Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-21
PROCLAMATION.

Whereas il and by the Constitution OF the United
Sate provided that the Pres dent shall have power
y grant repneyes and pardons for offences against the
Unned States, except in cases OF impeachment ana
Whereas rebellion now exists whereby the loyal
State governments Of several States have for long time
been subyerted and many persons nave oonmlted ana
are now guilty Of treason against the United states ana
Whereas with reference TO said rebellion ana treason
laws have been enacted by Congress declaring forfeit
ures and conscaton of property and liberation OF slaves
all upon terms aud conditions therein stated and also de-
carng that the President thereby authorized at any
time thereafter by proclamation 10 extend TO persons
who may have participated in the existing rebellion in
any State part thereof pardon and amnesty with such
exceptions aud such times and such conditions
be may deem oApsdient for the public welfare, and
Whereas tEc congressional declaration for limited and
conditional pardon accords with welestabshed judicial
exposition 0! the pardOning power and
Whereas with reference TO said rebellion, the Presi
dent Of the United States has issued several procama'
Tons with provisions in regard TO the liberation OF slaves
and
Whereas is now desired by persons heretofore
engaged in said rebellion TO resume their allegiance to
the United States and 80 renaugurae loyal State govern
mens within and for their respective States therefore,
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President Of the United States,
90 proclaim declare and make known 20 all persons who
nave directly by implication participated IN the exist.
ing rebellion, hereinafter excepted that ul
pardon is hereby ganted 20 them and each Of Them with
restoration Of all rights OF property except as to slaves
and in property where rights of third parties shall
have interviewed and upon the condition that every such
person shall take and subscribe OATH and thenceor-
ward keep and maintain said oath inyolae and which
shall be Of the tenor an effect following, 10 wit:
VI ---, do soemnly swear, in presence OF Al
mighty God, that will hencefOTth faithfully support,
protect and defend the Constitution OF the United States
and the union Il the states hereunder; and that Will
m like manre- abide by and faithfully supp all acts OF
Congress passed during the existing rebellion with refer.
encs % slaves 70 long and f'r not repealed m0di
fed held Od by Congress b. decision Of the ~u
preme Court and tina: will, in Ike manner, abide by
and faithfully support al goclamatiOns of the President
made during TIE existing rebellion having reference TO
Iayes long and fer modified declared void
BY decision OF the Supreme Court So help me Cod
The PERSONS excepted from the benefits OF the foregoing
provisions ere al Who sha have BEEN civil dipO
matte ocSrs agents O. the so-caed Confederate Gov
ernmeut al who have elt judicial stations under the
Guted States % aid tie rebellion, al'ThO shall
have been, military or naval officers OF said sO-ca4led
Confederate Government above the rank OF colonel in the
army OF Lieutenant in the navy all who left seats in
the United States Congress TO aid the rebellion all who
resigned commissions in the army navy OF the United
States and afterwards aided the rebellion and all who
have engaged in any way in treating coIorcd persons
white persons in charge of SUCH otherwise than lawfully
prisoners Of aud which persons may have been
iouhd in The United States service soldiers seGmon
in any other capacity.
And 7 DO further proclaim, declare, and make known.
that whenever in any Of the States OF Arkansas Texas
Louissna Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama Georgia, Flor
ida South Cdrolinasnd Y. Carolina number OF persons,
not less than tenth in number OF the votes cast in such
State at the Presidential election of the year OF our ord
ore thousand eight hundred and sixty each having taken
the oath aforesaid and not having since violated IT, and
being qualified voter by the election law of the state
oAnllng Immediately before the s0eGled act OF secession
and excluding oil Others shall reesablsh STATE gov
eminent which shall be republican, and in wise con
trayenng said OATH such shall be recognized as the true
government OF the State, and the State shall receive
tbereunder the benefits OF the constitutional provision
which declares that "Ihe United States shall guaranty
70 every state in this Union a republican form OF
goyernment and shall protect each OF them against in
vasion and on application OF the legislature or tie
eCutivs, when the legislature cannot be colyeLed.
against domestic violence
And 90 further proclaim, declare, and make known
that which m he qdoufld nv ID
IS n relation 10 the freed people Of such
Stete which shall recognize and declare their pcrma
nent freedom provide for their education, and which
may O.. be consistent Gs temporary arrangement with
their present condition abOruC landleSs and home
less class will not be objected 20 by The national Exec.
utiye. And is suggested not improper that in con-
structing loyal State government in any State the
name OF the State the boundary The subdivisions, the
constitution and The general code ofaws before the
rebellion be maintained subject only to the notifications
made necessary oy the conditions herenbeoTe stated
and such Others any no! c0ntraYeung said conditions
and which may be deemed eNpedent by those framing
the new State government.
To avoid Misunderstanding, il may be proper 10 say
that hs proclamation 20 far il relates 10 State gov
ernments has reference TO States wherenoyal gov
ernments have all the while been maintained And for
the reason may be proper to further say that
whether members sent to Congress from any State shall
be admitted 10 seats cOnstutionslly rests exclusive
with the respective houses and not to any extent wi
the Executive. And still further that Mis- procIami
ton intended 70 present the people the States where
in the national authority has been suspended and
loyal State governments have been subverted,
mode in and by which the national authority and
loyal State governments may be re-established with
in said states in any OF them and while the mode pre-
scented the best she Executive can suggest with his pre-
sent impressions It must be understood that no Other
possible mode would be acceptable
Given under my hand ct the city Of Washington the
9th DAY Of December A. D. thousand eight hundred
and ei1ty-tbree aud OF the independence Of The
IL. 81 United States OfAmeriOa the eightyeighth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WILLIAM E. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.
book wherein 10 record the taking OF the above oath
by such persons entitled 20 take il may apply is in
the custody Of - -. at -, who is author
lied % administer said oath 10 suoh OF thai Wei
nifty and required 10 give so every such person request
ing II certificate in the form below. and which cerh.
Oh he oh do ~ o.