Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-09-12
The Amnesty Proclamation.

The Amnesty Proclamation.
WASHINGTON Sept. 8.-The proclaim alton
was issued yesterday morning:
BY the President Of the United States--A Procia-
nation.
Whereas, lin the month OF July, A. D.,
1861, the two Houses of Congress, with ex-
traordinary unanimity, solemnly declared
thot the war then existing was not waged
on the part Of the government in any
spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose of
conquest or subjugation nor purpose Of
overthrowing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions of tho 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 unimpaired,
and that as soon as these objects should be
| accom- plished, the war ought to cease; and
Whereas, the President of the United
States on the eighth day of December, A.
D., 1858, and Oh the 9th day of March, A.
D., 1864, did, with the objects of suppress
sing the then existing rebellion, of in
ducing all persons to return to their 10y
atty and of restoring the authority of the
United States, issue proclaim atoms, Offering
amnesty, and pardon to all persons who
| IL
the then existing rebellion, except as in
those proclamations were specified and re-
served; and
Whereas, the President Of the United
States did, on the twenty ninth day of
| May, A. D., 1865, issue q further procla-
nation with the same objects before men,
| toned, and to the end that the authority
Of the government of the United States
| might be restored, and that peace and or
der and freedom might be established;
and the President did, by the last men
toned proclamation, proclaim and did de-
clare that he thereby granted to all per-
sons who had directly or indirectly partici-
pated in the then existing rebellion, except
with restoration Of all rights, Of property
except slaves, and except in certain cases
whore legal proceedings had been institu-
ted-but upon condition that such persons
should take and subscribe an oath therein
prescribed, which oath should be regis
tered for permanent preservation, and
Whereas, in and by the said last men,
toned proclamation Of the twenty ninth
day of May, A. D., 1865, fourteen extensive
classes of persons therein specially de-
scribed were altogether excepted and ex-
cluded from the benefits thereof; and
Whereas, the President of the United
States did, on the second day of April, A.
D., 1865, issue proclamation declaring
that the instruction was at on end, and
was thenceforth to be 80 regarded; and
Whereas, there now exists no organized
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, Ala
bama, 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 con formed or if |
permitted to do 80, will conform in their |
legislation to the condition Of affairs grow
ing out Of the amendment to the Con-
stitution Of the United States prohibiting
slavery within the limits and jurisdiction |
of the United States; and
Whereas, there no longer exists any rea-
sonable ground to apprehend within the
States which were nvolv we'd in the late re-
bellion, any renewal thereof, or any I'M
lawful resistance by the people Of said
States to the Constitution and laws of the
United States; and
Whereas, large standing armies, military
martial law, military tribunals
and the suspension of the privilege of the
writ of habeas corpus and the right Of trial
by jury, are in time Of peace dangerous to
public liberty, incompatible with the in
dividual rights of the citizen, contrary to
the genius aud spirit of our free institu-
tions, and exhaustive Of the national re-
sources, and ought not therefore to be
or allowed except in cases of &C.
tual necessity for repelling invasion, or
suppressing instruction or rebellion; ard
hereas, "A retaliatory or vindictve
policy, attended by unnecessary disquali-
fcati"n, pains, penalties, confscations and
lisfrsuchisoments, now Is always could
only tend to hinder reconciliation among
the people, and national restoration, while
t must seriously EN- barrass, obstruct and
'epress popular energies, and national in
lustry and enterprise; and
Whereas, For these reasons it is now
leemed essential to the public welfare, and
% the more perfect restoration of constitu-
,ional law and order, that the said last
mentioned PROCLAIM attain so as aforesaid is
ued, on the 10th day of May, A. D., 1865,
should be modified, and that the full and
pardon conceded thereby should
% opened and further extended to large
,umber of the persons who by its afore-
jaid exceptions have been, hitherto exclu-
led from Executive clemency;
Now, therefore, be it known that !, An :
lrew johnson, President of the United
,tptes, do hereby proclaim and declare I
hat the full pardon described in the said
reclamation of the twenty ninth day of
Nay, A. D., 1865, shall henceforth be
'pened and extended to all persons who,~
lirectly or indirectly, participated in the
ate rebellion, with the restoration of all
privileges, immunities and rights of prop
rty, except as TO property with regard to =
laves, and except in cases Of legal pro-
ceilings under the laws of the United
states, but upon this condition nevertbe-
ess, that every such person who shall seek
o avail himself of this proclaim ration shall
AXE and subscribe the following oath, and
hall cause the same to be registered for
permanent preservation in the same man .
lar and with thu aarna afTant aa nth 4La | =