The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-09-18
President Johnson's Amnesty Proolama-
nation.

nation.
WASHINGTON, September S.-Thc
following proclamation was issued thi,
morning:
Hy the President efMc United Stutcs o.
Amcrtco.
"A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, in the month Of july, An
no Domini 1861, tho two Houses Of
Congress, with extraordinary unanimltv Y
and solcmnty, declared that the wal
then existing was not wagod OH the part
of the Government in any spirit OF op
preston, nor for any purpose OF conquest
or sublngation. nor purpose Of over
throwing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions Of tho States,
but to defend and maintain tho s,,prcm
acy OF the Constitution, and to preserve
the umon, with all the dignity, equality
and rights Of tho several States ,mim
paired; and that rs soon as these objects
should DC accomplished, the war ought
TO cease.
And whereas, the President of the
United States, on tho Slh day Of Dc.
cembcr. Amo Domini 1868, and on the
2Gth day Of March. Ammo Domni 1861,
did, with the object Of supprcssing the
then existing rebellion, OF inducing all
persons to return TO their loyalty, and
Of restoring thu authority Of tho United
States, issue proclamations Offering am
nes'y ana pardon to all persons who
had directly or indirectly participated in
The thca existing rebellion, except as in
those proclamations was specified and
rcserv cd.
And whereas, the President Of the
United States did on tho 10Th day oc
May, Anno Domini 1865, issue a further
proclamation, with the samo object be.
fore mentioned, and TO the end that the
authority Of the Government Of the
United States might DO restored and
that peace, order and freedom might be
established and the President did, bv
the said last mentioned proclamation,
proclaim and declare that he thereby
granted to all persons who had directly
or indirectly participated in the then
existing rebellion, except rs therein
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with
restoration Of all rights Of property, OK
ccpt as to slaves, and except in certain
N''"e" "',sro LEGAL proceedings had he, n
persons snOUiu 'rnnu- unit o""',,. $50 49,
oath therein prescribed; which oath
should be registered for pcrmannt pres.
crvation.
And whereas, in and hy said last
mentioned proclamation, the both day
Of May, Anno Domini 1865, fourteen
extensive classes OF persons therein spc-
cidlly described were altogether OK.
ccptcd and excluded from the benefits
thereof.
And whereas, the President Of tic
United States did, on tho Cd day Of
April, Anno Domini 1866, issue n proc
lamation declaring that tho insurrcction
was at an end, and was hcnccGorth to be
SO regarded.
And whcr cas-, there now exists no
organized armed resistance Of misguided
citizens or others to the United States,
Of Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi. Fori.
da and Texas; and tho laws can be sus"
tanned and enforced therein bv the prop.
cr authority, State or Federal, and the
people Of said States arc we'll and loyal.
ly disposed, and have conformcd, or il
permitted to do so, will conform, in their
legislation to the condition Of affairs
growing out Of tho amendment TO the
Constitution Of the United States, pro-
hbiLing slavery within tho limits and
jurisdiction Of tho United States.
And whereas, there no longer exists
any reasonable ground to apprehcnd
within the States which were involved
in the lato rebellion, any renewal ,horc.
of or any unlawful resistance by tho
people Of said States TO tho Constitution
and laws Of tho United States.
And whereas, largo standing armies,
military occupation, martial law, militia.
ry tribunals, the suspension Of tho writ
Of Aabcas co'pMs and the right Of trial
by jury arc, in the time Of peace, dan
gcrous to public liberty, incomp patablc
with tho individual rights Of thc citizen,
contrary to to tho genius and spirit Of
our free institutions, and exhaustive Of
tho national resources, and ought NOT,
therefore, to be sanctioned or allowed,
except in cases Of actual necessity for
repclling invasion or supprcssing insur.
rcction or rebellion.
And whereas, n rctaliatory or vim.
dictiyo policy, attended by unncccssa-
sary disgualiiications, pains, penalties,
confscation and disfrancliscmcnt
now, as always, could only tcnd To
hinder reconciliation among tho poo
pic and national restoration, while it
must seriously cn:harrass, obstruct
and reprcss popular energies and ma
tional industry and enterprise.
And whereas, for these reasons, it
is now doomed essential to tho public
welfare, and to the moro perfect res
toration Of constitutional law and or
der, that the said last mentioned pros
clamation 50, as aforesaid, issued on
tho 99th day of May, A. D. 1868,
should bo modified, and that tho full
and bcnificent pardon conceded there
by should be opened and further cx.