Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-07-09
A Proclamation Of General Am
nesty.

eBy the President of the United
States: A proclamation.
"Whereas, In the month of july,
A. D. 1861, in accepting the condi-
ton of civil war, which was brought
about by insurrection and rebellion
IN several of the States which consti.
tute the United States, the two
Houses of Congress did solemnly de.
clare that that 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 overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or
established institutions of the States,
but 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 rights of the several States un-
impaired, and that as soon as these
objects should be accomplished the
war, on the part of the Government,
should cease; and,
"Whereas, The President of the
United States has heretofore, in the
spirit of that declaration, and with
the view of securing fer it ultimate
and complete effect, set forth several
proclamations offering amnesty and
pardon to persons who have been
or who were concerned in the afore-
named rebellion, which proclsma-
tions, however, were attended with
prudential reservations and excep-
tions then deemed necessary and
proper, and which proclamations
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
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 Hereunder; and as there
no longer exists any reasonable
ground to apprehend a renewal of
the said civil war, or a 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 United States, and,
"Whereas, 1t is desirable to reduce
the standing army, and to bring to a
speedy termination military occupa-
ton, martial law, military tribunals,
abridgment 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 encroach-
ments upon our free institutions in
time of peace being dangerous to
public liberty, incompatible with the
individual rights of the citizen, con-
trary to the generous spirit of our
republican form Of government, and
exhaustive of the national resources;
and,
"Whereas, it is believed that am
nesty and pardon will tend to secure
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
presumptions Of retaliatory or vim
dictive policy on the part of the Gov
ernment, attended by unnecessary
disqualilications, pains, penalties,
confiscatiSn and acknowledgements
and on the contrary, to promote and
procure complete fraternal reconcil-
iation among the whole people, with
due submission to the Constitution
and laws;
"Now, Therefore, be it known
that 1, 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, uncon-
ditionally and without reservation,
to all and to every person who, di-
rectly or indirectly participated in
the late insurrection or rebellion, ex
cepting such person or persons as
may be under presentment or in
dictment in any court of the United
States having competent Jurisdiction,
upon a charge of treason or other
felony, full pardon and amnesty
for the offense of treason against the
United States, or of adhering to
their enemies during the late civil
war, with the restoration of all ri ghts
Of property, except as to slaves, and
except, also, as to any property of
which any persons may have been
legally divested under the laws of
the United States.
'In testimony whereof 1 have
signed these presents with my hand,
and have caused the seal of the Uni.
ted States to be hereunto affixed.
"Done at the city of Washington,
on the 4th day of July, in the year
of our Lord 1868, and of the Inde-
pendence of the United States of
America the ninety third.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
''By the President:
WV TT SrwARD Secretary