The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-07-10
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.

WASHINGTON, July 9.
proclamation has been issued by the Presi-
dent, declaring that whereas, in the month of Ju-
ly, 1861, in accepting the condition Of civil war,
which was brought about by insurrection and re-
bellon in several Of the States, the two Houses Of
Congress did solemnly declare that the war was
not waged by the Government in any spirit of op~
position, nor for any purpose of conquest or SUBJ
jagation, nor for any purpose CT overthroHlng or
interfering with the rights or established institu-
tions of the States, but only to defend and man1-
tain the supremacy of the Constitution of the
United States, and to preserve the Union, with-aI
tho dignity, equality and rights Of the several
States unimpaired, and that, so soon as those OBJ
jects should be accomplished, the war on the part
of the Government should cease and, whereas,
the President of the United States has, heretofore,
IN The spirit of that declaration, and With the
view of securing for il ultimate and complete ef-r
feet, set forth several procamations, Offering am
nesty and pardon to persons who had been or
were concerned IN the rebellion, which proclama-
tons, however, were attended with prudential res.
ervations and exceptions, then deemed necessary
and proper; and whereas, the said war has long
since ceased, with an acknowledgment by all the
States of the supremacy of the Federal Constitu-
ton, and there longer exists any ground to ap-
prehend o renewal of civil war, or any foreign in
reference, any unlawful resistance by any portion
of the people of any of the States to the Constitu
ton and laws of the United States; and, whereas,
it is desirable to reduce the standing army and to
bring to speedy termination military occupation,
martial law, military tribunals, abridgment of free
dom of speech of the press, and suspension Of the
privilege of ha6eas Corpus, and the trial by jury
such encroachments upon our free institutions,
in times of peace, being dangerous to public liber-
ty, incompatible with the individual rights of the
citizen, contrary to the genius of our Republican
form of Government and exhaustive of the nation
al resources; and, whereas, it is believed that am
nesty and pardon will tend TO secure complete
and universal establishment and prevalence of mu-
ncipal law and order, in conformity with the Con-
stitution of the United States and to remove all
appearances or presumptions o; retaliatory or
vindictive policy, ON the part of the Government,
attended by unnecessary disqualiGcations, pains,
penalties, confscations and dsfranchisements, and
on the contrary to promote and procure complete
fraternal reconciliation among the whole people,
with due submission to the Constitution and laws
therefore, be it known that l. 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 un
conditionay and without reservation, TO oil and
to every person who directly or indirectly partici-
pated in the late nsurrection rebellion, except
ing such person or persons as may be under pre-
sentiment or indictment in any Court Of the United
STATES, having competent jurisdiction upon
charge of treason or other felony, full pardon
and amnesty for the offence OF treason against the
United States, or of adhering to the enemies du-
ring the late civil war, with restoration of all
rights of properly, except to slaves, and except
also rs to any property of which any person may
have been legally diyested, under the laws Of the
Cnitcd States. In testimony whereof I have
signed these presents with my hand, and have
caused the seal of the United States to be hereun-
to affixed.
Done at The city of Washington, the 4th day of
July, in the year of our Lord thousand
eight hundred and sixty eight, and of the In
dependence of the United States of America
ninety-third.
BY the President.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.