Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-07-06
AN AMNESTY PROCLAMATION.
WASHINGTON. July 3, 1868.

WASHINGTON. July ., 1868.
Bv he President Of tie United States:
WHEREAS, In the month OF July, A. d.
1861, in accepting the condition Of civil
war which was brought on by insurfeciion
and rebellion in several of the States which
constituted the Unitd States, the two
Houses Of Congress did solemnly declare
that war was not wagsd on the part Of the
Government in any spirit OF oppression.
nor for any purpose OF conquest or suhju-
CATION, NOR for any purpose Of overthfowing
Or interfering with the rights or established
institutions Of the States, but only to de-
fepd and maintain the supremacy OF the
Constitution of the United States and TO
preserve the Union with oil the digeity.
equality and rights Of the several States On
i9poifsd, aod thas - sos - tAoeo ebjscse
should b accomplished the VA on The peSs
OF the Government should ceaoe. And
WHBRBAs, The President Of TIE Untteo
States has heretofore in the spirit Of That
declaration. and with the vieW OF -
curipr for il ultimate and complete effect -
eel forth in the several proclamatiops offer.
Ing amnesty and pardon TO persons
Who had been or were concerned In
the aforenamed rebellion, which proclama-
lions. however, were attended with pru'
Dental reservations snd exceptions then
deemed necessary and proper, and which
proclamstiogs were respectively issued on
the 9Th dsy or December, 1868. on the 18th
dav of March. 1864. on the 29th day OF Nay,
1858. and on the 7th day Of September, 1867;
ana = bereas. the said lamentable civil war
has long since altogether closed with an ac-
| knowledpment by gil the States OF the
| supremacy of the Federal Constitution and
| of the Government hereunder, and no
| longer apy Reasonable ground exists to sp-
prchend renewal Of said civil war, or any
foreign interference, or any unlswful resist
ance by anv portion Of the people Of any Of
the States TO the Constitution and laws Of
the United States; and
WHEREAS, II 10 desirable to reduce tne
standing army, and TO bring 10 speedy
termination military occupation. martial
law. military tribunals. abridRement OF the
freedom of speech and OF the press. suspen
sion OF the privilege OF hsbeas corpus and
the right OF trial by jury-sueh sncroecA
| ments mon our free institutions IN time o.
peece being dangerous to public hberty. IN
COMPATIBLE with individual rights Of citi
zens. contrary to the genius and spirit o
our Republican form OF government, an(
exhaustive .of the national resources: ant
WuRRRAs. 1t 10 believed that amnesty an,
uard0u will tend TO secure . complete AM
uniyersal establishment and prevalence o
nuncipal law and order In conformity viii
the Constitution Of the United States, an,
to remove all Appearances and presump
tious ofs retaliatory or vindictive policy Of
the mart OF the Government, attended b.
unnecessary disqualification. pains, penalties
confscasions and disfranchisements, an
on the contrary TO promote and pr0cuf
complete frsternsl reconciliation among Ii
whole people. with due submission 70 th
2 Constitution and laws;
Now, therefore, be it known that /. Al
2 drew johnson, President Of the Unite
y States. do, by virtue Of the Constitution au
, !. In the name OF the people Of the Unite
y States, hereby proclaim and declare. uncoI
); ditionally and without reservation. TO .
= and to every person who directly or ind
y rectly participated in the late insurrecuo
!. or rebellion, excepting such person or pc
= sous as may be under presenimene or II
). dictment In any court OF the United STAT
= = having competent Jurisdiction upon char
70 of treason or other felony. : full pardon a.
amnesty for the Ufense OF treason again
e the United States, or adhering 10 their en-
= mics during the late civil war, with restO
'e alton OF eli rights Of property, except as
!, slaves, and except also as to any property
!, which a6y person may have been legal
II Invested under the laws of the United State
u In testimony whereof have signed the
presents with my hand. and have caus'
y the seal Of the United States to be hsreun
- affixed. Done at the City of WashingtC
? the 4th day Of july, in the year Of O
/, Lord one thousand eight hundred and ak
- eight, and of the Independence OF the III
'e ted States of America the 93d.
IL (Signed.)
70 BY the President.
WV. Ii. SEWARD. Sec'y OF State.