Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-02
BIZ the President of the United States Of
A,,er,eo
A PROCLAMATION.

fhOOBA M AllON.
Whereas. The President Of the United
States, on the 9Th day Of December, A. d.
eighteen hundred and sixty three, and on the
26th day Of March, A. ID. eighteen hundred
and sixty four. did, with the object to sup
press the existing rebellion, to induce all per-
sons to retnrn to their loyalty, and to restore
the authority Of the United States, issue proc
amations offering amnesty and pardon to GER
tain persons who bad, directly, or by imph.
cation. participated in the said rebellion and
Whereas, Many pesons who have been just
y deprived Of all claim to amnesty or pardon
hereunder 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 to apply for and OBJ
tam 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 established. l, Andrew Johnson,
President Of the United States, do proclaim
and declare that tereby grant to all persons
who have, directly or indirectly, participated
in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with restora-
tior of all rights of property, except as to
slaves, and except in cases where legal pro-
ceedngs under the laws Of the United States,
providing for the confscation of property of
persons engaged in rebellion, have been in
stituted, but on the condition, nevertheless,
that every such person shall take and sub
scribe to the following oath OF afiirma-
ton, and thenceforward keep and maintain
said oath inviolate, and which oath shall be
registered for permanent preservation, and
shall be after the tenor and effect to wits
|, --- -, do solemnly swear or
affirm in the presence of Almighty God, that
will henseforth faithfully support and de-
fend the Constitution Of the United States
and the Union Of the States Hereunder, aud
that | will in like manner abide by and faith
fully support all laws and proclamations
which have been made during the existing
rebellion with reference to the emancip alton
of slaves so help me God.
The following classes Of persons are ex-
cepted from the benefits of this Proclamation
First, All who are, or shall have been,
pretended civil or diplomatic officers or 9TH
erwise, domestic or foreign agents of the pre-
tended Confederate Government.
Second, All who left Judicial stations under
the United States 10 aid the rebellion.
Third, All who shall have been military 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 Congress
of the United States to aid the rebellion.
Fifth, All who resigned or rendered resg-
nations of their commissions in the army or
navy Of the United States to eyade duty in
resisting the rebellion.
Sixth, All who have engaged in any way
in treating otherwise than lawfully as PRISON.
ers Of war persons found in the United States
as officers, soldiers, seamen or in other oapaci-
ties.
Seventh, 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 re bel service who were educated by the
Government in tho military academy at West
Point or the United States Naval Academy.
Ninth. All persons who held the pretend
ed offices OF Governors Of States in insure
ton against the United States.
Tenth, All persons who left their homes
within the jurisdiction and protection Of the
United States and passed beyond the FEEDER
al military lines into the sv-oalled confederate
States for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.
Eleventh, All percons who have been en-
gagged 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 de-
stToying the commerce of the United States
upon the lakes and rlvers tina! seperate the
British Proviences from the United States.
/ 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 or naval
authorities, agents Of the United States, as
prisoners Of war or persons detained for off
ences of any kind either before or after con-
vic,ion.
/ Thirteenth, All persons who have volun-
tar.ly participated in said rebellion, and the
estimated value of whose available property is
over twenty thousand dollars.
Fourteenth, All persons who have taken
the oath of amnesty described in the Pres
idents proclamation Of December 9Th, A. ID.
1868, or an oath of allegiance to the govern
ment Of the United STATES, since the date Of
said proclamation, and who have not thence
forwa kept and maintained the same in
I violate; Prov ded. that special application
may be made to he President for pardon by
any person belonging to the excepted classes,
and such cemency will be Literally extendtd
as may be consistent with the facts of the
case, and the peace and dignity of the United
States.
The Secretary Of state will establish rules
and regulations for administering andrscord-
ing the said amnesty oath so as to insure its
benefits to the people and guard the govern
ment 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, thi, twenty
ninth day Of May, in the year of Our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixty -fve, and of the Independence OF
the United States the eighty ninth.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President.
VIM. II. Seward, Secretary of State.
By The President of the United States.
A PROCLAMATION.