Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-15
A Proclamation of Amnesty.

WHEREAS, In the month of July, Ammo
ponini lS6l, in accepting the condition of
! civil war which was brought about by insur-
rection and rebellion in several of the States
which constituted the United States, the
two Houses of Congress did solemnly de-
clare that that war was not waged on the
part of the Government in any spirit of
oppression, nor for any purpose of con-
quest or subjugation, nor for any purpose
of overthrowing or interfering with the rights
or established institutions of the States, but
only to defend and maintain the Constitu-
tion of the United States, and to preserve
the Union, with all the dignity, and equali-
ty and rights of the several States unim-
paired, and that so soon as these objects
should be accomplished, the war on the part
of the Government should cease
And Whereas, The President of the Uni
ted States has, heretofore, in the spirit of
that declaration, and with the view of secur-
ing for it ultimate and complete effect, set
forth several proclamations offering Amnes-
ty and pardon to persons who had been OF
were concerned in the aforenamed rebellicn,
which proclamations, however, were attend
ed with prudentia reservations and excep-
tions then deemed necessary and proper,
and which proclamatlons were respectively
issued on the Sth day of December 1852 !;
ON the 25th day of March, 1864; on the
goth day of May, 1865: and on the 7th day
of September, 1867; and
HtFEKEas, The said lamentable civil war
has foAg since aitogether ceased, with an
acknowledgment by all the States of the Su-
premacy Of the Federal Constitution, and of
the Government thereunder and there no
prehend renewal of the said civil war, or any
foreign interference, or any unlawful resist
ance 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
standing army, and to bring to a speedy
termination military occupation, martial
law, military tribunals, abridgment of the
freedom of speech and of the press, and sus-
pension of the privileges of habeas corpus
and of the right Of trial by jury, such in
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 genius
Sa %sn s Sha f eSaas2Ihe M 81 lgg lRgn ST re-
sources;
AND WHEREAS, 1t is believed that am
nesty and pardon will tend to secure COM
plete and universal establishment and pre-
valence of municipal law and order, in con-
formity with the Constitution of the United
States, and to remove all appearances and
presumption of retaiatory or vindlctive
policy on the part of the Government, az
tended by unnecessary disqualifcations,
pains, penalties, confscations, and dis
Embellishments, and on the contrary to pro-
mote and procure complete fraternal recon
citation among the whole people with due
submission to the Constitution and laws;
Now, therefore, be it known that l, An
drew johnson, President of the United
States, do, by virtue of the Constitution,
and in the name of the people of the United
States, hereby proclaim and declare nno0n-
ditioually, and without reservation, to ali
and to every person who directly or Indirect
Iy participated in the late insurrec-
ton 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
a charge of treason or other felony, full
pardon and amnesty for the offence OF
treason against the United States or OF ad-
herring to their enemies during the late civil
war; with restoration of all rights of proper
ty, except as to slaves, and except also as to
any property of which any person may
have been legally divested 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 to be feretthtc
affixed.
Done DIT the city of Washington, the 4th
day of July, in the year of our Lord, 1858,
and Of the Independence OF the United
States of America the 93d.
BY the President,
ANDREW JOHNSON.