The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-09-09
LATEST NE w s
BY TELEGRAPH TO rHE
PORTLAND DAkLY PRESS.
Monday Morning, September 9, 1867.
mnestr Proclamation by the Pre.ldcu,.

Amnesty Proclamation by the PresIdcnt.
zta u WASHINGTON, Sept s.
The following pardon proclamation, although
prepared yesterday, was not issued until this
afternoon:
By the President of the United States of An,er-
icd, q Proclamation. ss ~
Whereas, in the month of July, Ammo Domi.
nj 1861, the two Houses of Congress, with ex-
traordinary unanimity, solemnIy declared that
the war then existing was not waged on the
part of the Government in any spirit of OPP
preston, nor for any purpose of conquest or
suolugatlon, nor ior the purpose OF overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights and estab-
lished institutions of the States, but to defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Constitu-
ton and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality and rights of the several
States unimpared, and that as soon as these
objects should be accomplished the war ought
to cease; and 4t7
Whereas, the President of the United States
on the 9Th day Of December, Ammo Domin
1868, and on the 26th day of March. Ammo
Domini 1864, did. with the objects of suppress
Ing the then existing rebellion and inducing
Oil persons to return to their localities and Of
restoring the authority of the United States,
issue proclamation, offering amnesty and
pardon to al persons who had directly or indi-
rectly participated in the then existing rebel
hon, except as in those proclamations was
specified and reserved; and
ssgWheredS, the President of the United States
did, on the 29th day of May, Ammo Domini
1866, issue further proclamation with the
same objects before mentioned, and the end
that the authority of the United States might
be restored, 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 directly or indirectly par
ticipated in the then existing rebellion, except
as therein excepted, amnesty and pardon
with the restoration of all rights and property,
except as to slaves and except in certain cases
where legal proceedings had been instituted
but upon condition that they should take and
subscribe an oath therein prescribed, which
oath should be registered tor permanent pres
ervation; and L4A - 8sA tye-l--
Whereas, in and by the said last mentioned
proclamation, of The 10Th of May, A. d. 1865,
fourteen classes of persons therein specially
described were altogether excepted and exclud-
ed from the benefits thereof; and
Whereas, the President of the United States
did, on the I'd day of May, Ammo Domini 1866,
issue q probation declaring that the insurrec-
ton was at end, and was thenceforth to be SO
regarded; and
Whereds, There now exists no armed resis-
lance of misguided citizens to the authority of
the United States in the States of Georgia,
South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Ten
nessee, Alabama, Louisiana Arkansas Missis-
sippi, Florida and Texas, and the laws can be
sustained and enforced therein by the civil au-
thorities of the State or Federal Government,
and the people of said States are we'll and 10y
ally disposed, and have concerned, or will if
permitted to do so, conform in their leois ation
to the conditions of affairs growing out of the
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, prohibiting slavery within the limits or
jurisdiction Of the Uuited States; and
Whereas, There no longer exists any reason
able ground to apprehend within tho States
which were involved in the late rebellion, any
renewal thereof, or any unlawful resistance by
the people of the said States to the Constitu-
and laws of the United States; and
Whereas, As large standing armies, military
occupations, martial law military tribunals
and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus
and right of trial by jury are ina time of peace
dangerous to the public liberty, incompatible
with the individual rights of citizens, contrary
to the genius and spirit of our free Institutions
and exhaustive of the National resources, and
ought not therefore to be sanctioned Or allow
ed except in cases of actual necessity for re-
polling of invasion or SuppresSing insurrec-
ton and rebellion; and
Whereas, A retaliatory or vindictve policy
attended by unnecessary disqualification,
pains, penalties, confiscations and disfranchise-
ments, now as always, could only tend to him
der reconciliation among the people and ma
tional restoration, while it must seriously en-
barrass, obstruct and repress the popular en-
ergies and national industry and enterprise;
and 1sG y ifiiula Oh.
Whereas, For these reasons it is now Doom
ed essential to the public welfare and to more
perfect restoration of constitutional law and
order, that said last mentioned proclamation,
80 as aforesaid issued on the 10Th day of May
Ammo Domini, 1865, should be modified, and
that the full and beneficient pardon conceded
thereby should be opened and further extend
ed to large number of persons who by its
aforesaid exceptions have been hitherto exclud-
ed from Executive clemency,
NoW, therefore, Be it known that T, Andrew
johnson, president OF the United States do
hereby proclaim and declare that the full par
don described in said proclamation of the 18th
day of May, Anno Domini, 1865, shall hence
forth be opened and extended to all persons
who directly or Indirectly participated in the
late rebellion with the restoration of all prv-
leges, immunities and rights of property, ex-
cept as to property with regard to slaves and
except IN cases OF legal proceedings under the
laws of the United States, but upon this con-
dition, nevertheless, that every such person who
shall seek to avail himself of this proclamation
shall take and subscribe the following oath,
and shall cause the same to be registered for
preservation in the same manner and with the
same effect az with the oath prescribed in said
proclamation of the 29th day of May, 1865
viz: sfeee a
Il do solemnly swear or affirm in the pres
ence of Almighty God that will henceforth
faithfully support, protect and defend the Con-
stitutlon OF the United States and the union of
the States hereunder, and that will in like
manner abide by and faithfully support all laws
and proclamasions which have been made dur
ing the late rebellion with reference to the
emancipation of slaves; Sd help me Cod
The following persons and no others are to
be excluded from the benefits of the proclama-
ton of'the 10Th day of May, Ammo Domini,
1866 viz:
First The chief or pretended chief execu-
tive officers, including the President and Vice
President and all the heads of the departments
of the pretended Confederate or rebel Govern
ment, and all who were agents thereof in for
eign States and countries and all who held or
pretended to hold In the service of said pre-
tended Confederate Government military
rank or title above the grade of Brigadier Gen-
eral or naval rank above the title Of Captain,
and all who were or pretended to be Govern
ors OF States while maintaining, abetting or
submitting and acquiescng in the rebellion.
Second. All persons who in any way treated
otherwise than as lawful prisoners of war per-
sons who in any capacity were employed or
engaged in the military or naval service of the
United States.
Third. All persons who, at the time they
may seek to obtain the benefits of this procla-
nation, are actually in civil, military or naval
confinement or custody or legally held to bail,
either before or after conviction, and all per-
sons who were engaged directly or indirectly
in the assassination of the late President of
the United States, or in any plot or conspiracy
in any manner Herewith connected. srg
In witness whereof have signed these pres
ents with my hand, and have caused the seal
of the United States to be thereunto affixed.
Done at the city of Washington the 18th day
OF September, A. d. 1867. ~
42rf ULL ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President
VIM. FL. SEWARD, Secretary of State.