Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-09-25
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
By the President of the United States.


WHEREAS, In the month of July, Ammo
Domlni, 1861, the two Houses of Congress
with extraordinary unanimity, solemnly
declared that the war the9 existing was
not waged on the part of the government
in any spirit of oppression, nor for any
purpose OF conquest or suhjugation, 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 oh
iects should be accomplished the war
ought to cease; and
WHEREAS, The President of the limited
States on the 9Th day of December. Ammo
Domini 1868, and on the 2Sth day of
March. Ammo Domini 1864, did with the
objects ofsuppressing the then existing
rebellion, of inducing all persons to return
to their loyalty, and of restoring the au-
thorisy of the United States, issue procla-
nations offering amnesty and pardons to
all persons who had directly or indirectly
participated in the then exis.anp rebellion
except as in those prociamations was snec-
flied and reserved; and
WHEREAS, The President OF the United
States did, on the 29th day of Nav Ammo
Domini 1865, issue 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 free
dom might be established, and the Presi-
deEt did, by the said last mentioned proc
lamatlon, proclaim and declare that he
thereby granted to all persons who had
directly or indirectly participated in the
then existing rebellion, except as therein
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with res
toration of all the rights of property ex-
cept as to slaves, and except in certain
cases where legal proceedings had been
instituted, but upon condition 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 men,
toned proclamation, of the goth day of
May, A. d. 1865, fourteen extensive
classes of persons therein specially de-
scribed were altogether excepted and ex-
cluded from the benefits thereof: and
: WHEREAS, The President of the United
States did, on the I'd day of April, Ammo
Dominl 1866, issue proclamation declar-
ing that the insurrection was at an end,
and was thencefOrth to be so regarded !:
and
WHEREAS, There now exists no orga-
nized armed resistance of misguided citi-
zens, or others, to the authority of the
United States in the states of Georgia.
South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkan-
ras, Mississippi, 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 permitted to do so will
conform, to the condition of affairs. grow
ing out of the amendment to the Constitu
tion of the United States prohibiting sla-
very within the limits and jurisdiction of
the United States and
WHEREAS, There no longer exists any
reasonable ground to qpprehend within
the States which were involved in the late
rebellion any renewal thereof, or any an
taa0fut resistance by the people of said
States to the Constitution and laws of the
United States and
WHEREAS, Large standing armies, mil
itary occupation, martial law, military
tribunals, and the suspension of the privil-
ege Of the writ of habeas corpus and the
right of trial by jury, are in time of peace,
dangerous to public liberty, Incompatible
with the individual rights Of the citizen,
contrary to the genius and spirit of our
free institutions, and exhaustive of the ma
tioDal resources. and ought not, therefore,
to be sanctioned or allowed except such
cases of actual necessity, for repelling in
vasion, or suppressing insurrection or re-
bellion and
WHEREAS, A retaliatory or vindlctive
policy, attended by unnecessary qualifca-
tions, pains, penalties, confscations and
acknowledgements, now, as always, could
only tend to hinder reconciliation among
the people, and national restoration, while
it must seriously embarrass, obstruct, and
repress popular energies and national in
dustry and enterprise; and
WHEREAS, For these reasons, it is now
deemed essential to the public welfare, ard
to the more perfect restoration of constitu.
tional law and order, that the said last
mentioned proclamation, so as aforesaid
issued OH the 29th day of Nav, Ammo
Domini 1865, should be modified, and
that the full and benefcent pardon conce-
ded thereby should be opened and further
extended to large number of persons
who, BY its aforesaid exceptions, have been
hitherto excluded from Executive clemen-
cy.
Now, therefore, be it known that I, An
drew Johnson, President of the United
States, do hereby proclaim and declare
that the full pardon described in the said
proclamation Of the Goth day of May, An
no Domini. 1865, shall henceforth be open
ed and extended TO all perSons who direot