The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-18
PRESIDENT JoHNsoNs AMNESTY.
A PROCLAMATION BY TIE PRESIDENT.


March, A. ID. eighteen hundred and sixty four,
did with the object to suppress the existing re
beliiou, TO induce all persons to reJu1 to their
loyalty, and to restore the authority OF the Uni
ted Sates, Issue proelsEations cffaiiBg amnesty
and pardon TO certain persons, who b ID directly
or by implication participated 10 the said REBEL
lion ara
Whereas, many persons who had so engaged in
said rebellion have, since the issuance of said
proclsnations, Jailed 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's
under, by reason OF their participation directly or
by Implication ia said rebellion, and continued
in hostility to the Government oil the United
States since the dale OF said proclamation, now
desire 10 apply Tor and obtain amnesty and par
don;
10 the end, therefore, that the authority of the
Government of the United States may be re.
stored, and that peace, order and freedom NAV
be regestablished, |, Andrew johnson, President
of the United States, do proclaim and declare
that hereby grant to all persons who have d.
rectly or indirectly participated in the existing
rebsiion, except as hereinafter excepted, amnesty
and pardon, with restoration of all rights of pro-
peTty, except as to slaves, and except in cases
where legal pr oceedings under the laws of the
United States providing for the cen6scstion of
property OF persons engaged in rebellion have
been instituted; but on the condition, neverthe.
less, that every such person shall take and sub,
scribe the following oath or affirmation, and
thenceforward keep and maintain said oath invio~
late, and which oath shall be registered for per-
manent preservation, and shall be of the tenor
and effect following, TO wit:
81, -, co solemnly swear, Tor afirm,) in
presence OF Almighty God, that will henceforth
faithfully support and defend the Constitution of
the United states and the Union of the States
there under, ard that ILL.,, ia like manner, abide
by and faithfully support all laws and proc anna
tiops 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
ON the benefits of this proclaim alton:
cFiTst All who are or shall have been pretended
ivjl or diplomatic officers or otherwise domestic
or foreign agents of the pretended Confederate
Government.
Second. All who left judicial stations under the
Unit ID States to aid the rebellion.
Third All no shall have been military or ma
val officers OF said pretended Confederate Gov-
erDment 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 rebe lion.
Fifth. All who resigned CT rendered resignss
tions of their commissions in the army or nsyy
ct the United States to evade duty in RESISTING
the rebellion.
Sixth. All who have engaged in any wsy in
treating otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of
war persons found in the United States service
as officers, soldiers, seamen, or in other cspaci,
ties.
Seventh. All perEe MS 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 Governs
ment in he Military Academy at West Point or
the United States Naval Academy.
Ninth. All persons who held the pretented of.
fees OF Governors of States in instruction
against the United States.
Tenth, All persons who left their homts within
the jurisdiction aud protection of the United
States, and passed beyond the Federal military
in int he Had -EnI1
the purpose Of aiding the rebellion.
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
ada, or been en- sged in Destroying the commerce
of the United States upon the lakes and rivers
that separate the British Provinces from the Uni-
ted States.
Twelfth. All persons who, at the time when
they seek to obtain the benefits hereof by taking
the Ga h herein prescribed, are in military naval
OF civil confinement or custody, or under bonds
of the civil, military naval authorities or az ens
OF the United States as prisoners of war, or per>
sons detained for ofsnces OF any kind either ben
fore or after conviction.
Thirteenth. ALI persons VINO have voluntarily
participated in said rebellion, and the estimated
thousand dollars.
Fourteenth. All persons who have taken the
ath of amnesty as prescribed in the Presidents
Proclamation OF December 8, A. d. 1868, or an
tsd States since the date of said Proclamation,
and who have not thenceforward kept and main
tanned the same inviolate; provided, that special
application may be made to the President for
pardon by any person belonging TO the excepted
classes, and such ciemency will be literally ex-
tended as may be Consistent with the facts of the
case and the peace and dignity of the United
State.
The Secretary of State will establish rules and
equations for administering aud recording the
aid amnesty oath, SO as to insure its benefit to
he people and guard the Government against
fraud. -+.
In testimony whereof, have hereunto set nav
hand and caused the seal of the United Sates to
be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, the twenty ninth
49,, day of May, in the year of our Lord
LIS. one thousand eight hundred and sixty.
49, five, and of the independence of the
United States the eighty ninth.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President:
WIN. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.