Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-10
AMNESTY.
Proclamation of the President-The
Conditions and the Exceptions.
A PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY.

4
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA-A PRoCLAMATIoN.
Whereas. in the month of July, A. D.
| 1861, the two houses of Congress, with an
extraordinary unanimity, solemnly declared
that the war then existing was mot waged
F! on the part Of the government in any spirit
of oppression, or for any purpose of con-
quest or subiugation, nor for the purpose of
overthrowing or interfering with the rights
| or established institutions of the States but
to defend and maintain the supremacy of
the constitution and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and rights of
the several States unimpsired, and that as
a0on as these objects should be accomplished
the war ought to cease"
And whereas, The President Of the
United States, on the 9Th day OF ~Decem- |
Der, A. d. 1863, and on the 26th day of
March, A. D. 1864, did, with the objects of
suppressing the then existing rebellion, of
| inducing all persons to return to their 10y
atty, and of restoring the authority Of the
United States, issue proclamatiOns offering
amnesty and pardon TO all persons who
had directly or indirectly participated
in the existing rebellion, except such as in
these proclamations we're specified and re-
served ts.'-
And whereas, The PresidenGof the United
States did, on the 29th day Of May, A. D. !
1865, issue a further proclamation with the
same objects before mentioned, and to the
end that the authority of the government |
Of the United States might be restored, and !
that peace, order and freedom might be re-
established and the President did, by the !
said last mentioned proclamation, proclaim !
and declare that be thereby granted to all |
persons who had directly or indirectly |
participated in the then exciting rebellion,
except those then excepted in the amnesty |
pardon, with the restoration of all the |
rights of property, except as to slaves, and !
except in certain cases where legal pro-
ceedings had been instituted, but upon con-
dition that such persons should take and !
subscribe an oath therein prescribed, which !
oath should be registered for permanent
preservation
And Whereas, In and by said mentioned
proclamation of the 29th day of May,
1865, fourteen extensive classes of persons /
therein 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, |
A. d. 1866, Issue proclamation declaring |
that the insurrection was at an end, and |
was thenceforth TO be so regarded;
AndWhereas, There now exists no organ |
lied armed resistance Of misguided citi-
zens or others to the authority of the United !
States in the States of Georgia, South Caro- !
lima, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee,
Alabama Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Florida and Texas, and the laws can be sus-
tanned and enforced therein by proper civil
authority, State and Federal, and the peo-
pie Of said States are well and loyally dis
posed and have conformed, and if permitted
to do so, will conform In their legislation
to the condition of affairs growing out of
the amendment to the constitution of the
United 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 a renewal thereof, or any unlaw-
ful resistance by the people of said States
TO the constitution and laws of the United |
States;
And Whereas, Large standing armies, |
military occupation, martial law, military
tribunals and the suspension of the privi- |
lege of the writ of hdbeaS corpus and the
right of trial by jury are, in time Of peace,
dangerous to public liberty, incompatible |
with the individual rights of the citizen, |
contrary to the genius and spirit of our free |
institutions, aud exhaustive of the national |
resources, and ought not, therefore, to be |
sanctioned or allowed except in cases of !
actual necessity, for repelling invasion, or |
suppressing insurrection or rebellion;
And whereas, A retaliatory or vindictive
policy, attended by unnecessary disqualifi- |
cations, pains, penalties, confscations, and |
acknowledgements, now, as always, could |
only tend to hinder reconciliation among |
the people and national restoration, while !
il must seriously embarrass, obstruct, and |
repress the popular energies and national |
industry and enterprise;
And whereas For these reasons it is now |
deemed essential to the public welfare, and :
to the more perfect restoration of constitu- !
tional Law and order, that the said last |
mentioned proclamation aforesaid. issued |
on the 29th day Of May, A. D., 1865, |
should be modified, and that the full and |
benefcent pardon conceded thereby should |
be opened and further extended to a large
number of persons who by its aforesaid acts
tive clemency:
Now, therefore, be it known that l, An
drew johnson, President of the United |
States, do hereby proclaim and declare that |
the fell pardon described in the proclams-
ton of the 29th day Of May, A. D., 1865, |
shall henceforth be opened and extended |
to all persons who, directly or indirectly |
participated in the late rebellion with the |
restoration of all the privileges, immuni- |
ties, and rights Of property, except as to /
property with regard TO slaves, and except |
in cases of legal proceedings being entered |
under the laws of the United States; but !
upon this condition, nevertheless, that
every such person who shall seek to avail /
himsely of this proclamationshall take and
subscribe the following oath, and shall
cause the same TO be registered for per
manent preservation in the same manner
and with the same effect with the said oath
prescribed in the said proclamation Of the
! 29th day Of May, 1865, namely:
81 do solemnlv swear or affirm in the
presence of Almighty God, that / will
| henceiorsh faithfully support, protect and
defend the constitution of the United States,
and the Union of the States Hereunder,
and that / will in like manner abide by
allu AAAAAlA1iAt HAllNAA eAA AntWN eAltN tAN
clamaiiens which have been made during
the late rebellion with reference TO 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
29th Of May, 1855, viz:
First. The Chief or pretended Chief
Executive officers, including the President,
Vice President, and all heads Of depart
ments of the pretended 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 a military rank or title above
the grade Of Brigadier General, and naval
rank or title above that Of Captain. and all
who were or pretended to be Governors of
States while maintaining, abetting, or sub
miiting 70 and aoquieseing in the rebellion.
| Second. All persons who In any wav
treated otherwise than as lawful prisoners
Of war persons who, in any capacity we're
employed or engaged in the military or
naval service Of the United States.
1 Third All persons who AZ tba e.,