The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-09-17

United States, prohibiting slavery with
in the limits and jurisdiction of the Uni
ted States; and
WHEREAS, There no longer exists any
reasonable ground to apprehend within
the States which were involved in the
late rebellion, any renewal thereof, or
any unlawful resistance by the people of
said States to the Constitution and laws
of the United States; and
WHEREAS, As large standing armies;
military occupation, martial law, militia
tribunals, and the suspension of the priv
ilege of the writ of ha6eas corpas, and
the right of trial by jury, are in time Of
peace dangerous to public liberty, incom-
patible with the individual rights of the
citizen, contrary to the genius and spirit
OF our free institutions, and exhaustive
of the national resources, and ought not
therefore to be sanctioned or allowed ex-
cept in cases of actual necessity for re-
pelling invasion, or suppressing insur.
rection or rebellion; and
WHEREAS, A retaliatory or vindictive
policy, attended by unnecessary disqua,-
ifcations, pains penalties, confscations
and acknowledgements now, as always,
could only tend to hinder reconciliation
among the people and national restora-
ton, while it must seriously embarrass,
obstruct, and repress popular energies
aud 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
constitutional law and order, that the
said last mentioned proclamation, so as
aforesaid sued on the goth day Of May,
Anno Domtni, 1866, should be modified,
and that full and bene6cient pardon
conceded thereby, should be opened and
further extended to large number of
persons, who by its aforesaid exceptions
have been hitherto excluded from Exc
catiye clemency-
Now, therefore, be it known that l,
Andrew Johnson, President of the Uni
ted States, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare that the fall pardon described in the
said proclamation Of the twenty-ninth
day of May, Anno Domini 1865, shall
henceferth be opened, and extended to
all persons who directly or indirectly par
ticipated in the late rebellion, with the
restoration of all privileges, immunities,
and rights of property, except as to prop
erty with regard to slaves, and except in
cases of legal proceedings under the laws
of the United States; but upon this con-
ditien, nevertheless, that every such per-
son who shall seek to avail himself Of
this proclamation, shall take and sub
scribe the following oath, and shall cause
the same to be registered, for permanent
preservation, in the same manner and
with the same effect as with the oath pre-
scribed in the said proclamation of the
twenty ninth day of May, 1865, namely:
| do solemnly swear Cor affirm, in
presence of Almighty God, that will
henceforth faithfully. support, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the Uni
ted States and the Union of the States
Hereunder, and that will in like man
ner abide by and faithfully support all
laws and proclamations which have been
made during the late rebellion with ref
erence to the emancipation Of slaves. So
help me God.
The following persons, and no others,
are excluded from the benefits of this
proclamation and of the said proclama-
tion of the 29th day of May, A. D. 1865,
namely:
First. The chief or pretended chief
executive officers, including the Presi-
dent, Vice President, and all heads of
departments of the pretended Confede-
rate or rebel government, and all who
were agents thereof in foreign states or
countries, and all who held r.pretended
to hold, in the service of the said pre-.
tended Conferate government, military
rank or title above the grade of Briga-
der General, or naval rank or title above
that of Captain, and allwho were or pre-
tended to be Governors Of States while
maintaining, abetting, or submitting to
and acquiescing in the rebellion.
Second. All persons who in any way
treated otherwise than as lawful prison
ers Of war, persons, 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 proclamation are actually in civil,
military, or naval confinement or custody,
or legally held to bail either before or
after conviction, and all persons who
we're 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 coa.
nected.
In testimony whereof have signed
these presents with my hand, and have
caused the seal of the United States to
be thereunto affixed.
[Seal.
Done at the City of Washington the
seventh day of September, one thousand
eight hundred and sixty.seven.
ANRDEw JOHNSON.
By the President:
Wm. H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Additional Election Returns--
Democratic Majority still In
creasing.