The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-09-27
AMNESTY.


WASHINGTON, Sept. s.
By the President Of the
United States Of America:
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, In the month of July, Ammo
Domini 1861, the two Houses of Con-
gress, with extraordinary unanimity,
solemnly declared that the war then
existing was not waged on the part Of
the Government in any spirit of op-
preston, nor for any purpose of con-
quest or subjugatiOn, nor purpose of
overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of the
States, but to defend and maintain the
supremacy of the Constitution, and to
preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several
States unimpaired, and that as soon as
these objects should be accomplished
the war ought to cease and, whereas,
the President of the United States, on
the Sth day of December, A. ID. 1868,
and on the 26th day of March, A. D.,
1864, did, with objects of suppressing
the then existing rebellion, of inducing
all persons to return to their loyalty,
and of restoring the authority of the
United States, issued proclamations
offering amnesty and pardon to all per-
sons who had directly or indirectly
participated in the then existing rebel
lion, except as in those proclamations
was specified and reserved; and
whereas, the President of the United
States did, on the 29th day of May, A.
ID. 1865 issue proclamation with the
same objects before mentioned, and to
the end that the authority of the Gov
ernment of the United States might be
restored, and that peace, order and
freedom might be established, and the
President did, by the said last procla
nation, proclaim and declare that
he thereby granted to all persons who
had directly or indirectly participated
ia the then existing rebellion, except
as therein excepted, amnesty and par
don with the restoration of all rights of
property except as to slaves, and except
in certain cases where legal proceed
ings had been instituted, but upon con-
and subscribe an oath therein prescrib-
ed, which oath should be registered for
permanent preservation and, whereas,
in and by said last mentioned proclama-
ton of the 29th day of May, A. ID. 1868,
fourteen extensive classes of persons
therein specially described, were alto
gether excepted and excluded from
the benefits thereof; and, whereas, the
President of the United States did, on
the I'd day of April, A. d. 1866, issue
a proclamation declaring that the in
surrection was atan end and was thence
forth to be so. regarded; and whereas,
there now exists an organized armed
resistance of misguided citizens or 9TH
ers to the authority of the United
States in the States of Georgia, South
Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Mississippi, Florida and Texas,
and the laws can be sustained and en-
forced therein by the proper civil au-
thority, State or Federal, and the peo-
pie of said States, are well and Loyalty
disposed, and have conformed, and if
permitted to do so, will conform in
their legislation to the condition of af-
fairs growing out of the amendment
to the Constitution of the United States
prohibiting slavery within the limits
and jurisdiction of the United States !;
and, whereas, there no longer exists
any reasonable ground to apprehend
within the States which were involved
in the late rebellion a renewal thereof,
or any unlawful resistance by the peO-
pie of said States to the Constitution
and laws of the United States; and,
whereas, as large standing armies, mill
tary tribunals, and the suspension of
the privilege Of the writ of h06eds cor
pus, and the right of trial of jury, are
in time of peace dangerous to public
liberty, incompatible with the individ-
ual rights of the citizen, contrary to the
genius and spirit of our free institutions,
and exhaustive of the national resour-
ces, and ought not, therefore, to be
sanctioned or allowed, except in cases
ses of actual necessity for repelling in
vasion or suppressing insurrection or
rebellion; and, whereas, retaliatory
or vindictive policy, attended by un-
necessary disqualifications, pains, pen
alties, confScations and disfranchise-
ment, now as always tend to hinder
reconciliation among the people and
National restoration, while it must
seriously embarrass, obstruct and re-
press the popular energies and National
industry and enterprise and, whereas,
for these reasons it is now deemed
essential to the public welfare and to
the more perfect restoration of Consti-
tutional law and order that the said
last mentioned proclamation, so as a.
foresaid issued on the Goth day of May
A. ID. 1865, should be modified, and
that thefull benefcent pardon conced-
ed thereby should be opened and fur
ther extended to large number o.
persons who by its aforesaid exception;
have been hitherto excluded from exc