The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-24
PROCLAMATION.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON's AMNESTY
A Proclamation by the President.

A proclamation by the President.
Whereas the President of the United States, on
the Sth day of December, A. D., eighteen hun
dred and sixty-three, and on the 26th day of
March, A. d., eighteen hundred and sixty-four,
did, with the object to suppress the existing re-
bellion, to induce all persons to return to their
loyalty, and restore the authority of the United
States, issue proclamations offering amnesty and
pardon to certain persons, who had directly or
by implication participated in the said rebellion;
And whereas many persons who had so en-
gagged in said rebellion have since the issuance of
said proclamations, failed or neglected to take
the benefits offered thereby; and
Whereas many persons, who have been justly
deprived of all claim to amnesty and pardon there
under, by reason of their participation directly
or by implication in said rebellion, and continued
in hostility to the Government of the United
States since the date of said proclamation, now
desire tolapply for and obtain amnesty and par
don; and ......-----.-.-.-
To the end, therefore, that the authority of
the Government of the United States may be re-
stored, and that peace, order and freedom may
be established, J. Andrew johnson, President
of the United States, do proclaim and declare
that hereby grant to all persons who have di-
rectly or indirectly participated in the existing
rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted amnesty
and pardon, with restoration of all rights of pro-
perty, except to slaves, and except in cases
where legal proceedings under the laws of the
United States providing for the confscation of
property of persons engaged in rebellion have
been instituted; but ON the condition, neverthe-
less, that every such person saall take and sub
scribe the following oath or affirmation, and
thenceforward keep and maintain said oath in
violate, and which oath shall be registered for
permanent preservation, and shall be of the tenor
| and effect following, to wit
81 -, do solemnly swear, Tor affirm, in pre-
| sence of Almighty God, that l will henceforth
faithfully support and defend the Constitution of
| the United States and the Union of the States
Hereunder, and that will, in like manner, abide
by and faithfully support all laws and proclama-
| tions which have been made during the existing
| rebellion, with reference to the emancipation of
| slaves so help me God"
The following classes of persons are excepted
| from the benefits of this proclamation
! First. All who are or shall have been pretended
civil or diplomatic officers, or otherwise domestic
or foreign rents of the pretended Confederate
| Government FL.
Second. 4 h who left judicial stations under the
| United STATE to aid the rebellion.
| Third. Al no shall have been military or ma
| val officers I, said pretended Confederate Gov
| eminent above the rank of Colonel in the army
| or Lieutenant in the navy.
Fourth. All who left seats in the Congress of
| the United States to aid the rebellion.
| Fifth. All who resigned or rendered resigna-
| lions of their commissions in the army or navy
| of the Uni3ed States to evade duty in resisting
| the resisting the rebellion
| Sixth. All who have engaged in any way in
| treating otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of
war persons found in the United States service as
| Seventh. All persons who have been or are alb
sentees from the United States for the purpose of
aidsng the rebellion.
| Eighth. All military and naval officers in the
rebel service who were educated by the Govern
| ment in the Military Academy at West Point or
| the United States Naval Academy. e44
| Ninth. All persons who held the pretended of
fees of Governors of States in insurrection againsr
l the United States. ~ er,-r
| Tenth. All persons who left their homes within
the jurisdiction and protection of the United
| States, and passed beyond the Federal military
lines into the socaed Consederate States, for the
purpose of aiding the rebellion. AZ
| Eleventh. All persons who have been engaged
in the destruction of the commerce of the United
States upon the high seas, and all persons who
have made raids into the United States from Can
| ado, or been engaged in destroying the commerce
| of the United States upon the lakes and rivers
| that separate the British Provinces from the
United States. @ FIX v.4-,,s '2sa
Twelfth. All persons who, at the time when
they seek to obtain the benefits hereof by taking
the oath herein prescribed, are in military, naval
or civil confinement or custody or under bonds
| of the civil, military naval authorities agents
OF the United States as prisoners os OF war, or
persons detained for offences of any kind either
before or after conviction.
Thirteenth. All persons who have voluntarily
participated in said rebellion, and the estimated
value of whose taxable property is over twenty
| thousand dollars. rasF tssrs7f
| Fourteenth. All persons who have taken the
oath of amnesty as prescribed in the Presidents
Proclamation of December s, A. D., 1862 an
oath of allegiance to the Government of the
United States since the date of said Proclama-
| ton, and who have not thenceeforward kept and
| maintained the same inviolate; provided, that
special supplication be made to the President for
pardon by any person belonging, to the excepted
classes, and such clemency will be literally ex-
tended may be consistent with the facts Of the
case and the peace and dignity of the United
States. 1ia s5-a5rco
The Secretary of State will establish rules and
| regulations for administering and recording the
said amnesty OATH SO as to insure its benefit to
the people and guard the Government against
fraud. -
In testimony whereof, have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed. -
Done at the city of Washington, the twenty ninth
TN day of May in the year of our Lord
1. s. one thousand eight hundred and sixty
l~~) five, and of the independence of the
United States the eighty ninth. +
By the President:
VIM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State
Dire ctiOns for Administering and Re-
cOrding the Amnesty Oath.