Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-07-06
Amnesty to Southern Rebels
I'yocY0AHatiOH by TIE PresideHf.
Ky the President of the United states.
\ PROCLAMATION

\ PROCLAMATION
Whereas, in the month of July, Ammo
Domini, 1861, in accepting the condition
of civil war which was brought on by
instruction and rebellion in several of
the States which constitute the United
States, the two Houses of Congress did
solcmnly declare that the war was not
waged on the part of the Government
i'm any spirit OF oppression nor for any
purpose Of conquest or subiugation, nor
for any purpose OF overthrowlng or in
terferlng with the rights or established
institutions of the states, but only to
defend and maintain the supremacy of
the Constitution of the United States
and to preserve the Union with all the
dignity, equality and rights of the seve
raj States unimpared, 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
United States has heretofore, in the
spirit of that declaration, and with the
view of securing for it the ultimate and
competent effect set forth in the several
proclamations offering amnesty and par
don to persons who had been or were
concerned in the afOrenamed rebellion,
which proclamations, however, were
amended with prudential reservations,
and exceptions, then deemed necessary
and proper and which proclamations
were respectively issued on the Sth day
of December, 1863 on the Goth day of
March 1864; on the 29th day of May,
1868, and ON the 18th day of September
1867;
And whereas the said lamentable civil
war has long since altogether ceased,
with an acknowledgment by all the
States of the Supremacy of the Federal
Constitution and of the government
hereunder, and there no longer exists
any reasonable grounds to apprehcnd Il
renewal of said civil war, or any foreign
interference, or 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, it is desirable to reduce
the standing army and to bring speedy
termination to military occupation,
martial law, military tribunals, abridge
ment of the freedom of speech and of
the press and suspension of the privilege
of habeas corpus and OF the right OF
trial by jury, such entertainments upon
our free institutions in time of peace be-
ing dangerous to public liberty, incom-
citizen, contrary to the genius and spirit
of our Republican form of Government
and exhaustive of the National resOur-
ceS;
And whereas, it is believed that am
nesty and pardon will tend to secure a
complete and 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 assumptions of a
retaliatory or vindictive policy of the
lad
disqualifications pains, penalties, con-
firmations and acknowledgements, and
on the contrary to promote and procure
Il complete fraternal recon :iliation
among the whole people, with due sub
mission to the Constitution and the
laws;
Now, therefore, be it known that |,
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 proclaim
and declare Internationally, and with
out reservation, to all and to every per-
son who directly or indirectly partici-
pated in the late instruction or REBEL
ion, excepting such person or persons as
may be under presentiment or indict-
ment in any court of the United States
having competent jurisdiction upon q
charge of treason or other felony, a full
pardon and amnesty for the otfense OF
treason against the United States, or OF
adhering to their enemies during the
late civil war, with the restoration o.
all rights of property, except to slaves
and except also to any property of which
any person may have been legally di
vested under the laws of the United
States.
In testimony whereof / have signed
these presents with my hand and have
caused the seal of the United States Il
be herewith affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, thu
fourth day of July, in the year of GU
Lord one thousand eight hundred ant
siXty-eight, and of the independence
of the United States of America tn
ninety-third.
(Signed)
ANDREW JOHNSON.
WIN. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.