The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-07-09
Amnesty Proclamation by the
President.

President.
WHEREAS, In the month of July. Ammo
Domino 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.
the two Houses Of Congress did solenlnIy
declare that that "war was not waged on
the part of the Government in anv spirit
of oppression, nor for any purpose of con-
quest of suhjugati0n, nor for any purpose
OF overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of tho
States, bnt only to defend and maintain
the supremacy of the Constitution Of the
United States, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality and ri,bts
OF the several States unimpaired; and
that as soon as those OBJECTS should be-
accomplished the war on the part of the
Government should cease = AMI
WHEREAS the President of the United
States has heretofore, in the spirit of that
declaration, and with the view of securing
for 1t ultimate and complete effect, set
forth several procama,ions Offering am
nesty and pardon TO persons who ha 1 been
or were concerned in the afJrenamed re-
b-lion, which proclarnations. however.
were attended with prudential reseyya-
tlons and exceptions then deemed necessa-
ry and proper, and which procIamatioos
were respectively issued on the 2Sth dav
Of Decembcr, 1868 on the 26th dav of
3isrch, 1864 on the 29th dav of N9v-
1865, and on the 9TH day of September.
1867, and
WHEREAS, The said lamentabIe civil
war has long since altogether ceased. with
an acknowledgement by all the States Of
the Federal Constitution, and Of the Gov
eminent hereunder, and there no longer
exists any reasonable ground to appre,
bend renewal OF the said civil war. or
any foreign Interference or any unlawful
resistance by any part of the people of
any Of the States TO the Constitution ana
laws Of the United States: and
WHGREAs, Il Is desirable 10 redace the
standing army, and to bring to a speedy
termination military occupation, martial
law, milltary tribunals, abriIyement Of
the freedom of speech and of The press
suspension Of the privilege of babeas cor
Pus and Of the right of trial by jury, such
encruaehments upon our free institutions
IN time Of peace being dangerous 10 public
liberty, Incompatible with the individual
rights OF the citizens contrary to the ge-
Mus and spirit of cur republican form Of
government and exhaustive of the national
resources and
WHEREAS, 1t is believed that an am
nesty and pardon will tend to secure p
complete and universal establishment and
prevalence of municipal law and order in
conformity with the Constitution Of the
United States, and to remove all appear
ances or presumptions of a retaliatorv or
vlndictlve policy on the part of the govern
ment, attended by unnecessary disgualiR
cations, pains, Tenalties confiscations and
acknowledgements, and on the contrary to
promote and procure complete fraterpal
reconciliation among the whole people
with due submission to the Constitnti,D
and laws
Now, therefore, be it known that I.
Andrew johnson, President of the United
States, do, by virtue of the Constitution
and in the name of the people of the
United States, proclaim and declare. up-
condItionally and without reservation. and
TO all and to every person who directly or
indirectly participated in the late insur-
rection or rebellion, excepting such person
or persons as may be under presentment
or indictment in any Court of the United
States having competent jurisdiction upon
charge of treason or other felony. a fplI
pardon and amnesty for the offense of
treason against the United States, or OF
adhering to their enemies during the late
civil war, with restoration of all rights of
property except as. TO slaves, and except
also as to any property of which any per-
son may have been legally divested under
the laws of the United States
: In witness whereof | have signed these
presEnts with my hand, and have caused
the seal of the United States to be here
unto affixed
Done at the city of Washington, tho
4th day of July in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty~
eight, and of the independence of the
United States the ninety-third.
ESigned], ANDREW Johnson.
BY the President:
WM. II. .SEw-ARD, Secretary of State.