The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-06-07
AMNESTY! I!
A PROCLAIM alton.
WAsH1NeroN, Nay 90, 1866.

eighteen uuuuieu auN oAAS
the 26th day of March, AID eighteen
handred and sixty four, did, with the OBJ
iect to suppress the existing Rebellion,
to induce all persons to return to their
LOYALTY and to restore the authority OF the
United States, issue proclamations otfer.
ing amnesty and pardon to certain per-
cons, who had directly or BY implication
participated in the said rebellion aud
Whereas, Many persons whS had so
engaged in said Rebellion have, since the
issueance of said proclamation, failed or
neglected to take the benefits offered
thereby and
Whereas, Many persons, who have
been justly deprived of all claim to am.
neyty and pardon Hereunder, by reason
of their participation directly or by I'M
plication in said Rebellion, and continued
in hostility to the Government of the
United States since the date of said proc.
lamation, now desire to apply for and OBJ.
tain amnesty and pardon,
To the end, therefore, that the authority
Of the Government of the United States
may be restored and that peace, order and
freedom may be re- established !, Andrew
johnson, President of the Uui'ed States,
do proclaim and declare that I hereby
grant to all persons who have directly or
indirectly participated in the existing
Rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted,
amnesty and pardon, with restoration of
all rights of property, except as to slaves
and except in cases where legal proceed
Jugs under the laws of the United States
providing for the cor6sication of property
Of persons engaged in Rebellion have
been instituted but on the condition,
nevertheless, that every such person shall
take and subscribe the following octh or
Affirmation, and theuceforward keep and
maintain said oath inyiolate, and which
oath shall be registered for permanent
preservation, and shall be of the tenor
and effect following, to wit:
~ blank do selemnly swear, or affirm, in
presence of Almighty God, that will hence
forth faithfully support and defend the Con-
stitution of the United States and the Union
of the States thereunder, and that will in
like manner, abide BY and faithfully support
all laws and proclanIations which have been
made during the existing Rebellion with ref
erence to the emancipation OF slaves, so help
me God.
The following classes Of persons are
excepted from the benefits of this procla-
nation
First. All who are or shall have been
pretended civil or diplomatic offers, or
otherwise domestic or foreign agents, of
the pretended Confederate Government.
Second All who left judicial stations
under the United States to aid the Re-
bellion.
Third. All who shall have been mill.
tary or naval officers of said pretended
Confederate Government above the rank
of colonel in the army or lieutenant in
the navy.
Fourth. All who left seats in the Con-
gress of the United States to aid the Re-
bellon.
Ei/th. All who resigned or rendered
designations of their commissions in the
Army or Navy of the United States to
evade duty in resisting the Rebellion.
iSiinth All who have engaged in any
way in treating otherwise than lawfully
AS prisoners of war persons found in the
United States service as officers, soldiers,
seamen, or in other capacities.
SeUenth. All persons who have been or
are absentees from the United States for
the purpose of aiding the Rebellion.
Eighth. All military and naval officers
in the Rebel service who were educated
by the Government in the Military
Academy at West Point or the United
States Naval Academy.
Ninth. All persons who held the pre-.
tended Offices of Governors of States 10
insurrection against the United States.
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 so called
Confederate States, for the purpose Of
aiding the Rebellion.
Eteventh. 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 Canada
or been engaged in destroying the com.
merca of the United States upon the lakes
and rivers that seperate the British Prov.
inces from the United States.
TaCeLtth. All persons who, at the time
when they seek to obtain the benefit!
hereof by taking the oath herein prescrib
ed, are in military, naval or civil confne
ment or custody, or under bonds of th,
civil, military or naval authorities O
agents of the United States as prisoner!
of war. or persons detained for ofense
of any kind either before or after conVic