The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-07-04
Proclamation Of Universal
Amnesty.
&c WASHINGTON, July 8.
By the President of the United States:

Ss p - WASHINGTON, July De
By the President of the United States:
A PROCLAMATION. aT
WHEREAS, In the month of July, limo
Domini 1861, in accepting tue condition
of civil war, which was brought about
nv insurrection and rebellion in several
~. tina States which constitute the
United States, the two Houses of Con-
gross did solemnly declare that that
war was not waged on the part of the
Government in any spirit ofoppression,
nor for any purpose of conquest
or subjngation, nor for any
purpose Of oyerthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institu-
tions of the States, bnt only to defend
and maintain the supremacy Of the
Constitution of the United States, and
to preserve the Union with all the dig
nifty, equality and rights of the several
States unimpaired, and that as soon as
those objects should be accomplished
the war on the part Of the Government
should cease; and
WHEREAS, The President Of the Uni.
ted States has heretofore, in the spirit
of that declaration, and with tine view
of securing for it ultimate aud COM
plete effect, set forth several proclama-
tiOus, Offering amnesty and pardon to
persons who had been or were concern
ed in the aferenamed rebellion, which
proclamations, however, were attended
with prudential reservations and excep-
tions then deemed necessary and prop
er, and which proclamations were re-
spectively issued on the 9Th day of De-
cember, 1863, on the 26th day of March,
1865, on the 10Th day of March, 1863
and ON the 9TH day of September, ls6I;
and,
WHEREAS, The said lamenta5le civil
war has long since altogether ceased,
with an acknowledgement by .ail the
States of the supremacy of the Federal
Constitution and of the Government,
and there no longer exists any reason.
able ground to apprehend renewal oil
the said civil war or any foreign inter
ference OF any unlawful resistance by
any portion of the people of any Of the
States to the Constitution and laws OF
the United States; and,
WHEREAS, 1t is desirable TO reduce
the standing army aud to bring to
speedy termination military occupa-
ton, martial law, military tribunals,
abridgement of the freedom of speech
and of the press, suspension of the
privilege of habeas corpus aud OF the
right eli trial by jury, such encroach'
ments upon our free institutions in
time of peace being dangerous to pub
lie liberty, incompatible with the indi-
yidual rights of the citizen, contrary to
the genius and spirit of our republican
form of government and exhaustive OF
the national resources; and,
WHEREAS, 1t is believed that amneS-
ty and pardon will tend to secure a
complete aud universal establishment
and prevalence of municipal law and
order, in conformity with the Constitu.
ton of the United States, and to remove
all appearances and presumptions of a
retaliatary or vindiGtive policy
on the part Of the Government,
attended by unnecessary Disqualified
tons, pains, penalties, confscation and
acknowledgements, but, on the contrary,
to promote and procure complete fra
ternal reconciliation among the whole
people, with due submission TO the
Constitution and laws.
Now, therefore, be it known that 1,
Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, do, by virtue of the Con
stitution and in the name of the people
of the United States, hereby pro-
claim and declare, Internationally and
without reservation, to all and TO
every person who directly or
indirectly participated in the
late instruction or rebellion, ex-
ceptiug such person or persons as may
be under preseutlnent or indictment in
any Court of the United States having
a competent jurisdiction, upon "a
charge of treason or other fell
ony, full pardon and am
nesty for. the offence of treason
against the United States, or of adher-
ing to their enemies during the late
civil war with restoration OF
all the rights of property except
as to their slaves, and except
also rs to any property of which any
person may have been legally divcst-
ed under the laws Of the United States
Signed ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President.
WM. III. SEWARD
Secretary of State.