The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1867-09-21
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.

I The following proclamation was issued by the
President on Saturday morning, 7th instant:
| WHEREAS, In the month of July, A. ID. 1861
/ the TWO houses of Congress, with extraofs snary
unanlmlty, solemnly declared that the war then
| existing was not waged on the part of the Gov.
ernment 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 Con-
stitution and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality and rights of the several States
unlmpaired, 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 eighth day of December A D. 1863 and
on the twenty-seyenth day of March, A. ID. 1864,
ala, with the he, objects Of suprressing the then
turn TO their loyalty and of restoring the au-
thoflty 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 pro-
carnations were specified and reserved: and
whereas the President of the United States
did. ON the twenty ninth day of May, A. ID. 1865
Issue further proclamation with the same OBJ
jects before mentioned, and to the end that the
authority of the Government of the United
States might be restored, and that peace and
order and freedom might be established and
the President did, lyy the last mentioned procla-
nation, proclaim and did declare that he thereby
granted to all persons who had directly or indi-
rectiy participated in the then existing rebellion
except as therein excepted, amnesty and pardon,
with restoration of all rights of property except
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 preserva-
ton; and
Whereas, In and by the said last mentioned
proclamation OF the a9th 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 a
proclamation declaring that the insurrection was
at an end, and was therefore to be SO regarded;
and
Whereas. There now exists no organized
armed resistance of misguided citizens or others
to the authority of the United States In the
States of Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia.
North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana,
Arkansas, 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 conforned, or If permitted
to do so, will conform in their legislation to the
condition OF affairs growing out of the amend
ment to the Constitution of the United States
prohibiting slavery within the limits and juris-
diction 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 any renewal
thereof, or any unlawful resistance by the peo-
| pie OF said States to the Constitution and laws
1 OF the United States; and
1 Whereas, Large standing armies, military oc-
eupation. martial law, military tribunals, and
| the suspension of the privilege of the writ Of
hsbeds corpus and the right of trial by jury, are
In time of peace dangerous to the public liberty,
| Incompatible 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 sus-
| tanned or allowed, except in cases of actual me-
cessity for repeling invasion, or suppressing in
surrection or rebellion; and
| Whereas, retalatory or vindietive policy,
attended by unnecessary disqualification, pai1s,
penalties, confscation and acknowledgements,
now ais always, could only tend to hinder recon
Citation among the people, and national restora-
ton, while it must seriously embarrass, obstruct
and repress popular energies, and national in
dustry and enterprise; and
Whereas, For these reasons, 1T ID 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 issued, on the Goth day of May,
A. ID. 1865, should be modified, and that the full
and benefcent pardon conceded thereby should
be opened and further extended to large num-
Der of the persons who by its aforesaid excep-
tive clemeney;
Now, therefore, be ii known that +, Andrew
johnson, President of the United States, do
hereby proclaim and declare that the full pardon
Ia tHG n6tA OI GuS IWGIUy-
ninth day of ATay, Ammo Domini, 1865, shall
henceforth be opened and extended to all per-
sons who, directly or indirectly, participated in
the late rebellion with the restoration Of all pri
vileges, immunities and rights Of property, ex-
cept as to property with regard to slaves, and
except IN cases of legal proceedings under the
laws Of the United States, but upon. this condi-
tion 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 perma-
nent preservation In the same manner and with
the same effect as with the oath prescribed in
the said Proclamation of the Goth day of May,
1865 namely:
III do solemnly 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 States there
under, and that / will In like manner abide by
and faithfully support all laws and proclama-
tions which have been made during the late re-
bellion with reference to the emancipation Of
slaves. 90 help me God Y
The following persons, and no others, are ex-
cluded from the beneGta Of this proclamation,