The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-09-13
Important Proclamation by President
Johnson.
A GENERAL PARDON.

Whereas, In the month of july. A n
1861, the two houses of Congress, with ~.
.Taordnary unanimity, solemnly declared
that the war then existing was not wsced
on the part of the Government in anv sn;r
IL OF oppression, nor for any purpose Of con-
quest or sub]ugatlon, nor for the purnose of
oVeftnrowing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions of the states
p,it 10 defend and maintain the supremacv
r. :ue Conssltution, and to preserve the
n Ghlon With all the dignity, equality and
that as soon as these objects should De ao,
Whereas, me PRESIDENT OF the United
States, on the sth day of December, A. D.
1868, and on the Goth day of March, 1864,
did with the 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, issue
proclamation offering amnesty and pardon
to all persons who had directly or indirectly
| participated in the then existing rebellion
| except those who in those proclamations
! were specified and reserved and
Whereas, The President of the United
States did on the 29.h day of May, 4 d.
1865, issue a further proclamation with the
same objects before mentioned and to the
| end that the authority of the Government
OF the United States might be restored and
| that peace, order and freedom might be es-
tablished; and the President did by the
said last mentioned proclamation proclaim
and declare that he thereby granted to all
persons who had directly or indirectly par
ticipated in the then existing rebellion ex-
cept as therein excepted, amnesty and par
don with the restoration of all the rights of
property except as to slaves and except in
certain cases where legal proceeding had
been instituted, but upon the condition that
such persons should take and subscribe to
an oath therein prescribed, which oath
should be registered for permanent preser-
vation and
| Whereas. In and by tho said last men,
toned proclamation of the 29th day of May,
| A. D. 1865, fourteen extensive classes of
persons therein specially described, were
altogether 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 proclamation declaring that
the insurrectlon was at an end, and Was
thenceiorth to be so regarded; and
| Whereas, There now exists TO organized
army of resistance, of misguided citizens or
others, to the authority Of the United
States in the states of Georgia, South Car
olina, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee,
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida
and Texas, and the laws can be sustained
and enforced therein by the proper civil au-
thority, state and Federal, and the people
Of said states are well and Loyalty disposed,
and have centormed aud if permitted will
conform in their legislation to the. condition
OF affairs growing out of the amendment to
the Constitution of the United States nro-
hbitng slavery within the limits of the ju-
risdiction of the United States, and,
Whereas. There no longer exists any
reasonable ground to apprehend within the
states which were involved 10 the late re-
bellion, renewal thereof, or any unlawful
resistance by the people Of said states to
the Constitution and Laws of the United
States aud
Whereas, Large standing armies, militia
ry occupation. martial law, military tribu-
nails, and the suspension OF the privilege Of
the writ OF habeas corpus aud the right OF
trial by jury, are in time Of peace danger
GUS to public liberty incompatible with the
individual rights Of the citizens, contrary
to the genius and spirit ct our free institu-
lions aud exhaustive OF the national reseur-
ces, and ought not therefore to be sanction
ed or allowed, except in cases Of actual ne
cesSity for repellipg treason or suppressing
| Whereas, A retaliatory or vindictive pol
icy, attended by unnecessary disqualified
tions, pains, penalties, conGscation and dis
iranchisement BOW, As always, could only
tend to binder reconciliation among the
people aud national restoration, while it
must seriously embarrass and 0bstruct and
reprcss 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 constitu-
tional Law and order that the said last mem
toned proclamation, so - Aforesaid issued
on the Goth day Of May, A. d., 1865,
should be modified, and that the full and
beneGcient pardon conceded thereby should
be opened and further extended to q large
number Of persons who 10y its aforesaid ex-
ceptions have beer hitherto excluded from
Executive clemcncy;
Now therefore, Be it known, that J,
Andrew johnson, Presiieat OF the United
States, do hereby proclaim and declare that
the full pardon described in the said proc
lamation of the 29th day Of Nay, A. D.
1865, shall henceforth be cfcned and ex-
tended to all persons who directly or indi.
rectly participated in the late rebellion.
with the restoration of ell privileges, i'm
munities and rights Of property, except d
to property with regard to Slaves, and ex-
cept in eases Of legal proceedings under the
laws Of the United States; but upon this
condition, nevertheless, that every sach
person who sba!l seek 10 avail himself OF
this proclamation shall take and subscribo
to the following oath, and shall cause the
same to be registered for permanent pres
ervation, in the same manner and with tie
same effect with the oath prescribed in the
said proclamation of tie Goth esy Of Ms7,
1865, namely:
do sclemly swear, or affirm, in presence
of Almighty God that | will henceforth
faithfully support, protect and defend the
Constitution 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 proclamations which
have been made during the late rebellion ir
reference to the emancipation of slaves
So help me God.
The following persons and no others are
excluded from the benefits of this procla
nation and of the said proclamation of thf