Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-09-17
AMNESTY.
A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

DENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Whereas, in the month of july A. d. 1861
the two Houses of Congress, with extraordinary
unanimity, solemnly declared that the war ther
existing was not waged on the part of the Coy
eminent in any spirit of oppression, nor for any
purpose OF conquest or subjugatiOn, nor for the
purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of the States
but to defend and maintain the supremacy O.
the Constitution, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and rights Of the
several States unimpaired, and that as soon az
these objects should be accomplished, the wal
ought to cease and, whereas, the President Of
the United States, on the oth day of December
A. d. 1863, and on the Goth day Of March
1864, did, with the objects of suppressing the
then existing rebellion, of inducing all persons
to return to their loyalty, and of restoring the
authority of the United States, issue proclama
tons offering amnesty and pardon to all persons
who had directly or indirectly participated in
the then existing rebellion, except as in those
proclamatlons was specified and reserved and
whereas, the President of the United States
did, on the Doth day of May, A. d. 1865, issue
further proclamation with the same objects
before mentioned, and to the end that the au-
thority of the Government of the United States
might be restored, and that peace, order and
freedom might be established; and the Presi-
dent did by the said aforementioned proclama-
ton proclaim and declare that he thereby grant
ed to all persons who had directly or indirectly
participated in the then existing rebellion, ex-
cept as therein excepted, amnesty and pardon,
with restoration of all lights ofproperty, 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 preserya-
ton; and, whereas, in and by the said last-men-
| toned proclamation of the 29th day of May,
1868, fourteen extensive classes of persons there
in 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, 1866, issue a proclama-
ton declaring that the instruction was at an
end, and was thenceforth to be so regarded ;
and, whereas, there now exists no organized
armed resistance ofmisguided 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 we'll and 10y
ally disposed, and have conformed, or, if per
mltted to do so, will conform, in their legisla-
ton to the condition Of affairs growing out of
the amendment to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States prohibiting slavery within the limits
and jurisdiction 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
OF the United States and, whereas, large stand
ing armies, military occupation, martial law,
military tribunals, and the suspension of the
privilege OF the writ of hdbeds corpus and the
right OF trial by jury are In time of peace dan
gerous 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 National resources and ought
not therefore to be sanctioned or allowed, except
IN cases OF actVas necessity, for repelling inva
sion or sappresslng ipsurrection or rebellion
and, whereas, a retaliatory or vindictive policy,
attended by unnecessary disqualifcations, pains,
penalties, cOniscations and acknowledgements
now, as always, could only tend to hinder recon
citation among the people and National restora-
ton, while 1t 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 pubic
welfare and to the more perfect restoration. Of
constitutional law and order that the said last
mentioned proclamSstapq, SO as aforesaid Rssaea
on the 10Th day Of May, 1865 should be modi-
fled, SAD that'the9, full and benefcent pardon
opnceded thereby should be opened and further
extended to, a large number of the persons who,
by Its aforesaid exceptions, have been hitherto
excluded from Executive elemency.
Now therefore be it known that I, Andrew
Johnson, President of the United States, do
hereby proclaim and declare that the full par
don described in the said proclamation of 29th |
Of May, 1865, shall hencetorth be opened and
extended to all persons who directly or Indirect
y participated in the late rebellion, with the
restoration of. all privileges, immunities, and
tights, OF property except as to property with |
'egard to slaves, and except in eases of legal
proceedings under the laws of the United
states; but upon this condition, nevertheless, !
hat every such pegsoa who shall seek to avail
himself Of this proclamation shall take and sub
scribe the following oath, and shall cause the |
anne to be registered for permanent prescrva-
Ion In the same manner and with the same eff |
ect as with the oath prescribed In the said |
of the 10Th May, 1865, namely:
do solemplg swear Cor affrm) in |
presence of Almighty God, that will henccforth |
nthtrlly support, protect, and defend the Con-
q HUTTON Of the tits, States and the Union of
AZ St'''-- .oro-nnder. and that | will in like |
nor ab;de by and faithfully support all la,as |
1od nroclamations which have been mace daring
the late rebellion with reference to the elnancpa
t;on Of slaves. So help me God. ~
The following persons and no others are ex-
olnded from the benefits of this proclamation
and of the said proclamation fthe 29tb Of May,
1865, viz:
|. The chief or pretended chief executive
officers, including the President and Vice Pres
ident and heads Of departments of the pretend
al Confederate or rebel Government, and all
who were agents thereof in foreign States and
countries, and all who held or pretended to hold
in the service of the said pretended Confederate
Government military rank or title above the
grade of brigader- General, or naval rank OF title
above that of captain, and all who were or
pretended to be Governors of States while
maintaining, abettlng, or submitting to and
acouiescing in the rebellion.
2. All persons who in any way treated other
wise than a lawful prisoners of persons who In
any capacity were employed or engaged IN the
military or naval service oi the United States.
3. All persons who at the time they may seek
to obtain the benefits of this proclamation are
actually in civil, military or naval confinement
or custody. Or legally held to bail either before
or after conviction, and all persons who were
engaged directly or indirectly In the assasslna-
ton of the late President of the United States,
or in any plot or conspiracy in any manner there
with connected.
In testimony whereof | have signed these
presents with my hand, and have caused the
seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.
Done at the city of Washington the