The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-06-07
The Presidents Amnesty
-s.ss-e Proclamation.
a Proclamation By tie President of Ike
sa United tStutes of America

8 URfted States of AMERICA.
S WHEREAS, The President of the Uni-
ted States. on the 1st day of December,
1863, and on the26th'day of March, 1864,
did, with the object to suppress the ex-
isting rebellion, to induce all persons to
return to their loyalty and TO restore the
authority Of the United States, issue proc
lamatiens offering amnesty and pardon to
certain persons who had directly or by
Implication participated IN the said rebel
lion; and e5sssss-azz-stt--- 49,
WHEREAS, Many persons who had SO
served in said rebellion since the issuance
of said proclamation, failed or neglected
to take. the benefit offered thereby; and
WHEREAS, Many persons who have
been justly deprived of all claim to am
nesty and pardon Hereunder, by reason
Fof their participation directly or by i'm
pffcation in said rebellion and continued
hostility to the Government of the Uni
ted States since the date Of safd proela-
n,ati6n, now desire to apply for and OBJ
tain amnesty and pardon.
To the end, therefore, that the author
ity of the Government Of the United
States may be restored, and that peace,
order and freedom may be established, I,
Andrew ohnsot, President of the Uni
ted States, do proclaim and declare, that
| hereby grant to all personsrmho have,
directly or indirectly, participated in the
existing rebellion, except as hereinafter
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with res
toration Of all'rights of property except
as to slaves, and except in cases where
legal proceedings under the2laws of the
United States providing for the confsca-
ton of property of persons engaged in
rebellion have been Instituted; but on the
condition. nevertheless, that every such
person shall take and subscribe the fol-
lowing oath or affirmation, and thence
forward keep and maintain said oath in
violate, and which oath shall be register
ed for permanent preservation. and shall
be of the tenor and effect following, to
wit:
81 do solemnly swear or affirm in pres
ence of Almighty God, that will hence
forth faithfully defend the Constitution
lof the United States and the Union of the
States hereunder, and that will in like
manner abide by and faithfully support
IaH laws and proelamations which have
been made during the existing rebellion
with reference to the emancipation of
lslaves. So help me God. =
The following classes Of persons are
excepted from the benefits Of this procla-
nation:
.1st. All who are or shall have been
pretended civil or diplomatic officers or
otherwise domestic or foreign agents, of
the pretended Confederate Government
I'd All who left Judicial stations under
the United States to aid the rebellion.
/ Sd. All who shall have been military or
naval officers of said pretended Confede-
rate Government above the rank of Col
onel in the army OF Lleutehant in the
navy.
4th. All who left seats in the Congress
of the United States to aid in the rebel
lion.
9Th All who resigned or rendered re-
| lsignations of their commissions in the
army or navy Of the United States to
evade duty in resisting the rebellion.
9th. All who have engaged in an way
in treating otherwise than Lawfully, as
prisoners of war, persons found IN the
United States service, as officers, seamen,
or in other capacities.
7th. All persons who have been or are
absentees from the United States for the
purpose of aiding the rebellion.
Sth. All military and naval officers in
The rebel service who were educated by
| the Government in the military academy
at West Point, or in the United States
naval academy.
9th. All persons who held the preten-
ded Offices of Governors of States in in
surgent States against the United States.
10th. 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
iConfederate States fer the purpose of aid
ling the rebellion.
1lth. All persons who have been en-.
lgaged in the destruction of the commerce
OF the United States upon the high seas,
who have made raidsin the United States
from Canada, or been engaged in destroy
ling the commerce of the United States
upon the lakes and rivers that separate
the provinces from the United States.
18th 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
Icustody, or under bonds of authorities OF
'lagents of the United States as prisoners
of war, or persons detained for offenses Of
lany kind, either before or after conyic-
/ ton.
| 18th. All persons who have participa-
ted in said rebellion, and the estimated
value of whose taxable property is over
ls2o 600. q
i 18th. All persons who have taken the
oath of amnesty as prescribed in the Pres
lident's proclamation of December s, A
D. 1858, or an oath of allegiance to the
lGovernment of the United States since
the date Of said proclamation, and who
have henceforwar3 kept. and maintained
\ the same inyiolate. =
I Provided that special application may
be made to the President for pardon by
any person belonging to the excepted
tclasses, and such clemency will be liber-
ally extended as may be consistent with
THE facts of the case and the peace and
dignity of the United States. I
! The Secretary of State viii esta blish
rules and regulations for administering