The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-06-01
Amnesty Proclamation
Washington, May 70.
A rRoCLAMATfoS

with the object to suppress the existing re-
bellion, to induce all persons to return to
their loyalty and to restore the authority
OF the United States, issue o proclamation
offering amnesty and pardon to certain
persons who had directly or by implica-
ton participated in said rebellion; and
WHEREAS, Many persons who had SO
engaged in said rebellion, have, since the
issuance Of said proclamation, failed or
neglected to take the benefit offered there
by, and rs there are many persons who
have been justly deprived OF all claim to
amnesty and pardon hereunder by reason
Of their participation directly or implica-
tion in said rebellion and continued hostil-
itv to the Government of the United States
since the date Of said proclamation and
now ucsire to apply for and obtain amnes-
tv ani pardon; to this end, therefore, that
the authority Of the Government of the
United States may be restored and that
peace. order and freedom may be cstab-
lished, I, Andrew Johnson, President of
the United States, do proclaim and declare
that hereby grant to all persons who 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 rs
to slaves and except in cases where legal
proceedings under the laws Of the United
States providing for the conflscation OF
property of persons engaged in rebellion
have been instituted, but on the condition
nevertheless. that every such person shall
take the following oath or affirmation, and
thenceforward keep and maintain said
oath inviolate and which oath shall be reg
istered for permanent preservation, and
shall be of the tenor and effect following
to-wit:
~ do solemnly swear or affirm in pres.
ence Of Almighty God that I will hence.
forth faithfully defend the Constitution o.
the United States and the Union of the
States Hereunder, and that I will in like
manner aid by faithfully supporting al
! laws and proclamations which have beer
made during the existing rebellion will
reference to emancipation Of slaves, 81
help me God"
The following classes Of persons are ex
cluded from the benefit Of the proclama
| ton: ..3 ...'.t
l. All who are or shall have been preten
ded civil or diplomatic officers or otherwise
domestic or foreign agents Of the pretend
ed Confederate government. ,.o
2. All who left judicial stations under
| the Unitcd States to aid the rebellion.
;. All who shall have been military OF
naval officers Of said pretended Confeder
| ate government above the rank of Colone
in the army or Lieutenant in the navy.
4. That all who left seats in the Congress
of the United States to aid the rebellion.
5. All who resigned or rendered resigna
| tions of their commissions in the army OIL
navy of the United States to evade duty in
resisting the rebellion. %. ...,....
! 6. All who have engaged in any way il
treating otherwise than lawfully as prison
ers of war, found in the United States ser
vice as officers, soldiers, seamen or in 9th
or capacities. -...
:. All persons who have been absentees
| from the United States for the purpose O
aiding the rebellion. 10.
s.. All military and naval officers in the
rebel service who We're educated by thu
Government at West Point or the Unitet
States naval academy.
| Q. All persons who held the pretended
offices of Governors Of States in insurrec
ton against the United States.
| 10. All persons who left their homes with
IN the Jurisdiction and protection of thu
| al Iox No, -aI
eral military lines called Confederate State.
for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.
| II. All persons who have been engaged
in the destruction of the commerce Of tn.
| United States upon the high seas, and al
persons who have made raids into the Uni
ted States from Canada, or been engaged
in destroying the commerce of the United
States upon the lakes and river that sepa
rate the British Provinces from the United
| States. rs
| II. All persons who at the time whe,
they seek to obtain the benefits hereof by
taking the oath herein prescribed, are in
military or civil confinement or custody
or under bopds of the civil, military o.
naval authorities, or of the United State.
| rs prisoners of war, or are detained fo
ofenses of any kind, either before or afte
conviction.
IL. All persons who have voluntarily
participated in said rebellion and the esti
mated value of whose taxable property /!
over $40, 900. ~r .Eu..' .r ~" ~.
| II. Al persons who have taken the oatf
| If amnesty as prescribed in the President.
proclamation of December Sth, 1863, or al
! oath Of allegiance to the United States Gov
eminent since the date ofthe proclamation
and who have thenceforward kept ant
maintained the same inviolate; provided
that special application may he made t.
the President for pardon by any person be
longing to the excepted classes, and sucI
clemency will be duly extended as may b.
consistent with the facts of the case, ant
the peace and dignity Of the United States
The Secretary of State will establish rule.
and regulations for administering and re
cording the said amnesty oath SO as to in
sure it's benefits to the people and guard
| the government against fraud.
In testimony whereof I have hereuntt
set my hand and caused the seal of the Uni
ted States to be affixed. Done mt the city
of Washington the Goth day Of May, in tho
year of our Lord 1865, and of the indepcnd
ence of the United States the eighty-ninth
(Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President: ......
WIN. ii. SEWARD, Sec'y of State.
Terrible Explosion at Mobile.
| Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
.., New Orleans, May 26.
Ono Of tho most terrific nx ulocians tho,