The Van Buren press., 1868-07-17
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT
AMNESTY AND PARDON GRANTED.
Only Those Indicted pxcep,ed.

....-.. WASHINGTON, July 8
BY the President of the United States
lo p. A PRocLAMATioSl r7' s7Hf
WHEREAS, In the month ofJulv, Anno
Domini 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
waged on the part of the Government in
any spirit of oppression nor for any pur
pose of conquest or subjugation. nor for
any purpose Of overthrowing or interfer-
ing with the right or established institu
tons Of the States, but only TO defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Con.
sttution of the United States, and to pre-
serve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
unimpaired, and that as soon As those OBJ
jects should be accomplished the war on
the part ofthe Government should cease"
and ....
Whereas, The President Of tie Cnitcd
States has heretofore, in the spirir ofthat
declaration, and with the view Of sccur'
ing for its ultimate and complete effect,
set forth several proclamations Offering
amnesty and pardon to persons who had
been or were concerned in the aforenam-
ed rebellion, which proclamations, how.
ever, we're attended with prudential res
ervations and exceptions then deelced nee,
essary aud proper, and which pcoclama,
tons were respectively issued on the 9Th
day Of December, 1868, on the Goth day
of March, 1864, on the 10Th day of May,
1865, and on the 7th 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 Constitu.
ton and Of the Government Hereunder;
and there no longer existing any reason.
able ground to apprehend a renewal Of
the said civil war, or any foreign inter
ference, 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 ....rH#I.
,Whereas, 1t is desirable to reduce the
standing army and to bring to speedy
termination military occupation, martial
law, military tribunals, abridgment ofthe
freedom Of speech and of the press, sus,
pension Of the privilege of habeas codpus,
and the right Of trial by jury, such en-
croachments upon our free institutions in
time of peace, being dangerous to public
liberty, incompatible with the individual
rights Of the citizen, contrary to the ge-
MUS and spirit of our republican form Of
Government, and exhaustive Of the ma
tional resources and
Whereas, 1t is believed that amnesty
and psrdwn will tend to secure com
plctc and universal establishment and
prevalence OF municipal law and order,in
conformity with the Constitution ofthe
United States, and to remove all appear
ances and presumptions of a retaliatory.
or vindictive policy on the part of the
Government, attended by unnecessary
disqualiications, pains, and penalties,
confiscations 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, - p.
Now, therefore, be it known that |,
Andrew Johnson, President of the Uni,
ted States, do, by virtue of the Constitu-
ton and in the name of the people Of the
United States, hereby proclaim and de-
clare, unconditionally and without reser-
vation, to all and to every person who
directly or indirectly participated in the
late insurrection or rebellion, excepting
such person or persons as may be under
presentment 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 Uni.
ted States, or of adhering to their enc
mics during the late civil war, with res
torstion Of all right of property except
as to slaves, and except also as to any
property Of which any person may have
been legally diycsted under the, laws Of
the United States. ~ . ~--- '-
In testimony whereof have signed
these presents with my hand, and have
caused the seal ofthe United States To be
hereunto affixed
| Done at The oity Of Washington the
fth day Of July, in the year Of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty
eight, and Of the Independence of the
United States Of America the nirty-third.
-Hi1HiJ AHA ANDREW JOHNSON.
| III - o . s-----4-~-A-
~ A colored man in Richmond, Va,
John Dabney by name, purchased his
freedom from his mistress just before the
war for, S2,000 agreeing to pay the
amount by installments. During the pen
dencY of the strngple be paid about one.