The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-08
M BY THE
PRESIDENT.
GENERAL AMNESTY,
A Pardon TO all for Treason
Except hose Under
Indictment.
A fit Commemoration of the Glorious
Fourth.

BIZ the President OF the UAite1 States ::
Whereas, in the meath of July, A.
D. 1861 in accepting the condition of
civil war, Which was brought about by
insurrection and rebellion in several of
the States which constitute the United
States, the two Houses of Congress did
solemnly declare that that war was not
was ed on the part of the Government
in any spirit of oppression, nor for any
purpose of conquest or subjugatlon, Ior
for any purpose of overthrowing or in
terfering with the rights or established
institutions of tie 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 aud rights of the sew.
eral States unimpaired; and that as soon
as those objects should be accomplish
ed the War on the part of the Govern
ment should cease and,
Whereas, Tie President of the Uni
ted States has heretofore in the spirit
of that declaration and with the view
of securing for it an ultimate and com
plete effect, set forth several proclana
tons Offering amnesty and pardon to
Nelson's who had been or were concern
ed in The afcre named rebellion, which
proclamatioLs, %Sowever, were attended
with prudential reservations aud ex-
ceptions then deemed necessary and
proper, and which proclamations we're
respectively issued on the 9th day Of
December, 1868, on the 26th day 81
March, 1864, on the 29th day of May.
1865, and on the 7th day of Septem-
Der, 1867 and
Whereas, The said lamentable civil
war has long since altogether ceased,
with an acknowledgements by all the
States of the supremacy of the Federal
Constitution and of the Government
Hereunder, aud there no longer exists
any reasonable ground to apprehend a
renewal of the 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, 1t is desirable to reduce
the sanding army, and to bring to a
speedy termination military occupation,
partial law, military tribunals. abridge
nent of the freedom of speech and of
the press, and the suspension Of the
privileges of habeas corpus, and of the
right of trial by jury, such ~encroach-
ments upon u free Institutions IN time
of peace being dangerous to public lib
erty, incompatible with the individual
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 amnesty
and pardon will tend to secure a COM
plete and universal establishment and
prevalence of the municipal law and
order in conformity with the Constitu-
ton of the United States, aud to re-
move all appearances and Prescriptions
of a retaliatory or vindictive policy on
the part of the Government, attended
by unnecessary pains, penalties, confs
cations and acknowledgements, and on
the contrary to promote and procure
complete fraternal 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, by virtue of the Consti-
tuition and in the name of the people of
the United States, do hereby proclaim
and declare unconditionally and with
out reservation to all and every person
who directly or indirectly participated
in the late instruction or rebellion, ex.
ccpting such person or persons as may
be under presentment or indictment in
any Court of the United States having
competent jurisdiction, upon a charge
of treason or ether felony, a full am