The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-04
THE OREsOENT's DISPATCHES.
FROM HING TON.
PROCLAMATION OF FULL PARDON AND AMNESTY
By THE PRESIDENT.
A Proclamation by the President of the
United States.

Proclamation by the President of the
United States.
WHEREAS, In the month of July, Ammo Domini
1851, in accepting the condition of civil war
which was brought about by insurrection and re-
belion in several of the States which constitute
the United States, the two houses Of Congress did
solemnly declare that the war was not waged on
the part of the government in any spirit Of op-
preston, nor for any purpose of conquest or sub
jugation, nor for any purpose Of overthrowing or
interfering with the rights OF established institu
tons Of the States, but only to defend and main
tain the supremacy Of the Constitution of the
United States and TO preserve the Union with all
the dignity, equality aud rights of the several
States unimpared aud that soon as these OBJ
jects should be accomplished the war on the part
Of the government should cease; and
WHEREAS, The president Of the United States
has heretofore, in 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 proclamatiOns, however, were attended
with prudential reservations and exceptions then
deemed necessary and proper, aud which procla
nations were respectively issued on the Sth day OF
December. 1868, on the 18th day of March, 1864
on the 29th day Of May, 1865, and on the 9TH
dey of September, 1857 And,
WHEREAS, The said lamentable civil war has ong
since altogether ceased, with an acknowledgment
by all the States of the supremacy of the federal
Constitution and the government Hereunder, and
apprehend renewal of the said civil war, or any
foreign interference, 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
WHEREAS, It is desirable to reduce the stand
ing army and 10 bring 10 a speedy termination
military occupation. martial law, military tri-
buDsls, abridgment of the freedom of speech, AND
of the press suspension of the privilege of habeas
corpus and the right of trial by jury, such en-
croachments upon our free institutions in times OF
peace being dangerous 10 public liberty, ineOm-
patible with the individual rights OF the citizen,
contrary TO the genius and spirit Of our .republi-
can form of government and exhaustive OF the
national resources; and,
WHEREAS, It is believed that amnesty and par.
don will tend to secure a complete and universal
establishment and prevalence of municipal law
and order IN conformity with the Constitution OF
the United States, aud TO remove all approaches
or presumptiOns of a retalatory or vindctive
policy on the part Of the government attended by
unnecessary disqualification, pains, penalties con-
fiscstioDs and acknowledgements, aud on the con-
trary to promote and procure complete frater-
nal 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 Constitution and in the name of the
people of the United States, hereby proclaim and
declare, Internationally and without reservation,
10 all and to any person who. directly or Indirect
IT, participated in the late instruction or rebel
lion, excepting such person or persons as may De
under pfesentment or indictment 10 any court of
the United States, having competen' jurisdiction,
upon a charge of treason or other felony, full
| pardon and amnesty, for the oferses Of treason
against the United States, of sdhering to their
enemies, during the late civil war, with restora-
ton of all rights of property except as to slaves
and except as to any property of which any per-
son may have been legally Invested under the
| laws of the United States.
| In testimony whereof I have signed these
| presents with my hand, and have caused the seal
| OF the United States TO be hereunto affixed.
| Done at the city of Washington, the fourth day
| Of July in the year of our Lord 1868, and of the
independence of the United States Of America
| the Dnety-thrd year.
| VIA b. SEWARD, Secretary of State.