The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-07-09
Amnesty p Proclamation by Pres
ident Johnson.

E Il
Below we print the --latest mani,
festo of the mischief maker who
for the nations sins is permitted
for yeta while to exercise a bale
full influence over its destinies.
We object not TO the exercise ct
the legitimate pardoning poverty |
the proper authority to proper
extent; but We have to say that in
this document incur liumMejudg
ment, the President far transeends
the powers with which he is con
stitutionally clothed, and attempts
10 confer privileges and restore
rights which can be done onlyaby the
Legislative authority Of tho nation.
As far, as his proclamation goes to
the remission Of penalties for of
fences against the government, il
perhaps has force and validity, but
no further, as We believe il will ip
liuc be made to appear, qld}ot,I
"By the President Of the United
States: A proclamationi o. 1
i"Whercas, dImthe month'of Jul
Ily, A. d. 1861, in accepting the
condition Of civil war, whicn was.
brought about by insurrection and
rebellion in several of the States
which constitute the United States
tho two Houses OF Congress- did
soIcmhly declare that that war
was not wagtd. on thepart of the
Government, in any spirit OF op
PRESTON, nor for any purpose OF
conquest or sublugatlon,nor for
any purpose Of overthrowing or in
tctfcring with the rights or ostab-
Iishcd institutions Of the States, but
only to defond and maintain the
Supremacy of the Constitution of
the United States, and to preserve
tho Union, with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of tho several
States unimpaired, and that as
soon as those objects should be ac-
co:HpIished the war, on thc'part Of
tho Government, should cease;
and, ya joir.w..g. ~ .l.m
"Wheroas, The President Of the
United States has heretofore, in
the spirit OF that declaration, and
with the view of securing for it
ultiAate and complete effect, set
forth several proclamations offer;
ing amnesty and pardon to persons
who have been, or who were con
cerned in the aloronamod rebellion
which proclamations, however,
were attended with prudential re.
seryationsi and exceptions then
deemed necessary and proper, and
which prWlamations were rcspcc
lively issued on the 9Th day Of
December, 1868; on tho 26th day
of March. SG4; on tho 29th day Of
May,nl865, and, on the 7Lh day of
September, 1867; and, s.gr ~
"WHEREAs, The said lamcntablc
civil war has long since altogether
ceased, with an acknowledgment
by all the States OF the supremacy
of The Federal Constitution and of
tho government Hereunder; and
as there no longer exists any rea-
sonablc ground to apprehcnd a ro.
newal Of the said civil war, or q
foreign interference, or any unlaw
ful resistance by any portion of
the people ofany Of tho States to
the Constitution and laws of the
United States; and,
'""WHEREAs IL is desirable to ro,
duco tho standing army, and to
bring to speedy termination mil
itary occupation, martial law, mill
tary tribunals, abridgmcnt of the
freedom ofspeech and of the priv.
ilego of habeaS corpus, and of tho
right of trial by jury, such en-
croachments upon our free institu-
tions in timo of peace being dam
gerous to public liberty, incompat.
iblo with tho individual rights Of
the citizen, contrary to tho gener.
GUS spirit Of our republican form
of government. t. and exhaustive Of
the national resources; and,
"WnEREAs, 1t is believed that
amnesty and pardon will tend to
secure q complete and universal os.
tablishment and prevalence of mu.
nicipal law and order, in coniormi.
ty with the Constitution of the
United States, and to remove all
appearances and prosumptions of a
retaliatory or vindictive policy on
tho part of the Government, at.
tended by unnecessary disqualii.
cations, pains, penalties, confsca
tion and acknowledgements and,
on the contrary, to promote and
procure complete fratornal recon,
ciliation among tho whole people,
with duo submission TO tho Consti'
tuition and laws; a..,,
"Now, therefore, DO it known
that |, Andrew johnson, Prosi.
don't of tho United States, do, by
virtuo Of tho Constitution and in
tho name Of the people of the Uni.
ted States, hereby proclaim and
declare, Internationally and with.
out reservation, to all and to overy
person who, directly or indirectly
participated in tho lato insurrOc.
tion or rebellion, excepting such
person or persons as may be undor
prcscntment or indictment in any
court of tho United States having
competent jurisdiction, upon n
charge of treason or other felony,
II full pardon and amnesty for tho
otenso of treason against tho Uni,
ted States, or of adhoring to their
oncmiea nnrinr Iha lnto civil ynr