The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-07-09
GENERAL AMNESTY.
Proclamation BY the President, July 4, Z
An Act worthy the Nay and
the Age.

WHEREAS, In the month OF July,
Ammo 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,
tho two houses of Congress did aOI-
EMMY declare shat that war vasnot
waged on tho part OF the Govorn-
ment in any spirit of oppression,
nor for any purpose Of conquest or
subjugatlon, nor for any purpose
of OverthrowIng or interfering with
the rights or established institu--
tions Of States, but only 70 defend
and establish tho supremacy Of tho
Constitution of the United Statcs,
and to preserve the Union, with all
the dignity, equality and rights Of
tho several States unimpaired, and
that 80 soon ms those objects should
bo accomplished, tho war on the
part Of tho Government should
cease and
WHEREAS, The President Of tho
United States has heretofore, In the
spirit OF that declaration, and with
view OF securing for IL ultimate
ani complete effect, set forth IN
several procIamations Offering am
nesty and pardon TO porsons who
had been or woro concerned in the
aforo named rebellion, which proc
lamations, however, were attended
with prudential exceptions and ress
ervatIUns then doomed necessary
and proper and which proClamS-
tions woro respectively issued ON
the 9Th day of Docombor. 1868; on
the 23th day of March, 1864; on tho
20th day OF May, 1865 and on tho
9Th day Of September, 1867 and
WHEREAs, The said lamontnblo
civil war has long since altogether
ceased with an acknowledgment
by all the Statos Of tho Federal Con-
siitution, and Of the Government
thoreunder, and there no longer cx-
lists any reasonable ground 10 ap-
prohend a renewal of said civil war
or any foreign interference, or any
unlawful resistance by any portion
of tho people Of any Of tho States TO
tho Constitution and laws Of the
United States and
| WuEREAs, 1t 10 desirable tc ro-
duco tho standing army and to
bring toa speedy termination tho
military occupation by martial law,
tho military tribunals, the abridgc
ment Of the freedom of spocch and
Of tho press, tho suspension Of tho
privilege of hdbedS corpus, and Of
tho right of trial by jury. such on
croachments upon our FREQ institu.
tions being dangerous to public lib.
arty and Incompatible with tho IN.
divldual rights Of the citizen, con-
trRry TO the generous spirit Of our
republican form Of govornmont and
exhaustive OF tho National resourc-
os and
WHEREAS. 1t 10 believed that am
nosty and pardon will tend TO So
euro complete and universal Os.
tablishmont and prevalence Of mu-
niclpal law and order in coniot nifty
with the Constitution Of tho United
StAtes.
Now to remove all appearances
and presumptions OF retaliStOry or
vIndictive policy on the part OF tho
Government, attended by unneccs-
sary disqualificatlons, pans, penal.
ties, confiscation and disiranchiso-
ments, and on tho contrary 70 pro-
cure complete fratornal reconcilla-
ton among tho whole people with
duo submission to the constitution
and laws;
Therefore, bo it known that /,
Andrew Johnson, Presldent OF the
United States, dc, by virtue of the
Constitution, and in the namo ofth0
United States, hereby proclaim aud
doclaro, unconditlonally and with
out reservation, to all and to ovory
person who, directly or indirectly
participated in the late insurrection
or rebellion, excepting such person
or persons as may be under pro-
sentiment or indictment 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 of
fenso Of treason against the United
States, or ofadhering to thoir eno-
mics during the late civil war, with
restoration of all rights OF property
except, as to slaves, and except, al
30 as TO any property Of which any
persons may havo been legally di.
vested under the laws Of the United
States.
4 In testimony whereof, / have
/ signed these presents with
my hand, and caused tho seal
| OF tho United States TO bo
horeunto affixed Dono at
Washington, the 4th day Of
| Il. S.l1uly, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred
and sixty~eIght, and Of the
Independence of the United
States of America tho nIne-
ty~tblrd.
[Signed] ANDREW JOHNSON.
By tho President.
"A