Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-09
0 r r ICI A L.
A PROCLAMATION.


traordinary unanimity solemnly declared that
the war then existing was no. waged on the part
of the Government in any spirit Of oppression,
nor for any purpose Of cong nest or subjugation,
nor purpose of oyerthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions o
THE States, but to defend and maintain the su-
premacy Of the Constitution, 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-
lished the war ought to cease; .. ...---.
And whereas the President of the United
States, on the eighth day OF December, Ammo
UomiDi 1863, and on the Goth day Of March,
Ammo Domini 1864, did, with the objects of sup
pressing the then existing rebellion, of induc.
ing all persons 10 return to their loyalty and
Of restoring the authority of the United States
iss ue proclamations offering arnnesty and par
don to all persons who had directly or indi.
rectly participated in the then existing rebel
lion, except as in those proclamations was
specified and reserved;
And whereas the President Of the United
States, did, on the twenty ninth day of NAV,
Ammo Domini 1865, issued further proclama-
tion with the same objects before mentioned
and to the end that the authority OF the Gov
erment OF the United s. ates might be restored
and that peace, order, and freedom might be
established, and the President did, by the said
last-mentioned proclamation, proclaim and
declare that he thereby granted to all persons
who had directly or indirectly participated in
the then existing rebellion, except as therein
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with restora-
ton 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 Tor permanent preser.
walton:
And whereas in and by the said last men,
toned proclamation of the twenty ninth day
Of May, Ammo Domini 1865, fourteen extensive
classes OF persons, therein specially described,
were altogether excepted and excluded from
the benefits thereof;
And whereas the President of the Unit
States did, on tae second day Of April, Ammo
Domini 1866 issue a proclamation declaring
that the insurrection was at an end, and was
thenceforth to be so regarded;
And whereas there now exists organized
armed resistance of misguided citizens or
others to the authority Of the United States in
the States of Georgia, South Carolina, Vir.
ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama,
Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida.
enforced therein by the proper civil authority.
State or Federal, and the people of said States
are we'll and loyalty disposed, and have con-
formed, or, if permitted to do so, will conform
in their legislation to the condition of affair.
growing out of the amendment to the Const.
tuition Of the United States, prohibiting slavery
within the limits and jurisdiction OF the United
States; 80
And whereas there no longer exists any rea.
sonable ground to apprehend, within the
States which were involved in tho late rebel
lion. any renewal thereof, or any unlawful
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 privilege OF the writ
of habeds corpus, and the right Of trial OF jury
are, in time OF pesce, dangerous to public lib.
erty, incompatible with the individual rights
Of the citizen, contrary to the genius aud spirit
OF our free Institutions and exhaustive OF the
national resources. and ought not, therefore
to be sanctioned or allowed, except in cases or
actual necessity, for repelling invasion, or
suppressing insurrection or rebellion;
And whereas retaIiatory or yindictiye pol.
icy, attended by unnecessary disqual,fications,
pains. penalties, confiscations, and disfran-
chisements, now, as always, could only tend
to hinder reconciliation among the people and
national restoration, while it must seriously
embarrass, obstruct, and repress popular ener-
gies 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 constitutional
law and order, that the said last-mentioned
proclamation, SO as aforesaid, issued on the
twenty ninth day Of May, Anao Domlni 1865,
should be modified, and that the full and be-
neficent pardon conceded thereby should be
opened and further extended to large number
of the persons who, by its aforesaid exceptions.
have been hitherto excluded from Executive
clemency:
Now. therefore, be it known, that l, Andrew
johnson, President OF the United States, do
hereby proclaim and declare that the full par.
don described In the said proclamation Of the
goth day of May, Ammo Domini 1865, shall hence
forth be opened and extended to all persons
who, directly or indirectly participated IN the
late rebellion, with the restoration of all privi-
Ieges, lmmunities, and rights OF property, ex.
cept as to property with regard to slaves, ana
except in cases Of legal proceedings under the
laws OF the United States: bat upon this con.
dition nevertheless: that every such person
who shall seek to avail himself of this procla-
nation shall take and subscribe the folio wing
oath, and shall cause the same to be registered
TOR permanent preservation, In the same man.
ner and with the same effect as with the oath
prescribed In the said proclamation Of the
twenty ninth day OF May, 1865, namely:
il, do solemnly swear, Tor af-
firm, In presence Of Almighty God, thatI will
henceforth faithfully support, protect, and de-
fend the Constitution OF the United States, and
the Union OF the States hereunder; and that
win, IN ike manner, abide by snd faithfully
support all laws ana proclamations which
have been made during the late rebellion with
reference to the emancipation OF slaves. So
help nae God" u --.-...
The following persons, and no others, are
excluded from the benadts OF this proclama-
item, and of the said proclamation Of the
twenty ninth day Of May, 1865, namely:
First. The CHIEF or pretended chief exec
utiye officers, including the President and
vice President, and all heads Of departments
of the prstendso Confederate or rebel Gov.
erpment, and all who we're agents thereof in
foreign States and countries, and all who held
or pretended 10 hold in the service sf the said I
Oonfsderate Government q military
rank or title above the Grade Of brigadter gen.
eral, or naval rank or title above that OF cap /
tain, and all who were or pretepded to be I
Governors of States, while maintaining, abet- /
ting, or submitting to and cquiescinz IN the I
rebellion. ..s f'ss = go 2 /
second. All persons who in any way treated |
Otherwise than as lawful prisoners OF war
persons who in any capacity were employed
eneaged in the military or naval service OF
<rAp 49, Z III