Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-09-13
AMNESTY TO REBELS.
The following is the late pardon procla-
nation, issued by the President on the 9th:
BY the President Of the United States,

clared THAT the war then existing was not
waped on the mart of the Government IN
anv spirit of foppression, not for any purpose
Of conquest or subiugatlon, nor purpose OF
oyerthrowing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions Of the States, but
tn defend and maintain the supremacy oI
the Constitution and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and rights OF
the several States unlmpalred, ana tnat az
| soon as these objects should be accomplished
the war ought TO cease; and whereas tne
President Of the United States, on the
eighth day of December, ammo Domini y, 1902
and on the twenty sixth day oi tlalcns
bnno Domipi 1854, did with the objects OF
,nnpressino the then existing rebellion, Of
| in3ncino alI persons to return to their 10y
aitv and of restoring the authority OF the
| limited States. issue proelamations offering
| amnesty and pardon to all persons who had
directly or indirectly participated IN the
then existing rebellion, except as IN those
nroclamations was specified and reserved;
and whereas the President OF the United
| States did on the twenty ninth day OF May,
| Ammo Domini 1868, issue further procla
nation with the same objects before men,
toned and TO the end that the authority of
| the Government of the United States might
be restored, aad that peace, order, and free
dom might beestabished, and the President
| did, by the said last mentioned proclamation,
| proclaim and declare that he thereby gran
ted to all persons who had directly or in
directly participated in the then existing re-
bellion, 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 preservation;
and whereas, IN and by the said last men
| toned proclamation of the twenty ninth day
| Of May, Ammo Domini 1858, fourteen exten-
sive classes OF persons, herein specially de-
| scribed, were altogether excepted and exclu-
ded from the benefits thereof; and whereas,
the President Of the United States did, on
the second day ofApril, Ammo Domini 1866,
issue a proclamation declaring that the in
suTection was at an end, and was thence
forth to be so regarded; and whereas, there
now exists no organized armed resistance Of
misguided citizens OF others to the authority
of the United States, in the States Of Geor-
gia, South Carolina, Virginia, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee. Alabama, Louisiana, Ar
kansas, Missippi. Florida, aud Texas, aud
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 conform
ed, or if permitted to do so will conform, in
their legislation to the condition Of affairs
growing out Of the amendment to the Con
stitutiOn of the United States prohibiting
slavery within the limits and jurisdiction Of
the United States; and whereas, there no
longer exists any reasonable ground 10 ap
prehend within the States which were invOl-
we'd in the late rebellion any renewal thereof
or any unlawful resistance by the people OF
said States to the Constitution aud laws OF
the United States; and whereas, large stan
ding armies, military occupation, martial
law, military tribunals, and the suspension
Of the privilege Of the writ of habeas corpus
aud the right Of trial by jury, are in time Of
peace dangerous to publicliberty, incompati-
be 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
sanctioned or allowed. except in cases Of ac-
tual necessity for repelling invasion or sup
pressing Insurrection or rebellion; and
whereas, a retaliatory or vindictive policy,
attended by unnecessary disqualifications,
pains, penalties, eoniscatIOns, and disfran-
to hinder reconciliation among the people
and national restoration, while it must Sc
riousy embarrass, obstruct, and represS
popular energies and national industry and
enterprise; and whereas, for these reasons it
is now deemed essential to the public vel
fare, and TO the mere perfect restoration Of
constitutional law and order, that the said
last mentioned proclamation so aforesaid,
issued on the twenty ninth day Of May,
Ammo Domini 1868, should be modified, and
that the full and beneheent pardon conceded
thereby should be opened and further eXten
ded to a large number Of 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 pTocla
nation of the twenty-ninth of May, Ammo
DOniini 1865, shall hcnceiorth be opened
and EXTENDED to all persons who, directly or
indirectly, participated in the late rebellion,
with the restoration Of all privileges, i'm
munities, and rights of property, except as
to property with regard to slaves, and eE-
cept 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
proclamation Of the 10Th day of May, 1865,
namely:
II, -, do solemnly swear Tor af1irml in
the presence Of Almighty God, that | will
henceiorth faithfully support, protect, and
defend the Constitution of the United States
and the urion of States hereunder, and
that will il like manner abide by and faith
fully support all laws and proelamatiOns
which have been made during the late re-
bellion with reference to the emancipation
of slaves. So help me God. -
The following persons and no Others are
excluded from the benefits Of this procla-
nation and of the said proclamation of the
10Th day of May, 1865, namely;
First The chief or pretended chief exec
utive officers, including the President, the
Vice President, and all heads of departments
Of the pretended Confederate or Rebel Gov
ernment, and all who we're agents thereof
in foreign States and countries, and all who
held or pretended to hold, in the service of
the said pretended Confederate Govern
ment, a military rank or title above the
grade Of brigadier general, or naval rank or
title above that of captain, and all who were
or pretended to be Governors Of States,
while maintaining, abbetting or submitting
to, and acquiescing in the rebellion.
Second. All persons who in any way
treated otherwise than as lawful prisoners