The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-09-18
President Johnson's Amnesty Proc
lamation. ...|-.

-.
President Johnson's Amnesty Proc
lamation.
WAshIEdros, September g.,
Tho following proclamation Ass Issued this
morning:
BY ne Presidcat or &o Uaited !sidte. of
Amieried.
A PRocLANArI6S.
Whereas, In the month Of July, Ammo DON'T
nj 1851, tho two Houses Of Congress, with ex-
traordinary uuanimity aHd solemnity, declared
that the war tteh existing was hot wagcd on
the part Of the Gotefntieni IN any spirit of
oppression, nor for any pdfpdse Of coiqdcst OF
suhjugation, nor purpose Of overtbrowing or
| interfering with the rights or established in.
| stitutions Of tho States, but 10 defend and
maintain tho supremacy of the Constitution,
and to preserve the Union, with all the dig
nifty, equality and rights Of the several States
unimpsired; and that Us soon ms these objects
should DO neeoprplishedy the war otght to
| cease.
And whereas, the President OF tho United
States, on Tho Sth day of December, Ammo
Domini 1868, and on the 26th day of March
| Ammo Domini 1861, did, with tho object Of
supprossing the then existing rebellion, of in
ducing all persons to return to their loyalty,
and of restoring tho authority of tho United
States, issue proclamations offering amnesty
and pardon to all persons Who he'd directly or
indirectly participated in the then existing re-
bellion, except rs in those prGcldntaticus was
specified and reserved.
Aud whereas, tho President Of tho United
State did, on tho 10th day of May, Ammo
| Domini 1865, issue n furthcf tr6Elamation,
| with the same objects before mentioned, and
to the end that the authority of the Govern
mcnt Of the United States might be restored.
and that peace, order and freodorf hight be
established; and tho ProsideRs did, by tho
said last mentioned proclariation, proclaim
aud declare that ho thereby granted to all
persons who had directly or indifectly par,ici-
patod in the then existing rebellion, except
rs thcfcin excepted, amnesty dnd pardon,
with restoration of NIL rights Of PROPERTY, cx-
cept rs TO slaves, and except certain cases
| where legal proceedings had been Instituted,
but upon condition that such persons should
take and subscribe IN oath therein prescribed ,
which oath should bS registered for pcrriancn /
preservation.
And whereas; in knd bS said last Mentioned
proclamation, the 29th day of May, Ammo
Domini 1865, fourteen extensive classes of
persons therein specially described, were alto
gether excepted and excluded from the benefits
thereof
And whereas, the President of the United
States did, on the 81 day OF April, Ammo
Domini 1866, issue n proclamation declaring
that tho insurrection was at an END, and wa,
hcncoforth to be so regarded.
And Whefeas, there now exists no orrantzed
Errfed tesistence of hisgGided citizens oi
others to tho authority of the United States
in the States Of Georgia, South Carolina, Vir
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama
Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida ant
Texas; and tho laws can be Sustained an,
enforced therein BY the proper civi authority
State or Fcdctal, and the people of said State
arc we'll and loyalty disposed, and have con
formed, or. IL permitted to do so, will conform
in their legislation to the condition of affair
growing out of the amendment to tho Constf
tuition Of the United States, prohibiting slave
ry within the limits and jurisLictio:, Of th,
Unitod States. ... ....
And whereas, there no longer exists any
reasonable ground to approhend within the
States which were involved In the late rebel
lion, any renewal thereof, or any unlawful re.
sistancer by the people of said States 10 tho
Constitution and laws Of the United States.
And whereas. large standing armies, militia
~ occupatioH, martial law, military trtbsanals
tho suspension Of tho writ Of 6aBeas eoy,u,
aud tho right Of trial by jury are, in tho tim,
OF posco, dangerous to public liberty, incom.
Patible with the individual rights Of the oiti.
ron, contrary to tho genius and SPIRIT Of our
FREQ Institutions, and exhaustive Of the nation
al resources, and ought not, therefore, to be
sanctioned or allowed, except in cases Of actu-
al necessity for repolling invasion or suppress.
ing insurrcction or rebellion.
And whereas, q rotaliatory or vindictive
policy, attended by unnecessary disqualified.
tions, pains, penalties, confscation and d;s.
franch;sement, now, as always, could opIy
tend 10 binder recoAs3fstion among I'm noo.
pie and nationsf restoration, While IL murt a,
rtous,y enfbrrass, obstruct and rcpros, pso,,
lar energics and national industry and e.t r.
| prise.