The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-07-14
JULY 4, A, D. 1868.
An Act of Grace Appropri-
ate to the Day.
AND WORTHY OF THE AGE
General Amnesty Proclaimed
Proclamation by the President of
the United States,

Proclamation by the President OF
| the United States.
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 o.
the States which constitute the United
States, the two houses of Congress did
solemnly declare that the war was moi
waged on the part of the Government If
lany spirit of oppression, nor for any pur.
pose Of conquest or subjugation, nor fol
lany purpose Of oyerthrowing or interfer.
ing With the rights or established insti
tutions Of States, but only to defend and
maintain the supremacy Of the Consti-
tuition Of the United States, and to pre-
serve the Union, with all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States
Iunimpaired, and that SO soon as those
objects should be accomplished, the war
on the part Of the Government should
ceasei and
THERHAs, The President of the Uni.
ted States has heretofore in the spirit Of
that declaration, and with view of se-
curing for it ultimate and complete effect
set forth in several proclamations offer
ing amnesty and pardon to persons who
had keen or we're concerned in the afo.e
named rebellion, which proclamations,
however, we're attended with prudential
reservations and exceptions then deemed
necessary and proper, aud which procla-
nations were respectively issued on the
9th day of December, 1868; on the 26th
day of March, 1864; on the 29th day Of
May, 1865, and on the 7th day of Sep
tember, 1867; and
WHEREAS, The said leuentabls civil
war has long since altogether ceased
with an acknowledgement by all the States
Of the supremacy Of the Federal Consti.
tuition, and of the Government theretri-
der. and there no longer exists any reas-
enable ground to apprehend a renewed Of
the said civil war or any foreign inter-
ference or any unlawful resistance by any
portion Of the people of any Of the States
to the Constitution and laws of the Uni
ted States; and,
WHEREAS, It is desirable to reduce
the standing army and % bring to q
speedy termination the military oscupa-
ton by martial law the military tribu-
mails, the abridgment Of the freedom Of
speech and Of the press, the suspension
of the privilege Of habeds corpus, and Of
the right Of trial byjury, such encroach-
nents upon our free institutions in time
Of peace being dangerousto public liber-
ty and Incompatible with the individual
rights of the citizen, contrary to the
generous spirit Of our republican form
Of Governments and exhaustive of the
National resources; and
s WHEREAS, Tits believed that amnesty
and pardon viii tend to secure COM
plete and universal establishment and
prevalence Of municipal law and order
in conformity With the Constitution of
the United States.
Now to remove all appearances and
|presumptiots of 9 retaliatory or yindict
i've policy6n the part Of the Government,
attended by unnecessary qualifications,
pains, penalties, confscation aud dis
franehisements, and on the contrary 10
promote and procure complete fraternal
Reconciliation among the whole people
with due submission to the constitution
and laws.
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, IN
c0Iditionall5 and without reservation, to
ailand to every person they directly or indi
reetly, participated IN the late insurree-
tlon OF repeflion, excepting suen person
or persons as may be under presentmeni
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