted and
installed In Arkansas and Louisiana shall be
set aside, md held for naught, thereby re-
pelling and discou1aging tie loyal citizens
who haye set up the same as to further effort,
or to declare constitutional competency in
Congress to abolish slavery in the States, but
GIN at the same time sincerely hoping and
expecting that a constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery throughout the
nation may be adopted, nevertheless am
fully satisfied with the system for restora-
tion contained in the bill, as a very
proper plan for the loyal people Of any
state choosing to adopt it. and that I am anl
at all times sha1l be prepared to give the e8-
ccntiyc aid and assistance to any such people
80 soon Us the military resistance to the Uni
ted States shall have been suppressed in any
such State, and the people thereof shaN have
sufficiently returned to Their obedience Of the
Constitution and laws OF the United States,
In which case Military Governors Will be ap-
pointed, with directions to proceed accord
Ing 10 the bin.
In testimony whereof, hnve hereunto set
my band and caused the seal Of the United
| States to be afixed-
Done ut the city Of Washington, this sth
| day Of July, In the year Of our Lord eighteen
| hundred and sixty four, and Of the independ-
ence Of the United States the 6Sth-
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WM. Il SEWARD, Secretary Of State.
THE PLAN.
The plan above referred tu, uu uuup1eu p5
Congress and thus approved By the President,
il in substance as follows:
The bill rs passed provides for the appointment
Of Provisional Governor tor each rebel State with
1aAy and cmotrments OF BHgadier General. Such
Governor, soon as the military resistance to the
euch State. and the people thereof shall haue enl
cie1tly returned to their obedience to the Constl
tut!on and laws Of the United States, Is to direct
f q e. @a
aud to require Of them the oath Of allegiance. In
taken The oath. the Provisional Governor enalL By
procls1nasion Invite The loyal prope q the si1:e
citizchs who are in the military Service to
be nllowed to vote ut their headquarters Tor de.c-
Fis borne arms nndcr tie rchel ua1rpstio5. i to
ie allowed to rote ior lelecate OF serve Us dele
ga,c to the Convention The Convention is rsaai
Cone,ilutioa aud laTs OF the United States, and
to incorporate iA Its Consultation provision dis
u ministe1ia or military below he srs1e Of CO o
/ mel. unGtr The uearpod power. 4 provision has
been Incorporated prohibiting involuntary serF1.
provision iorbiddins the recognition or paymen,
ot any debt created OF aanc,!onld by the usurped
power, The people ofthe State are to Eo;e to1 or
n.ajn+t the Constitution 70 framed, which. If
adopted, eAsll be certified to the President, WIN,
after er rininc the ssee1t OF Congress- shall rccog
nixe The government so esiahliehcd. Senatore, K-p
rt4entatlves End electors uay be Caosen from the
date Of such rfcoglltson, aud no. b51;sse. The
Convention shall he 1issolsed II It reueea to rree-
taallsh Tue sts1t Government upon :ee above con-
ditions. hEt auother subsequently be called In
The samemanher. Until recognition by the United
States. the p1orisiunal Government in each sta'c
is to to the cution OF tue United States laws
cna OF the 5tate before it went Tito rebel ion
:are that those rclative to slavery shall not be
| torred. Until recognition, the Provisional Cor
trnmert ie to assess and Levy taxes. as 4uey were
required 10 be levied In tbe last fiscal year before
the rebellion. All persons held TO involuntary ser
Vi, ade IL the rebe States are declared forever free
and ii reet1sioed OF their liberty heresstef. to he
discharged Oh hdL<ds corpus, the person convicted
Of restraining them TO be punished by heavy Gnt
and Improvement. Every person hereafter bold
lug Office, except those merely ministerial below
thr 2rads Of Coioncl, is declared not to be Il ciu
| zen Of the United St1tcs.