Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-07-09
THE GENERAL AMNESTY.
WASHINGTON, July 8, P.

. Whereas, In the month of July, A., D. 1861, in
accepting the condition Of civil war which was
brought about by insuection and rebellion in sew
eral of the States, which constitute the United
States, the two Houses Of Congress did solemnly
declare that the war was not waged, on the part
of the Government, in any spirit of oppression,
nor for any purpose of conquest or subjugation,
nor for any purpose of overthrowing or interfering
with the rights or established institutions of the
premacy of the Constitution of the United States,
and to preserve the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several States unimpar
ed and that, so soon as those objects should be
accomplished, the war on the part Of the Govern
And whereas, The President of the United
States has, heretofore in the spirit Of that declara
ton, and with the view of securing for it ultimate
and complete effect, set forth several procamatons,
offering amnesty and pardon to persons who were
concerned in the aforesaid rebellion, which proc!a.
nations, however, were attended with prudential
reservations and exceptions then deemed necessa-
ry and proper, and which procamations were res
pectively issued on the 9Th day of December, 1868
on the 10th day of March, 1864; on the 20th 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 acknowledge
ment by all of the States, of the supremacy OF the
Federal Constitution and the government there
grounds to apprehend renewal Of the said CIVIL
war, or any foreign interference, or any unlawful
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 stand
ing army and to bring to speedy termination OF
military occupation martial law, military tribunals,
abridsement of freedom of speech and OF the press
and suspension of the privilege Of habes oopss and
the right of trial by jury-s:uch encroachments
upon our free institutions, in times Of peace being
dangerous to public liberty, incompatible with the
individual rights of the citizen, contrary to the
genius and spirit of our republican form Of govern
ment and exhaustive Of the national resources:
And whereas, 1t is better believed that amnesty
and pardon will tend to secure complete and uni,
yersal establishment and prevalence of municipal
law and order, id conformity with the Constitution
of the United States, and to remove all appear
ances or presumption Of retalatory or vlndlcoVe
policy, on the part of the Government, attended
BY unnecessary disquah6cations pains, penalties,
con6scation, and disfranchisements, and, on the
contrary. to promote and procure a complete fra
terna reconciliation among the whole people, with
due submission to the Constitution and laws:
Now therefore, be it known that l, 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 uncondtionally and without reservation, to
all and to every person, who directly participated
in the late nsurrection 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 charge OF trea-
son or other felony, full pardon and amnesty for
the offence of treason against the United States or
of adhering to their enemies during the late civil
war, with restoration of all rights Of property ex-
cept as to slaves and except also as to any proper
ty of which any person may have been legally d.
vested under the laws Of the United States.
In testimony whereof, I have signed these pres
ents with my hand and have caused the seal OF the
United States to be hereunto affixed
.............. Done at the City of Washington,
sr,, the 4th day Of July, in the, year Of
SEAL our Lord one thousand eight hundred
:.'.'.'....' and sixty-eight and Of the 1ndepend-
ence of the United States Of America the 93d;
BY the President. ANDREW JOHNSON.
VIM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.