The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-01
By THE PRESIDENT or I'm
limited STATES

UNITED STATES.
Whereas, the President of the United States .
the Sth day of December, A. ID. 1868, and ON 4,
26th day of March, A. d. 1864, did, with the OH.
to suppress the existing rebellion, TO induce all 6s
sons to return to their loyalty, and to restore IN
authority of the United States, issue proelamato,
offering amnesty and pardon to certain persons NJ
had, directly or by implication, participated il a,
said rebellon; and whereas many persons who h.,
so engaged in said rebellion, have since the ssua,
of said proclamation failed or neglected 10 N
the benefits offered thereby; and whereas many No.
sons who have been justly deprived of all Chain !,
amnesty and pardon Hereunder by reason of,bs.
participation, directly by implication, in sad :,
bellion and continued hostility 10 the goverpms..
of the United States since the date of said ptoem
ton, now desire 10 apply for and obtain amnesty
pardon; IL
To the end, therefore, that the authority or Il.
government Of the United States may be re,,o,.S
and that peace, order and freedom may be s,,,Ll
lished, /, ANDREW JOHNSON, President of the UDh,l
States, do proclaim and declare that hereby v,,,
to all persons who have directly or indirectly N,
ticipated in the existing rebellion, except az here,
after excepted, amnesty and pardon, with rest,
ton of all rights of property, except as to slave
except in cases where legal proceedings, una
laws Of the United States providing for the oa
cation of property of persons engaged in rebeEs,
have been instituted, but on the condition, never
lutleSS, lHdI every peIbOH Suhll lahe AnQ knb
scribe the following oath affirmation, and thence
forward keep and maintain said oath inviolate,
which oath shall'be registered for permanent p
servation, and shall be of the tenor and effect
lowing, to-wit:-
], - -, do solemniy swear or affirm, In d
sence of Almighty God, that will hencefsrlh faf
fully support and defend the Constitution of
United States and the Union of the States there's
der, and that will, in like manner, abide BY
faithfully support all laws and proclamatiOns whs
have been made during the existing rebellion vii
reference 70 the emancipation of slaves. SO BEL
me God.
The following classes of persons excepet1gs /.
the benefits of this proclamation:
First-An who are or shall have been preHtt
civil or diplomatic Office or otherwise, domedc
foreign agents of the pretended Confederate gOrr
ment.
Second--An who left judicial stations under d
United States to aid the rebellion.
Third-All who shall have been military or nav
officers of said pretended Confederate goVernne
above the rank ofColonel in the army or LiegtUa
in the navy.
Fourth-All who left seats in the Congress Of
United States to aid the rebellion.
Fifth-An who resigned or rendered resigsic
Of their commissions In the army or navy or:hsTi
to evade duty in resisting the rebellion.
Sixth-All who have engaged in any way nue
ing otherwise than lawfully as prisoners Of war
sons found in the U. s. service, officers, sOldi
seamen, or in other capacities.
Seventh-All persons who have been or are
sentees from the U. s. for the purpose Of aiding
rebellion.
Eighth--All military and naval officers 10
rebel service who were educated by the govern
in the Military Academy at West Point or the
Naval Academy.
Ninth-All persons who held the pretended ss
of Governors of States in instruction agaiHs
United States.
Tenth-All persons who left their homes
the jurisdiction and protection of the United Sol
and passed beyond the federal military lines
the so-called Confederate States for the purpose
aiding the rebellion.
Eleventh-All persons who have been engaged
the destruction Of the commerce of the United SO
upon the high seas, and all persons who have "a
raids into the United States from Canada, or -
engaged in destroying the commerce Of the "
States upon the lakes and rivers that sepsr'f
British provinces from the United States
Twelfth-All persons who, at the time wh6
seek TO obtain the benefits hereof by takingihI
herein prescribed are in military, naval o.. Il
confinement or custody, or under bonds Of ih
military or naval authorities OF agents Of the "
States, as prisoners of war or persons detair'
offences ofany kind either before or after con'n
Thirteenth-All persons who have yoIanp
participated in said rebellion, and the es'~
value of whose taxable property is over W.
thousand dollars.
Fourteenth-All persons who have taken i1''
OF amnesty as prescribed in the Presideu''T'
nation of December eight, A. ID. one Thousand =
hundred and sixty-three. or an oath OF alega'
the government of the United States since ips
of said proclamation, and who have not tlep'
ward kept and maintained the same nToA'
Provided that special application NAV be ~.
the President for pardon by any person belong
the excepted classes, and such clemepcy VII Y N
orally extended as may be consistent with w. ~
OF the case and the peace and dignity OF Ss ~
States.
The Secretary of State will establish Fa p.
regulations for administering and recording ~ ~
amnesty oath so az to insure It's benefit 10 ~
pie. and guard the government against ffESa n
In testimony whereof, i have hereuno
hand and caused the seal of the United stare
affixed. Done at the city Of Washington.. ="
day Of May, in the year Of Our Lord lSO5,
the independence of the United States the Ss..S
BY the President-Wm Seward Sec'y o. s'''