The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-07-10
Amnesty Proclamation.
WASHINGTON, July 4.
By the President of the United States Of
Arnerica- Prnclamaiinn.-

By the President OF the United States OF
America, Proclamation. Z
WHEREAs, in the month of July A. D.,
1861, in accepting the conditions Of civil
war which was brought about by insurrec-
ton and rebellion in several of the States
which constitute the UUited States the two
Houses of Congress did solemnly declare
that that war was not waged on the part of
tha Government 10 any spirit of oppression
nor for any purpose of CONQUEST or subiuga-
ton, nor for any purpose of overthrowing
or interfering with the rights or established
institutions of the States, but only to defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Constitu-
tion of the United St4tes, 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 ac-
complisbed the war on the part of the Gov
ernment should cease, and
WHEREAs, the President Of the United
States has heretofore, il the spirit of that
declaration and with the view of securing
for it ultimate and complete effect, set forth
several pFoclamatilns offering amnesty and
pardon TO all persons who had been or were
concerned in the afore named rebellion, which
proclamations, however, were attended with
prudential reservations and exceptions then
deemed necessary and proper, and which
proolsmatlons were respectively issued on.
the eighth day of December 1863, and on the
the 26th day of March 1864 and on the 29th
day of May 1865, and on the 7th day Of
September 1867; and whereas the said Ia
mentable civil war has long since, altogether
ceased, with an acknowledgement By all the
States of the supremacy of the Federal Con
stitution and the Government they are under,
and there no longer exists any reasonable
ground to spprehend renewal of the said
civil WsF, or any other foreign interference,
or any unlawful resistance by any portion of
the people Of any Of the States to the Con
stitution and Laws of the United States;
and whereas it is desirable to reduce the
standing army, and to bring to speedy
termination miisSaIy y occupation, 'InsFoiai Jaw,
military tribunals, abridgement of the free
dom of speech and Of the press, Suspension
of the privilege of habeas corpus, and of
the right Of trial by jury, such encroach.
ments upon our free institutions, in time of
peace, being dangerous to public liberty,
Incompatible with the individual rights Of
the citizen, contrary to the genius of etr
Republican form of Government and ex-
haustive of the national resources; and where
as, as it is believed that general amnesty and
pardon will tend to secure a complete aud
universal establishment and prevalence OF
municipal law and order, in conformity with
the Constitution of the United States, and
to remove all appearances and Prescriptions
of a retaliatoFy and Yindictife poleyioR the
part of the Government, attended by IN
necessary qualifications, pains, penalties,
confscatious and .disffanchisements, but on
the cotrary to promote and procure complete
/ and ffaternal reconciliation among the whole
people, with due submission to the Constitu-
ton. and laws. Now, therefore, ], Andrew
johnson, President Of the United States, do,
by virtue Of the Constitution and in the name
of the people of the United States, hereby
proclaim and declare, unconditiOoally and
without reservation, to all and to. every per-
son who directly or Indirectly participated
in the late insurTection or rebellion, iexcep-
l'tingsuch person or persons as may beunder
presentment or indictment in any court of
the United States, having ompetentiurisdic-
ton, upon charge Of treason or other felony,
full pardon and amnesty for the offense OF
treason against the United States, or of
adhering TO their, enimies during the late
civil war, with restoration of all rights Of
PROPERTY, except as to slaves, and except,
als5, as TO any property of which any person
may have been legally disYested hinder the
| lsws-of the United States. ',.,.l 5-is.f4
[Sigpedl ANDREW JoHYsoN,
| By the President, s
't'1 ~ 70 WILLIAM Il. SEWARD if
ao.SeGretary of State.