The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-06-07
PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION .
THE NEW TERMS OF AMNESTY.
By the President Of the United States 0,
America:

By the President Of the United States OF
America:
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, The President of the Unit.
ed States, on the Sth day of December,
1863, and on the 26,h day Of March,
1864, did, with the object to suppress
the existing rebellion, to induce all per.
sons to return to their loyalty and to re
store the authority of the United States,
issue proclamations offering amnesty and
pardon to certain persons who had d.
recIly or by implication engaged in
said rebellion and, whereas, many per.
sons who had so engaged in the said re-
bellion have, since the issuance Of said
proclamation, failed or neglected to take
the benefits offered thereby and, where.
as, many persons who have been justly
deprived Of all claim to 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 suid proclamations, now
desire to apply for aud obtain amnesty
and pardon:
To the end, therefore, that the au.
thority Of the Government Of the United
States may be restored, and that peace,
order and freedom may be established,
I. Andrew johnson, President Of tie
United States, do proclaim and declare,
that hereby grant to all persons who
have directly or indirectly participated
in the existing rebellion, except as here
matter excepted, amnesty and pardon,
with restoration Of all rights Of property,
except as to slaves, and except in cases
where legal proceedings under the laws
Of the United States providing for, the
conisca,iou Of property Of persons en-
gsgcd in rebellion have been instituted !;
but on the condition, nevertheless, that
every such person shall take and sub
scribe the following oath or affirmation,
and ,hcncclorward keep and maintain
said oath inviola,e. Said oath shall DC
registered for permanent preservation.
and shall be Of the tenor aud effect fol-
lowing, to wit:
| do solcmnly swear or affirm in the
presence Of Almighty 'iuI, that | will
henccf, forth faithfully defend the ConStl.
tuition Of the United States, aud Union
Of the States Hereunder; and that will
in like manner abide by aud faithfully
support all laws aud proclamaionS
which have been made during the exist.
ing rebellion with reference to the cman-
cipaticn Of slaves. So hc;p ne God.
The following classes Of persons are
excepted FROM the tcneGls Of this pro.
clamalion
First-All who are, or shall have
been, pretended civil or diplomatic Of
ilcrs, Or otherwise domestic or foreign
agents Of the pretended Confederate
! Government.
Second-All who !cI, judicial stations
under the United States to aid the rebel.
lion.
Third-All who shall have been mill.
li.ary or naval officers Of said pretended
! Confederate Government, above the rank
Of Colonel in the army, or Lieutenant in
the navy.
Fouwh-All who left seats in the
Congress Of the United States to aid the
rebellion.
Fifth-All who resigned, or rendered
the designations ofiheir commands in the
army or navy Of :hc United States, to
cvade duty in resisting the rebellion.
Sixth-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,
seamcn, or in other capacities.
Scventh- All persons who have been
or arc abSentees from the United States
Tor the purpose Of aiding the rebellion.
Eigh,h-All military and naval Of.
fccrs in the rebel service who were cdu.
Gated by the Govcrnmcntin the Military
Academy at West Point, or the United
States Naval Academy.
Ninth-All persons who held the pre-
tended Offices of Governors Of States in
the instruction against the United
States.
Teulh-All persons who left their
homes Within the jurisdiction and pro-
lection Of the Uuitcd States, and passed
beyond the Federal military lines into
the so called Confederate States, for the
purpose Of aiding the rebellion.
Eleventh-Ali persons who have been
engaged in the destruction Of the com.
merce 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 upon
the>lakes aud rivers that separate the
British Provinces from the Uni:ud
States.
Twelfth-All persons who at the time
when they seek TO obtain the benefits
hereof By taking the cath herein pre-.
scrbed, arc in military, naval. or civil
confinement, or custody, or under bond,
of tho military or naval authorities, or
agents of the United States, as prisoners
of war, or persons detained for offenscs
of any kind either before or after con-