Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1868-07-14
The Presidents Amnesty Proclamation

The Presidents Amnesty Proclamation
WHEREAS, In the month of July,
Ammo Domini, 1861, in accepting the
condition of civil war, which was
brought about by insurrection and re-
bellion in several of the States which
constitute the United States, the two
Houses of Congress did solemnly de-
clare that the war was not waged on
the part of the Government I'm any spirit
of oppression, nor for any purpose of
conquest or subjugation, nor for any
purpose of Overthrowing or interfering
with the rights of established institu
tons of the States, but only to defend
and maintain the supremacy of the Con-
stitution of the United States, and to
preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several States
unimpaired, 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 United
States has heretofore, i'll the spirit of
that declaration, and with the view of
securing for it ultimate and complete
effect, set forth several proclamations
offering amnesty and pardon to persons
who had been or were concerned in the
aforesaid rebellion, which prOclama-
tions, however, were attended with pru-
Dental reservations and exceptions then
deemed necessary and proper, and which
proclamations were respectively issued
on the sth day of December, 1868; on
the Goth day of March, 1864; on the Goth
day of March, 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
Constitution, and the government there
under; and there no longer exists any
reasonable grounds to apprehend re-
newal of said civil war, or any foreign
interference, or any unlawful resistance
by any portion of the people of any of
the States to tho Constitution and laws
of the United States; and
Whereas, 1t is desirable to reduce
the standing army and to bring to n
speedy termination military occupation,
martial law, military tribunals, .abridge-
ment of the freedom of speech and of
the press, suspension of the privilege
of habeas corpus, and the right of trial
by iury--such encroachments upon our
free institutions in times of peace being
dangerous to public liberty, incompati-
BILE with the individual rights of the cit
izen, contrary to the genius and spirit of
our republican form of government, and
exhaustive of the national resources;
Il and
Whereas, 1t is believed that amnesty
and pardon will tend to secure a COM
plete and universal establishment and
prevalence of municipal law and order,
in conformity with the Constitution OF
the United States, and to remove all
approaches or Prescriptions of a retail
atOry or vindictive policy on the part OF
the Government, attended by unneces-
sary disqualification, pains, penalties,
considerations and acknowledgements, and
on tie 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 /,
Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, do, by virtue of the Con
stitution and in the name of the people
of the United States, hereby proclaim
and declare Internationally and without
reservation, to all and to any person
who, directly or indirectly, participated
in the late instruction or rebellion, eX
cepting 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 offences of treason
against the United States, or of adher
ing to their enemies during the late
civil war, with restoration of all rights
of property except as to slaves and ex
cept as to any property of which any
person may have been legally Invested
under the laws of the United States.
In testimony whereof have signeG
these presents with my hand and have
caused the seal Of the United States tx
be hereuntO affixed.
Done at the City of Washington thu
fourth day of July, in the year of on
Lord, 1868, and of the independence o
, the United States of America, the 93C
year. ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President: Wm. III. Seward
Secretary of State.
every week we hear of fresh failure
e cEnrr.ntirntn 10 Aln.