Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-07-15
PROCLAIM ALTON

WASHINGTON, July g. Whereas, AT
the late SESSION Of Congress was passed
a bill to guarantee to certain States
whose governments have been usurped
or overthrown a republican form OF gov
eminent, copy of which is hereunto
annexed, and,
Whereas, The said bill was presented
to the President of the United States for
his approval less than one hour before
the sine die adjournment of said session,
and was not signed by him, and,
Whereas, Thesaid bill contains among
other things plan for restoring the
States in rebellion to their proper prac-
teal relations in the Union, which plan
expressed the sense of Congress upon
that subject and which plan it is now
thought fit to lay before the people for
their consideration;
Now, therefore, /, Abraham. Lincoln,
President of the United States, do pro-
claim, declare and make known that
while | am, as / was in December last,
when by proclamation proposed a plan
for restoration, unprepared by formal
approval of this bill to be inflexibly
committed to any single plan of restora-
ton, and while / am also unprepared to
declare that the free State Constitutions
and governments already adopted and
installed in Arkansas and Louisiana
shall be set aside and held for nought,
thereby repelling and discouraging the
loyal citizens who have set up the same,
as to further effort, or to declare q Con-
stitutiOnal competency in Congress to
abolish slavery in the States, 1 am
at the same time sincerely hoping and
expecting that a Constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery throughout the
l,N l>,J
[ am fully satisfied with the system for
restoration contained in the bill, as one
very proper plan for the loyal people of
any State choosing to adopt it, and that
[ am and at all times shall be prepared
to give the Executive aid and assistance
to any such people, so soon as the mill
tary resistance to the United States shall
have been suppressed in any such State,
and the people thereof shall have suffi-
GENTLY returned to their obedience of
the Constitution and Laws of the United
States, in which case military Governors
will be appointed, with directions to
proceed according to the bill.
In testimony thereof have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington this
Sth day of July, in the year of our Lord
1864, of the independence of the United
States, the S8th.
[Signedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
VIM. II. SEWARD, Sec'y OF State.
PHILADELPHIA, July 13.-The Euen-
ing Bulletin has the following special:
Baltimore, July 1872 m.-Informa-
ton received this morning places Gen.
Crook at Westminster, Md, moving
south, and Gen. Averill at Frederick.
A fight occurred on the railroad yes
terday, near Westminster, in which the
rebels were driven off with some loss.
A division has moved from the Relay
House to Annapolis Junction, for the
relief of Washington.
A messenger who got in this morning,
from Washington last night, says our
troops, with the veterans from New Or
leans, can hold the city. He thinks the
rebels will not attempt to take it, but
having destroyed the railroad will en-
deavor to retreat south by way of Ed
wards Ferry.
BALTIMORE, July 12.-There are
no indications this morning of any
rebel force, large or small, being
within 20 miles of the city. The last of
Gilmore's raiders crossed the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad beyond Elysville, on
their way towards the main rebel force
in the vicinity of Washington at a late
hour last night.
BALTIMORE, July Is, 7 p. ma loco
motive and tender which left Washing
ton at 10 o'clock to-day has arrived here
safely. But one rebel was seen on the
road and he was nearly starved. There
was no enemy in sight, no fighting of
moment was going on and all looked
xxyn1 Trains xyi11 y>rnho hlV- n
ming tomorrow. Telegraphic commu
nication will also be opened no doubt
very soon.
PHILADELPHIA, July 13.-The Bulle-
tin says gentleman who left Washing
ton at O'Clock last evening reached this
city this afternoon. He states that
though there was great excitement in
the city, up to the time he left there had
been no assault.
New YORK, July ia Havre de
Grace special to the Philadelphia Lnqui-
rer says: Lieut.. Col. Mitchell, assistant
inspector of the 9th army corps, was
with Gen. Franklin when he was cap
tured. He says Gilmore was looking for
Franklin but took Mr.. F. A. Walbur, but
was satisfied to the contrary when Gen.
Franklin, who was standing by, spoke,
saying he was Gen. Franklin. Gilmore
said he was happy to know it, and claim
ed him as his prisoner, providing a car
rage for him, as ne was lame.
The Philadelphia Press is satisfied
that the whole power of the rebel force
will be thrown on Washington, the
movement north being only feint.
They are in greater force about that
city than anywhere in Maryland.
O. FL