The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-09-17
Gbt Bsstarn Yemotrat,
TIE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
CHARLOTTE, N. G.

THE AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
The following is the Amnesty froelamat'0o
which has been issued by Andre" Johnson
President of the United States:
Whereas. In the month of July, Ammo Domini
1851. the two Houses Of Congress, with extra
ordinary unanimity, seleunly declared that the
mar then existing Was not Raged, on the part OF
che Government, in any spirit of oppression, nor
for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor
nurpose of overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of any State,
hut to defend and maintain the supremacy OF
the Consultation, and to preserve the Union with
all the dignity, equality and rights of the several
States unimp paired and that as soon as these
objects should be accomplished, the war ought
TO cease; and
Where's, The President of the United States,
On che 9Th day of December, Ammo Domlni,
1868, and on the 26th day Of March, Ammo
Domini, 1864, did, with the object of suppress
ing the existing rebellion, of inducing all per-
sons to return to their loyalty, and of restoring
the authority of the United States, issue pro-
clamation Offering amnesty and pardon to all
persons who bad directly or indirectly particl-
pated 10 the then existing rebellion, except such
Is in these proclamatons we're specified and re-
served; and
Whereas, The President of the United States
did, on the Goth day of May, Ammo Domini,
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 established; and
the President did, by the said last mentioned
proclamation, proclaim to all persons who had
directly or indirectly participated in the then
existing rebellion, except as therein excepted,
amnesty aud pardon, With restoration OF all
rights Of property except as to slaves ADD except
in certain cases where legal proceedings had
persons should take and subscribe an oath there
10 prescribed, which should be registered for
permanent preservation; aud
Whereas, In and by the said last mentioned
proclamarion Of the Goth day of May, ADno
Aomiai, 1865, fourteen extensive classes, there
in specially described, were altogether excepted
and excluded from the benefits thereof; and
Whereas, The Presiden. of the United States
did, on the I'd day of April, Ammo Domini,
1866, issue proclamation declaring that the
insurrection was at an end, and was thenceforth
TO be go regarded; and
Whereas, There now exists no organized
-ssmed resistance of misguided eitizens or others
to the aqthoriy of 4he 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 loyalty
disposed, and have conformed, or, if permitted
to do SO, will conform, 10 their legislation, to the
condition of affairs growing out Of the amend
ment to the Constitution of tie United States
prolihising slavery within the limits and juris-
dietion 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 of the
United States; and
Whereas, Large standing ARMIES, military oe
cupation, martial law, military tribunals and the
suspension of the privilege of the writ of habens
corpus, aud the right of trial by jury are in
time of peace dangerous to public liberty, in
compatible with the individual rights of the
citizen, contrary TO the genius and spirit of our
free institutions, aud exhaustive of the national
Sesonrees, and ought not therefore to be sane
<ioned or allowed, except in cases of actual neces
sity for re2elling invasion or suppressing insur-
rection or rebellion; and
Whereas, A retaliatory or vindictive policy,
attended by unnecessary disquali6cations, pains,
penalties, confscations and observation-disclosures
now, as always, could only tend to hinder recon,
ciliation among the people, and national restora-
tion, while it must seriously embarrass, obstruct
and repress popular energies and national indus
try aud enterprise; ADD
Whereas, Foe 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,
Is aforesaid issued on the 10Th day of May, A.
d., 1865, should be modified, and that the full
and benefeeut pardon conceded thereby should
be opened and further extended to large num-
Der Of the persons who, by its aforesaid excep-
lions, have been hitherto excluded from Execu-
2ige .alemancy:
Nov, 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 the
t29th day of May, A. D., 1865, shall henceforth
be opened and extended to all persons who,
directly or indirectly, participated in the late
Tebelion, with restoration of all privileges, i'm
mpnites and rights of properly, except as to
property with regard to slaves, and except in
cases of legal proceedings under the laws OF the
United States; bat upon this condition, never.
theless, that every s1ch 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 pre-
servation, ir the same manner aud with the same
effect as With the oath prescribed in the said
proclamation Of the 2eth day Of May, a. d.,
1855, namely;
81, -, do solemnly swear or affirm, in pres