The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-12-31
A Proclamation by the President.
FULL PARDON AND AMNESTY

A Proclamation by the President.
FULL PARDON AND AMNESTY. !,
WASHINGTON, December "a, 1868.
Whereas, The President of the Uni
ted States has heretofore set forth sew
eral proclamations, offering amnesty
and pardon TO persons who had been or
were concerned in the late rebellion
against the lawful authority of the Gov
eminent of the United States, which
proclamations were severally issued on
the 9th day of December, 1868, on the
18th day of March, 1864, on the 18th
days Of May, 1866, on the 18th day OF
September, 1867, and on the 4th day OF
July Of the present year:
And whereas, The authority of the
Federal Government having been re-
established in the States and Territories
within the Jurisdiction Of the United
States, it is believed that such pruden-
tial reservations and exceptions as, at
the dates of said several proclana.ions,
we're deemed necessary and proper, may
| now Be wisely and justly relinquis shed,
and that an universal amnesty and par
don for participation in said rebellion,
extended to all who bore any part there
| in, will tend to secure permanent peace,
order and prosperity throughout the
land, and to renew and fully restore
confidence and fraternal feeling among
the whole people, and their respect for
and attachment to the National Gov
ernment designed by its founders for
the general good.
Now, therefore, be it known, that l,
Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, by virtue Of power and
authority in me vested by the Constl-
tuition. and in the name of the sovereign
people of the United States, do hereby
proclaim and declare ,tnconditionahy
and aoi.thorA reservation to all and every
person who. directly or indirectly parti-
cipated in the late iDsurrection or re-
bellion, a full pardon and amnesty for
the offence Of treason against the United
States, or adhering to their enemies
during the late civil war, with restora-
ton OF all rights, privileges and immu-
mites under the Constitution and the
laws which have been made in pursu-
ance thereof
In testimony whereof have signed
these presents with my hand and have
caused the seal OF the United States to
be hereunto affixed. ef,-i :" s5a279a
Done at the City of Washington the
18th day of December, in the year, of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-eight, and of the Indepen-
dence of the United States of America
the ninety-third, y -. 49,,
''o'io ".i7S ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President f: E. w. Seward,
Acting Secretary of State.
The Baltimore San, of Monday, says:
The proclamation of the President,
to which we referred on Friday, of gen.
eral and unconditional amnesty to all
who participated in the resistance to
the government in the late civil war,
seems to meet with a responsive echo
in public sentiment, except among those
whose political interests lie in the di-
rection ofskeeping open the gap that
the war has made, and not permitting
the influence even of time to heal its
wounds, But that great mass OF citi-
zens who, whatever their party names,
desire the restoration of unity
between the various sections OF COM
mon country, will rejoice that this great
act has been performed, 50 as to secure
permanent peace, order and prosperity
the land" Unconditional
y all who took up arms against the
United States, or adhered to its enemies
Turing the late civil war, are pardoned,
hough this is supposed to have no eff
ect on otherithan political offenses.-
The last proclamationoof amnestyy-taaatt- I
!. .s,ee ;4ls sa 1 f J1lys9left sa6paEdohed
,nly a few prominent civil and military
ulcers Of the Confederacy, such as
Davis, General Zee, and 9th
rs, but they, as we'll as all others. are
embraced in the provisions of the pres
mt proclamation, which relieves them
rom prosecutions for. treason, though
lot from disabilities incurred under the
ourteenth amendment of the constitu
ion. The Presidents power to pardon
s constitutional prerogatiye conferred
lpon him by the second section Of the
irst article of the constitution. In 1862,
July II, an act was passed containing
section authorizing the President, at
NY time thereafter, by proclamation, ito
xtend amnesty and pardon, but this
ection was repealed by an act which |
assed the. House December 3, 1866,
nd the Senate january q 1867. The
ection repealed was,i in reality, only
of the; constitutional power,
nd no legislation Of Congress could
ither add to or diminish his constitu-
ional authority in that regard. The
ct of 1862 was designed mainly, it is
to announce a policy at that
ime on the part of the government, as
n inducement to those in arms against
to return to allegiance The next
tep, in the case of those under indictJ H
,ent, will be for the proper officer Of
he court to move the dismissal of the
,dictments, and thus the last formality +
ill he ACCOMPLISHED by which the Il