Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-08-24
The Amnesty Proclamation by the
President of the United States.

Whereas the President of the United States, on
the Sth dav of December, A. ID. eighteen hundred
and sxty-three, and on the 10Th day of March, A.
ID. eighteen hundred and sixty-four. did, with the
object to suppress the existing rebellion, to induce
ali nersons To return to their LOYALTY and 10 restore
the authority of the United States issue proclama
tons offering amnesty and pardon to certain persons
who had directly or by implication participated IN
the said rebellion and whereas many persons who
had so engaged in said rebellion have, since the IS
suance of said proclamation, failed or neglected to
take the benefits offered thereby and whereas many
persons who have been justly deprived Of all claim
10 amnesty and pardon hereunder, by reason OF
their participation directly or by implication in said
rebellion. and continued hostility to the government
of the United States since the date of said pr0ca.
nation, now desire to apply for and obtain amnesty
and pardon:
Tothe end, therefore that authority ofthe gov
eminent of the United States may be restored. and
that peace order. and, freedom may be established,
/, ANDRw JOHNSON, president of theUnited States,
do proclaim and declare that hereby grant to all
persons who have directly or indirectly, participated
in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter eX
cepted. amnesty and pardon, with restoration ofall
RIGHTS of property except as to slaves and except
i'm cases where legal proceedings under the laws OF
the United States providing for the coniiscatl0n OF
property of persons engaged IN rebellion, have been
instutcd but upon the condition, nevertheless that
every such person shall take and subscribe the to-
lowing oath Cor affirmation and thenceforward
keep and maintain said oath invioate; and which
oath shall be registered for permanent preservation
and shall be of the tenor and effect oowing, to wit:
al do sOlemnly swear, or affirm in
presence of Almighty God, that will henceforth
faithfully support protect, and defend the c0nsttu-
ton of the United States and the union of the States
hereunder; and that will. i'll like manner. abide
by and faithfully support all laws and prOcamationS
which have been made during the existing rebellion
with reference to the emancipation OF slaves 30
help me God"
The following classes of persons are excepted from
the benefits of this proclamation: LIST. Allwho are
or shall have been pretended civil or diplomatic OIL
iccrs or otherwise domestic foreign agents THE
pretended Confederate government; "a. All wh0left
judicial stations under the United States to aid the
rebcllion Sd. All who shall have been military or
naval officers of said pretended Confederate govern
Inent above the rank of colonel in the army lieu
tenant in the navy 4th. All who left seats in the
Congress of the United States TO aid the rebellion
5th All who resigned or rendered designations
of their commissions in the army or navy OF the
United States TO evade duty in resisting the rebel
lion; 9th. 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,
soldiers, seamen or in other capacities; tn. All
persons who have been or are absentees from the
United States for the purpose OF aiding the rebellion;
sth. All military and naval officers in the rebel ser
vice who were educated by the government in the
Military Academy at West Point or the United
States Naval Academy; 9Th. All persons who held
the pretended Offices of governors OF states In lnsur-
recton against the United States; 10th. All persons
who left their homes within the jurisdiction and
protection of the United States, and passed beyond
the Federal military lines into the socaled Contede-
rate states for the purpose OF aiding the reDeion
18th. All persons who have been engaged IN the
destruction 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
o,erooro1 in 1agtrnvipr the of the United
States upon the lakes and rivers that separate the
British provinces from the United States; 18th All
persons who at the time when they seek to obtain te
benefits hereof by taking the oath herein prescribed
are in military naval, or civil confinement or Gus
tody or under bonds of the civil, miltaryor naval
authorities or agents of the United States as priso-
ners of war or persons detained for offences OF any
kind. either before or after conviction: 18th. All
persons who have voluntarily participated IN said
rebplIion and the estimated value of whose taxable
nroperty is over twenty thousand dollars l4th.-
All persons who have taken the oath OF amnesty as
prescribed in the Presidents proclamation OF De
cember Sth 4. ID. 1868. or an oath OF allegiance to
the government OF the United States since the date
of said proclamation, and who have not thencetor-
ward kept and maintained the same inyiolate.
propided. That special application may be made
TO the President for pardon by any person belong
ing to the excepted classes; and such cemency will
be literally extended as NAV be consistent with the
facts of the case, and the peace and dignity ot the
United States.
The Secretary Of State will establish rules and
regulations for administering and recording the
said amnesty oath, to insure its benefit to the
people and guard the Government against fraud
In testimony whereof | have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the United States TO be
affixed
Done at the city of Washington, the twenty ninth
day of May, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-iive.
II. 81 and of the Independence of the United
States the eighty-ninth
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.
GENERAL LEE RENDERED THE PRESIDENCY