The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-09-12
Amnesty Proclamation by the
President.
"By tho President Of The United
States Of Amcrica-A Proclama.

y
Congress, with extraordinary u
nanimity, solomnly declared that
the war then existing was not wag.
ed on the part of the Government
in any spirit Of oppression, nor for
any purpose of conquest or subju-
CATION. nor for the purpose of over
throwing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions Of
the States, but to defend and main
tain the supremacy Of the Consti-
tuition and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and
rights Of the several States unim
paired, and that as soon rs these
objects should be accomplished the
war ought TO cease: and
"WHEREAs. The President OF the
United States on theSlh day of De-
cembcr, A. d. 1868, and on the
10th day of March. A. d. 1864, did,
with tho objects of supprcssirg
the existing rebellion, and of in
ducing all persons to return to
their loyalty, and restoring the
authority of the United States, is
sue proclamations Offering amnes-
ty and pardon to all persons who
had directly or indirectly partici-
patcd in the then existing rebel
lion, except as in those proclama.
lions was specified and reserved
and
"WHEREAs, The President of Il q
United States did, on the Goth day
of May, A, D. 1865, issue a further
proclamation with the objects be-
fore mentioned, and to the end that
the authority of the Government
of the United States might be re.
stored and that peace, order and
freedom, might be established ;
and the President did, by the said
last mentioned proclamation, pro.
claim and declare that he thereby
granted to all persons who had d.
rectly or indirectly participated in
the then existing rebellion, except
as therein excepted, amnesty and
pardon, with restoration of all the
rights of property except as to
slaves, and except in certain cases
where legal proceedings had been
instituted but on condition that
such persons should take and sub
scribe an oath therein prescribed
which oath should be registered
for permanent preservation and
"WHEREAs, In and by the said
aforementioned proclamation of the
29th day of May, A, D. 1865 four
teen extensive classes of persons,
therein specially described, were
altogether excepted and excluded
from the benefits thereof: and
"WHEREAs, The President of tie
United States did, on the I'd day
of April, A. d. 1866, issue proca-
nation declaring that the insur
rection was at an end, and was
thenceforth to be so regarded: and
"WuEREAs, There now exists
no organized armed resistance of
misguided citizens. or othcrs,to the
authority of the United States in
the States Of Georgia, South Caro-
lima, Virginia, North Carolina, Ten,
nessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Ar
kansas, MISSISSIPPI, Floriia and
Texas, and the laws can be sus-
tanned and enforced therein by the
proper civil authority, State or
Fcderal, and the people of sald
States are Well and Loyalty dis
posed, and have conformed, and.
ifpermittcd to do so, will conform
in their legislation, 10 the condition
of affairs growing out of tho amend.
ment to the Constitution of the
United States, prohibiting slavery
within the limits and jurisdiction
of the United States: and
WHEREAS, There no longer cx-
lists any reasonable ground toap,
prehend within the States which
were involved in the late rebellion,
any renewal thereof, or any unlaw-
full resistance by the people of said
States to the Constitution and
laws of the United States: and
WHEREAS, Large standing ar
mics, military occupation, martial
law, military tribunals, and the
suspension of the privilege of the
writ of haJedS. corpus and the right
of trial by jury are, in time OF
peace, dangerous to public liberty,
incompatible with the individual
rights of the citizen, contrary 10
the genius and spirit of our free in
stitutions, and exhaustive of the
national resources, and ought not,
therefore, to be sanctioned or al.
lowed except in cases cf actual ne.
cessity tor repelling invasion, or
suppressing insurrection or rebel
lion: and
WHEREAS, Arotaiatory or'vin-
dictive policy, attended by unne.
cessary disqualifcations, pains
penalties, confscations and dis
franchisemeht now, as always
could only toad to hinder reconcll
iation among the people and ma
tional restoration, while it must
seriously embarrass, and rcpresS
popular energies and national in
dustry and enterprise: and
"WuEREAs, Forthesc reasons, il
is now deemed essential to the
public welfare, and to the more
! perfect restoration of constitution.
al law and order, that tho SAID last
mentioned proclamation, so, as a.
foresaid, issued on the 29th day Of
May, A. D. 1865, should be modi,
fed, and that tho full and beneli,
cent pardon conceded thereby
should be opened and farther ex
taI,dod ~ a lorrn nun,bnp of NOR.