Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-09-14

cratic, and the nomination probably insures
Judge Woodwafd's election in October II
A. - ~ Ae->-A------e-->.-2 ----- = - -
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
BY the President of the United States,
vrO A PROCLAMATION q, ,rr,
u WHERRAs, in the month of July, Ammo
Domini 1851, the two Houses of Congress,
with extraordinary unanimity, solemnly de-
clared sthat the war then existing was not
waged Oh the part of the Government in
any spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose
of conquest 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 unimpaircd, and that as
soon as these objects should be accomplish
ed the war ought to cease: ~ f
And Whereas, The President of the United
States, on the eighth day of December, Ammo
Domini 1868, and on the twenty sixth day
of March, Ammo Domini 1854, cid, with the
objects OF suppressing the then existing re-
bellion, of finducting all persons to return
their loyalty, and of restoring the authority
of the United States, issue proclamations
offering amnesty and pardon to all persons
who had directly or indirectly participated
in the then existing rebellion, except as in
those proclamations, was specified and re-
served and whereas, the President of the
United States did on the twenty ninth day
of May, Ammo Domini 1865, issue further
proclamation with the same objects before
mentioned, and to the end that the authori-
ty of the Government 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, proclaim and declare that he
thereby granted to all persons who had di-
rectly or indirectly participated in the then
existing rebellion, except d therein except
ed, amnesty and pardon, with restoration of
all rights of property except as to slaves,
and except in cetain cases where legal pro-
ceedings had been instituted, but upon con.
dition that such persons should take and
subscribe an oath therein prescribed, which
oath should be registered for permanent
preservation; and whereas, in and by the
said last mentioned proclamation of the
twenty-ninth day of May, Ammo Domini
1865, fourteen extensive classes of persons,
herein specially described, were altogether
excepted and excluded from the benefits
thereof; and whereas, the President of the
United States did, on the second day of
April, Ammo Domini 1866, issue proclama-
tion declaring That the insurrection was at
an end, and was thenceforth to be so re-
garded; and whereas, there now exists no
organized armed resistance of misguided
citizen or Others to the authority of the Uni
ted States in the States of Georgia, South
Carolina, Virginia. North Carolina, Tennes.
see, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missis-
sippi, Florida, and Texas, and the laws can
be sustained and enforced therein by the
proper civil authority, State or Federal, and
the people of said States are well and Loyalty
disposed, and have conformed, or If permit
ted to do so will conform, in their legislation
to the condition of affairs growing out of the
United States prohibiting slavery within the
limits and jurisdiction of the United States;
and whereas, there no longer exists any rea-
sonable ground to apprehend within the
States which were involved in the late re-
bellion any renewal thereof, or any unlawful
resistance by the people Of said States to
the Constitution and laws of the United
States; and whereas, large standing armies,
military occupation, martial law, military
tribunals, and the suspension of the privi-
lege OF the writ of habeas corpus and the
right of trial by jury, are in time of peace
dangerous to public liberty, incompatible
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 except in cases
of actual necessity for repelling invasion or
suppressing insurrection or rebellion and
whereas, a retaltory or vindictive policy,
attended by unnecessary disqualifications,
pains, penalties, con6scations, and disfran-
chisements, now as always, could only tend
to hinder reconciliation among the people
and national restoration, while it must Sc
riously embarrass, obstruct, and repress pop
ular energies and national industry and en-
enterprise; and Whereas for these reasons
1T 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 afore-
said, issued on the twenty ninth day of May,
Ammo Domini 1865, should be modified, and
that the full and benefcent pardon conced-
ed thereby should be opened and further
extended to large number or the persons
who by its aforesaid exceptions have been
hitherto excluded from executive clemency
Now, therefore, be it known that ], An
drew johnson, President of the United
States, do hereby proclaim and declare that.
the full pardon described in the said pro-
clamation of the twenty ninth of May, Ammo
Domini 1865, shall henceforth be opened
and extended to all persons who, directly
or indirectly, participated in the late rebel
lion, with the restoration of all privileges,
immunities, and rights of property, except
as to property with regard to slaves, and
except in cases of legal proceedings under
the laws of the United States but upon
this condition, 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 permanent preservation,
in the same manner and with the same effect
as with the oath prescribed in the said pro.
clamation of the 29th day of May, 1865,
namely: a
Il, do solemnly swear (or afirm), in
the presense 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 faith
fully support all laws and proclamations
which have been made during the late rebel.
lion with reference to the emancipation of
slaves. So help me God" .t
Tf.nf IL