Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-09-14
Amnesty Proclamation By The
preSident,

W AchAN&tOts N'S ttthiVtA Nr
 Tho following Pardon Proclamation, issued until this afternoon by the Pres ident of the United States of America IA PROCLAMATION.
 WHEREAS, In the month of July, A. D. 1881, the two Houses of Congress with extraordinary unanimity, solemn. ly declared that the war then existing was not waged on the part of the Gov. ernmcnt in any spirit of oppression nor for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrow. ing or interfering with the rights oi established institutions of the States but 10 defend and maintain the snpre. macy of the Constitution, and to pre-. serve the Union with all the dignity equality, and rights of the severa' States unimpaired, and that as soon al thesa c5jects should be accomplished the war ought to cease, and
 Whereas, The President of the Uni ted States on the Sth day of December A. D. 1863, and on the 26th of March A. D. 1864, did, with the objects of sup, pressing the then existing rebellion, oi inducing all persons to return to theii loyalty, and of restoring the authority of the United States, issue proclama. tions offering amnesty and pardon tc all persons who had, directly or indi- rectly, participated in the existing re. bellion, except as specified and reserv. ed In those proclamations; and
 Whereas, The President of the Uni. ted States did, on the 29th day of May X. D. lSG5, issue further proclama- ton with the same objects above men, toned, and to the end that the authori- ty of tie 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 aud declare that he thereby granted to all persons who lad direct ly or indirectly participated in he then existing rebellion, except the parties therein excepted, amnesty and pardon, with restoration of all rights of proper ty. except as to slaves, and certain ex- isting cases where legal proceedings had been instituted, but upon condi- ton that such persons should take and subscribe an oath therein prescribed, which oatlls should be registered for permanent preservation and
 Whereas, In and by said before men, toned proclamation of the 29th day of May, 1865, four extensive classes of persons therein especially described, were altogether exceptedand excluded from the benefits thereof, and
 Whereas. The President of the Uni ted States did, on tho 2d day of April, A. D., lSG6 issue proclamation de- ,1o ,.; tt,ut { eud, aud WAS thenceforth to be so re- garded; and
 Whereas. There now exists no or ganizcd armed resistance of misguided 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 Feaer- al, and the people of said States are well and lovally disposed, and have sconlormed, 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 with in the limits and jurisdiction of the United States; and
 Whereas, There is no longer existing auy reasonable ground to apprehend within the States which were involved in the late rebellion, any renewal thereof, or any unlawful resistance by the people of said States to the Consti- tuition and laws of the United States md
 Whereas, As large standing armies tary tribunals and the suspension oi ibbq R1riyiiisgtalfi yii tlic qfg qfgtAe tAeo or rwrii rid by afy are i'll time of peace dangerous to pub. lie liberty, incompatible with the indi. vidaal rights of the citizen, contrary tC the geniusand spirit of our free institu. tiOns, and exhaustive of the national resources, and ought not therefore tc be sanctioned CT allowed, except il cases of actual necessity, for rcpelline invasion or suppressing insurrection oi rebellion and
 Whereas, A retailiatory, yindietivC policy, attended by unnecessary dis qualifications, pains, penalties, confisca' ton and distranchisement, now, as always, could only lead to hinder reconciliation among the people and national restoration, while it must seriously embarrass, obstruct and re- press popular energies and national industry and enterprise and.
 Whereas, For that reason, it is now deemed essential to the public welfare and to the more, perfect restoration oi Constitutional law and order, that the said last mentioned proclamation, as before issued, on the 18th day of May, \. D. 1865, should be modified, aud that the full and beneficent pardon con- ceded thereby should be offered and further extended to a large number of persons wbo hy it's aforesaid acts have been hitherto excluded from Executive clememcy--
 New, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare that the full pardon described in this proclamation of the 29th day oi May. A. D. 1865, shall henceforth be opened and extended to all persons who directly or indirectly participated in ;.ie late rebellion, with the restriction of aii privileges, immunities, rights oi property. except as to proprty with re- gard to slaves, and except in cases O! legal proceedings under the laws of the United States, but upon the 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 with the oath pre- scribed in the said proclamation of the 29th of May, 1865, namely: Il do solemnly swear or affirm, in presence of X l,uiIrhtv Cod that I will hencer fort h