Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-07-10
Amnesty Proclamation.
By the President of tho United
States.
A PROCLAMATION.


A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, IN the month of July
A. ID. 1861, in accepting the con-
dition of civil war, Which was
brought about by instruction and
rebellion in several of the states
which constitute the United States,
the two houses of congress did SOL
emnly declare that war was not
waged on the part of the government
in any spirit of oppression, nor for
any purpose of CONQUEST or subjuga-
ton, nor for any purpose of over
throwing or interfering with the
rights of established institutions of
states, but only to defer q and main
tain the supremacy OF the constitu-
ton of the United States, and pre-
serve the union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several
states unimpaired, and that rs soon
as those objects should be accomplish
ed the war OH the part of the govern
ment should cease.
And whereas, The President Of tire
United States has heretofore, in the
spirit of that declaration, and with
the view of securing for IL the ulti-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES amnes-
ty and pardon to persons who had
beeH, or were concerned In the afore-
named rebellion, which proclama-
tons, however, were attended with
prudential reservations and excep-
lions then deemed necessary and
proper, and which proclamations
were respectively issued on the 9Th
day of December, 1858; on the Goth
day of March, lS64i on the Goth day
OF May, 1865, and OH the Eth day Of
Sept, 1867.
And whereas, The said iamentable
civil war has long since altogether
ceased, with an acknowledgment of
all the states of the supremacy of the
federal constitution, and Of the gov
eminent Hereunder; and there no
longer exists any reasonable grounds
to apprehend renewal of said civil
war, or any foreign interference, or
any unlawful resistance by any por-
ton of the people of any of the states
to the constitution and laws of the
United States;
And whereas, It Is desirable to re-
duce the standing army, and to bring
to q speedy termination of military oc-
cupation, martial law, military tribu-
nais, abridgcment Of the freedom of
speech and of the press, suspension
of the privilege of habeas corpus, and
of the right of trial by jury, such en-
croachmefts upon our free iustitu-
tons, in time Of peace, being danger
Gus to public liberty, incompatible
with the individual rights of citi-
zens, contrary to the genius and
spirit of our republican form of gov
eminent, and exhaustive of the ma
tional resources.
Whereas, 1t is believed that am
nesty and pardon will tend to Secure
q complete and universal establish
ment and prevalence OF municipal
law and order in conformity with
the constitution of the United States,
and to remove all appearances and
assumptions Of retaliatory or vim
dlctlve policy on the part of the gov
eminent attended by unnecessary
disquaiifications, pains, penalties,
conflscations and acknowledgements
and on the contrary, to promote and
procure complete fraternal reconcilia.
ton 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, do here
by proclaim and declare uncondition-
ally and without reservation to all
and to every person, who directly or
indirectly participated in the late in
or rebellion, excepting
such person or persons as may be
under presentment or indictment in
any court of the United States hav-
ing competent Jurisdiction upon q
charge of treason or other felony, q
full pardon and amnesty. for the Of
tense of treason against the United
states, or adhering to their enemies
during the late civil war, with the
restoration of all rights Of property
except as to slaves, and except, also,
rs to any property of which any per.
son may have been legally Invested
under the laws of the United States.
In testimony thereof 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 4th Day of July, in the year of
our Lord, one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-eight, and Of the i'm
dependence of the United States of
America the ninety-third.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President:
WIN. III. SEWARD Sec,y of State