The Van Buren press., 1867-09-20
The Van Buren, Press,
VAN BUREN,, ARKANSAS.
FROM WASHINGTON. .
Proclamation.
WASHINGTON, Sept. s.

declared that the war then existing was
not wagcd, on the part of the govern
ment in any spirit of oppression, nor for
any purpose of conquest or suIjugation,
nor purpose Of overthrowing or interfer.
ing with the rights or established insti-
tutions Of the States, but to defend and
maintain the supremacy ofthe Constitu-
ton and to preserve the Union with all
the dignity, equality and rights of the
several States unimpaired, and that as
soon as these objects should be accom-
4 plished the war ought to cease, and
WHEREAS, The President ofthe United
States on the Sth day of December A.
d., 1868, and on the 26th of March, A.
d., 1864, did, with the objects of sup
/ pressing the then existing rebellion and
/ inducing all persons to return to their
loyalty, and of restoring the authority of
the United States, issued proclamations
offering amnesty and pardon to all per
sons who had, directly or indirectly, par
! ticipated in the existing rebellion, except
/ as specified and reserved in these. proc
! lamations; and
! WHEREAS, The President Of the United
States did, on the 29th day of May, A. D.,
1865, issue further proclamation, with
the same objects above mentioned, and to
the end that the authority Of the govern
ment of the United States and peace
might be restored and order and freedom
be re established; and the President did,
by the said last proclamation, proclaim
and declare that he thereby granted to all
persons who had, directly or directly par
ticipated in the then existing rebellion,
except the parties therein excepted, am
nesty and pardon with restoration Of all
rights and property, except as to slaves
and certain existing cases where legal
proceedings had been instituted but upon
condition that such persons should take
IN oath therein prescribed, which oaths
should be registered for permanent pre-,
servaton and
WHEREAS, In and by said before men
toned proclamation of the 29th day of
May, 1868, four extensive classes of per
sons therein especially described were al
3 uoSCpuCl tASCDtCu dIltt CACluIbu from tllt
benefits thereof; and
WHEREAS, The President of the United
States did, on the I'd day of April, A, D.,
1866, issue proclamation declaring that
the insurrection was at an end and was
thencetorth to be so regarded and
WHEREAS, There now exists no or
ganized armed resistance of misguided
citizens or others to the authority Of the
United States in the States Of Georoia
South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkan
sas, 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 confessed, and if permitted to do so,
will conform in their legislation to the
condition of affairs growing out of the
amendment Of the Constitution of the
United States, prohibiting slavery within
the limits and jurisdiction Of the United
States and
WHEREAS, There is no longer existing
any reasonable ground to apprehend
within the States which were involved in
the late rebellion renewal thereof, or
any unlawful resistance by the people Of
said States to the Constitution and laws
of the United States and - 80
WHEREAS, AS large standing armies,
military occupation, martial law, military
tribunals, and the suspension of the priv
ilcge Of the writ Of hobeoS corpus, and the
right Of trial by jury, are in time Of peace
dangerous topublic liberty, incompatible
with the individual rights Of the citizens,
contrary to the genius and spirit Of our
! free institutions, and exhaustive of the
national resources, and ought not, there
fore, to be sanctioned or allowed, except
in cases of actual necessity for repeling
invasion or supprcssing insurrection or
rebellion; and
WHEREAS, Retaliatory, yindictive poll
cy attended by unnecessary disqualiti-
cation, pains, penalties, confscation and
disFranchisement, now, as alwayt, colud
only lead to hinder reconciliation among
the people and national restoration, while
it must seriousl " cmbarrass, obstruct and
rcprcss popular energies and national in
dustry and enterprises; and
WnEEEAs, For that reason it is now
| deemed essential to the public welfare
and to the more perfect restoration Of
constitutional law and order, that the said
last mentioned proclamation as before is.
sued on The 29th day Of May, A, d.,
lS65, should be modified and that The full
and bencfccnt pardon conceded thereby
should be offered and farther extended
to large number Of persons who by
these aforesaid acts have been hitherto
excluded from Executive clemcncy.
YOU therefore, BE it known that ], An
drew johnson, President of the United
States, do hereby proclaim and declare
that the full pardon described in this
proclamation Of the 18th day Of May, A,
y 1865. shall henceforth be opened and
extended to all persons who directly or