Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-07
Amnesty Proclamation.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED srArEs
OF ERR "

IWC ON Guy CT DeCeInDer, I6b3, did With The 0Liact
OF suppressing the existing rebellion, to indnc. ali
persons to lay down their arms. to return To ti,c;r
loyalty, and to restore the authority of the United
States, issue proclamatiOns offering amnesty and
pardon to certain persons who had directly or by
Implication, engaged in said rebellion; and
whereas. Many persons who had 30 engaged in
the SAID rebellion, have since the issuance Sf said
Proclam9tlGn Jailed or neglected to take the benefits
offered thereby; and
uePrtVed OF all claim to amnesty and pardon there
unHer, Dy reason OF their participation directly or
by Implication in sal: REBELLION and continued in
hostility to the government of the United States
slnce the date OF said proclamation, now desire TO
10 the end, therefore, that the authority of the
Government of the United states may be restored,
aud that peace, order and freedom may be estab-
iishe"' andrew Johnson, President OF the United
States, do proclaim and declare, that / hereby grant
- an per; ,ns who have directly or Indirectly, par
uclPhLeH In Tue existing rebellion, except as here
aller excepted. amnesty aud pardon, with restOra-
Il"h ran rights OF property, except as to slaves.
cNceptin cases where legal proceedings under the
laws vi the United States, providing Tor the cunfis-
caIon OF property OF persons engaged IN rebellion,
have been instituted, but on the condition, never
tile!eSs, tina! every such person shall take and sub.
scribe to the following oa,h, which shall. be regis.
tered, Tor permanent preservation, and shall be of
the tenor aud effect following g 20 wit:
90 s3Iemnly swear or affirm in presence of AL
mighty God, that l will hcuccfOrth support, pro-
tect aud faithfully defend the constitution Of the
United States and will in like manner, abide by
and faithfully support all laws and Proclatnations
which nave been made during the existing rebel
lion with reference to the emancipation OF slaves.
So help me God.
~ AS"h S ZOE " pClSOLio nv CASSPNSu
from the benefits of this proclamation:
l-All who are or have Dcen pretended or diplo.
matic othc rs or otherwise domestic or foreign
agents OF the pretended Confederate States.
Z. All who lett Judicial stations under the United
s tatcs to aid the rebellion.
). Nj who have been military or naval officers of
the pretended Confederate Government above the
rank OF Colonelin the army, and Lieutenant in the
navy.
All who left their seats IN the Congress of the
United States to aid the rebellion.
5. All who resigned or rendered the resignation
of their commissions in the Army and Navy OF the
United States t9 evude their duty in resisting the
rebellion.
o. All who have engaged IN any way in treating
otherwise than lawfully as prisoners OF war, persons
found in the United States service as officers, sol.
dicrs, scaneE, or in other capacities.
7.All persons who nave been or are absentees
from the United States for the purpose Of aiding the
rebellion.
8. All military or naval officers in the rcbe? scr.
vice who were educated by the Government in the
Military x adcmy at West Point or at the United
States Naval Academy.
8. AL persons who held the pretended offices of
Urited States.
10. All persons who left their homes within the
jurisdiction and protection of the United States, and
passed beyond the Federal military lines into tho
so-called Confederate States for the purpose OF aid
ing the rebellion.
II. All persons who have engaged in the destruc-
ton OF the commerce. of the United States upon the
high seas, and all persons who have made raids into
the United States from Canada or been engaged in
destroying the commerce of the United states on
the lakes ana rivers that separate the BRUSH prov
iucCs from the United States
II. All persons who, at Il timc when they geek to
obtain the benefits hereof Ivy taking the oath herein
prescribed, are in military, naval Or civil confiuc
Incut or custody, or under bond of the military or
naval authorities or agents of the United States as
prisoners OF any KIND, either before or after their
conviction.
l3. All persons who have voluntarily participated
in said rebellion, the estimated valueOl " hose tax
able property is over $40 100.
Il. All persons who lave taken the oath OF amncs-
ty, as prescribed III the Presidents P~rucla nation OG
December th, 1853, or the oath OF allegiance to the
United States since the date of said proclamation,
and who have not thencctorward kept the same in-
violate provided, that special application may be
made to the President Tor pardon by any person
belonging to the excepted classes, and such Glenn
cncy will be exten,Ied as may he consistent with
the facts of the case and the peace and dignity of
the United States. The Secretary of State will es-
tablIsh rules and regulations for administering q nj
recording the said amnesty oath, so as to insure Its
benefits to the people and guard the government
against fraud.
In testimony whereof, I have hcrcunto set nv
hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be
affixed.
Doncat the Citv of Washington, this the 29th day
OF May, A. D.. 1865, and of the independence Of
America the s9th. ANDREW JOHNSON.
by the President,
WIN IL. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
SECRETARY sEwARD's REGULATIONS IS REFERFScE
TO THE AMNESTY ohTH.
D~EPARrMENT OF SrArE.1
Washington, May 20.
SlR.-A copy of the Presidents Amnesty Procla-
nation of this date is herewith appended.
A clause in the instrument directs the Secretary
OF Site 10 c>taE lish rules and regulations for adj
ministcring and recording the amnesty oath so as
to insure It's benefits to the people and guard the
government against fraud. Pursuant to tins in.
Junction, you are Informed hat the oath prescribed
III the Proclamation may be taken and sui sCribcd
TIC before any commissioned officer, civil, military
or naval, of the United States. or any civil or mill
tary officer OF a loyal State or Territory, who, by the
laws thereof, may be qualified for administering
the oath.
All officers who receive such oaths arc authorized
to give certified copies thereof to persons rczpcctivc-
~ by whom they were made, and such officers are
hereby required TO transmit originals of such Datbs
at as early a day as convenient, 10 this Department.,
where they will be deposited and rcmain in IL. ar
Chivcs of thc Government.
a register thereof will be kept in the Department. I,
and on PP,ic"tion in proper cases, certificates viii
Certiic ltcs.
am, your obcdicnt servant,
WM. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State.
INSTRUCTIONS TO EXCEPTED CLASSES.
The following circular has been issued from the
Attorney Generals office by direction from the
President: Wv