The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-17
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's AMNESTY.
A PRoaAMAr1oN BY TIE PRESIDENT.


Whereas, the President of the UDited States,
on the sth.day of December, a. d. eighteen
hund red and sixty-tbree, and on the 18th day of
March, A. ID. eighteen hundred aud sixty four,
did. with the object to suppress the existing
belliou, to induce all persons to retuI n 20 their
10y atty, and to restore the authority OF the Uni
ted State,, issue proclsnations tifsting amnesty
and para on TO certain persons, who had directly
or by implication participated in the SAID rebel-
lion and
Whereas, many persons who had so eugag d in
said rebellion have, since the issuatcs OF said
proclamations, failed or neglected to take the
benefits offered thereby and .-.- ...
whereas, many persone, who have been Justly
deprived of all claim TO amnesty and pardon there
under by reason of their participation directly or
bv ipplication in said rebellion, and Continued
in hostility to the Government o. the Uuited
States since the date of said proclamation, now
desire to apply for and obtain amnesty ard Par>
don;
~ no the end therefore, that the authority of the
Qovernment of the United States may be re-
stored and that peace, order and freedom may
bs re.established, |, Andrew johnson, Pre- sdent
of the United States, DO proclaim aud declare
that hereby grant to all persons who have di-
~ rectly or indirectly participates in the existing
reheiliun, except as hereinafter excepted, amnesty
and pardon, with res totation of all rights OF pro-
perty, except as to slaves, and except ia cases
where legal proceedings under the laws OF the
United States providing tor the c9nhseltion ot
been instituted but on the condition, neverthe..
less, that every such person shall take and sub
scribe the following oath or affirmation, aud
thenceforward keep and maintain said oath nvio~
late and which cath shall be registered fer per,
manent preservation, and shall be of the tenor
and effect following, TO wit:
81, -, do solemnly swear, Tor sfiru,) in
presence OF Almighty God, that will hence Goth
faithfully support and defend the Constitution of
the United States and The Union of the States
there under, AID that Will. in like manner, abide
by and faithfully support all laws and prociana-
tons which have been made during the existing
rebellion, with reference to tins emancipation OF
slaves, so help me GOO"
The following Glasses OF persons excepted
ON the benefits of this p exclamation: -
= First, ALL who or shall have beeD pretended
iyil or diplomatic officers, or otherwise domestic
or foreign agents of the pretended Uonis dera,e
Government.
Unit I'd States to aid the rebellion.
Third. All " ho shall have been military or ma .
val officers OF said pretended Confederate Cow
ernmey,t above the rank of Colonel ia the army
or Lieutenant in tue navy. E
Fourth ALI who left seats in the Congress Of
the United States aid the rebt llion.
Fifth. All who resigned or rendered resi- mas
& tions of their commissions in the army " navy
of the United States TO evade duty in resisLin <
the rebellion.
Sixth. All who have engaged in any way In
treating otherwise than lawfully prisoners Of
war persons found in the United states service
as officers, soldiers, seamen, or IN other capsci
ties. a. t-.- 1-ff ri-.a
Seventh. All persons who have been or are
Rbsentees fr0na the United States Tor the purpose
OF aiding the rebellion.
Eighth. All military and naval officers IN ihe
rebel service who were educated By he Govesn a.
ment in the Military Academy at West Point or
the United States Naval Academy.
Ninth. All persons Tho heId the pretented' Of
6ees OF Governors of States n inserr C Son
against the United states
ssi Tenth. All persons no left THAR hoin within
the jurisdiction aud protection Of the unlted
States, and passed beyond the Federal military
lines into the so>caed Confederate States, for
the purpose of aiding the rebellion. ssal
49, Eleventh. All persons who have BEEN engaged
in the destruction of the commerce OF the Tn ted
States upon the nigh seas, and all persons V no
have made raids into the United States from Can
ada, or been eng sged IN destroying he commerce
of the United States upon the lakes and rivers
tn at separate the British PROVINCES from the Unit
ted States. 81 -s
Twelfth. ALI persons VINO, at the time when
3 thew seek to obtain the benefits hereof by taking
the oaih beran prescribed, are in military, naval
or civil confinement or custody, or under bones
of the civil, military OrnRval authorities or eats
of the United States as prisoners OF war ar per>
sons detained for off nces OF any kind either be~
fore or after conviction.
Is Thirteenth. All persons VINO have voluntarily
participated in said rebellion, and the estim4ted
value OF whose taxable property IS over t"eaty
thousand dollars.
..aa Fourteenth. All psrsons who have taken ihe
sth of amnesty prescribed in the Pr.sident's
Proclamation of December 8, a. ID. 1868, or an
hath of allegiance TO the Government OF the Uni-
red States since the date of said Pfoclamat ION,
and who have not thenceforwa ard kept and m am
tanned the same invielae; provided, taat sp cal
applioation may be made to the President for
pardon by any person belonging to the excegtedt
Classes, and such clemency will be literally ex-
tended may be consistent With the facts OF. the
case and the peace and dignity Of. the United
States. ~. ,.,.... sag
,qr The Secretary of State will establish rules and
regulations for administering aud recording the
said amnesty oath, SO as to insure its benefit TO
the people and guard the Government against
fraud.
AZ In testimony whereof, have hereunto setmy
hand and caused the seal of the United States 10
be affixed. i.i ~.
Done at the city of Washington, the twenty nth
f~>, day OF May, in the year of our lord
], 3Lfs, one thousand eight hundred and sky
United States the eighty niath. Sd.
O lot T9cs4 7s3i1sts ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President:
--EN wv SFvApD 2ecrafaru nj Stafs