Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-07-15
Proclamation by the President Grant
ing Amnesty to All Confederates Except
those Indicted for Treason.
BIZ the President ofthe United States.
A PROCLAMATION.

A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, in the month of July, Ammo
Domino 1861, in accepting the condition OF
civil war in several Of the States which
constitute the United States, the two
houses of Congress did soolemnly declare
that the war was not waged on the part of
the government in any spirit or oppression
nor for any purpose Of conquest or subju-
CATION; nor for any purpose of overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or estab-
lished institutions of the States, but only
to defend and maintain the supremacy Of
the Constitution OF the United State, and
to preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several States
unimpaired, and that so soon as those OBJ
iects should be accomplished the war on the
part of the Government should cease.
4And whereas, The President of the Uni
ted States has, heretofore, in the spirit OF
that declaration, and with the view OF Sc
curing for it ultimate and complete effect,
set forth several proclamations offering am
nesty aud pardon to persons who had been
or were concerned in the aforenamed re-
bellion, which proclamations, however,
were attended with prudential reservations
and exceptions then deemed necessary and,
proper, and which proclamtions were re-
spectively issued on the eighth day OF De-
cember, 1868, on the twenty-sixth day OF
March, 1864, on the Goth day of May, 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
of the Government there under; and there
no longer exists any reasonable ground to
apprehend renewal ofthe said civil war
or any foreign Interference, or any unlaw-
tul resistance by any portion of the people
of any of the States to the Constitution and
laws of the United States, and
Whereas, 1t is desirable to reduce the
standing army and to brIng to a speedy
termination, military occupation, martial
law, military tribunals, abrdgment of the
freedom speech and of the press, and sus-
pension Of the privilege of habeas corpus
and Of the right of trial by jury, such en-
croachments upon our free institutions in
time of peace being dangerous to the pub
lie liberty, Incompatible with the individual
rights of the citizen, contrary to the genius
and spirit of our republican form of gov
ernment, and exhaustive Of the national re-
sources;
And whereos, 1t is believed that amnes-
ty aud pardon will tend to secure a com
plete and universal establishment and pre-.
valence OF municipal law and order, In con-
formity with the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and to remove all appearances
and prescriptions ofretaiatory or vindica-
tive policy on the part of the Government,
attended by any unnecessary disqualfica-
tions, pains, penalties, contiscations, and
acknowledgements, and on the contrary, to
promote and procure complete fraternal
reconciliation among the whole people with
due submission to the constitution and laws;
Now, therefore: BE Il known, That l An
drew 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 uncon,
ditionally and without reservation to all
and every person who directly or indirect
ly participated in the late insurrection or
rebellion, excepting such person or per-
sons as may be under presentment or indie
ment in any court of the United States, hav.
ing competent jurisdiction upon a charge
of treason or other felony, a full pardon and
amnesty for the offence of treason against
the United States, or of adhering to their
enemies during tn civil war, with restora-
ton of all rights of property except as to
slaves, and except, also, as to any property
of which any person may have been legally
divcsted under the laws Of the United
States.
In testimony whercofI have signed these
presents with my hand, and have caused
the seal of the United States to be hereun-
to affixed.
Done at the Cit, of Washington, the
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, of America the ninty-thrd.
(Signed) Andrew Johnson.
By the President:
William II. Seward, Secretary of State
Washington, July 3.