The National tribune., 1892-03-24
He HAD L|NCOLN'S CONFIDENCE.
Colonel Alger Selected For Special
Duty Of Greatest Importance.
LlNCoLN's AMNESTY PROCLAMATION
The Great President Called Upon COL
onel Algerf to Attend to
It's Circulation.

On the Sth Of December, 1868, Presiden
Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation Of
the greatest Importance affecting the status
of citizens of the states in rebellion who de
sired to resume their allegiance to the United
States and it was essential, in order to make
it of force and effect, that lis circulation
among the people and soldiers of the South
be tntrusted to faithful competent and ener
getic hands. 1t is significant that in this
emergency President Lincoln called upon
Colonel Alger, of whose courage and sagacity
he was we'll aware. We quote the proclama
ton in full from one of the original pamphlets
prepared and printed under Colonel Alger's
supervision:
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, IN and by the Constitution of the
United States, it Is provided that the Presi
dent "shall have power to grant reprieves
and pardons for offenses against the United
States, except in cases OF impeachment; :"
and
Whereas a rebellion now exists whereby
the loyal State governments of several States
have tor a long time been subyerted, and
many persons have committed and are now
guilty of treason against the United States
and
Whereas, with reference to said rebellion
and treason, laws have been enacted by Con
gress, declaring forfeitures and confscation
of property and liberation of slaves, all upon
terms and conditions therein stated, and also
declaring that the President was thereby
authorized at any time thereafter, by pro-
clamation, to extend to persons who may
have participated in the existing rebellion in
any State or part thereof, pardon and am
nesty with such exceptions and at such
times and on such conditions as he may deem
foY nd
Whereas the congressional declaration for
limited and conditional pardon accords with
well-established judicial exposition of the
pardoning power; and
Whereas, with reference to said rebellion,
the President of the United States has issued
several proclamations, with provisions in
regard to the liberation of slaves; and
Whereas it Is now desired by some persons
heretofore engaged in said rebellion to re-
sumo their allegiance to the United States,
and to reinaugurate loyal State governments
within and for their respective States: there
FORE
1, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. President of the
United States, do proclaim, desire and make
known to all persons who have, directly or
by implication, participated in the existing
rebellion. except as hereinafter excepted, that
a full pardon is hereby granted to them and
each of them with, restoration of all rights
OF property, except assto slaves, and in prop
have interviewed, andupon the condition that
every such person shall take and subscribe
an oath, and thencefoTward keep and main
tain said oath inviolate; and which oath shall
be registered for5 permanent preservation,
and shall be of the tenor and effect following,
to wit "a
az do solemnIy swear IN presence Of
Almighty God. that Il will hcnceforth faithfully
support. protect, and defend the Constitution Of
the United States, and the union of the States
there UNDER and that Will, In like manner, abide
by and faithfully support all acts of Congress
passed during the existing rebellion with refer
TO slaves, long and far not repealed,
modified, or held void by Congress or by decision
of the Supreme Court; and that l viii, in like
manner, abide by and faithfully support all pro-
CARNATIONS OF the President made during the eX-
long and so far as not modified or declared void
by decision of the Supreme Court So help me
Cod
The persons excepted from the benefits of
the foregoing provisions are all who are, or
shall have been, civil or diplomatic officers or
agents of the so-Callcd confederate govern
ment; all who have left judicial stations
under the United States to aid the rebellion;
all who are, or shall have been, military or
naval officers Of said so-called confederate
government above the rank of colonel in the
army or lieutenant in the navy all who left
seats in the United States Congress to aid the
rebellion; all who resigned commissions in
the army or navy of the United States and
afterward aided the rebellion: and all who
have engaged In any way in treating colored
persons or white persons in charge of such.
otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war.
and which persons may have been found in
the United States service as soldiers, seamen,
or in any other capacity.
And do further proclaim. declare and make
known, that whenever, in any of the States
of Arkansas, Texas Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South
Carolina and North Carolina, number of
persons, not less than one-tenth in number Of
the votes cast in such State at the Presi-
Dental election Of the year of our Lord one
eight hundred and sixty, each hav-
ing taken the oath aforesaid and not having
since violated it, and being qualified voter
by the election law of the State existing i'm
before the so-called act of seces
sion, and excluding all Others shall re-estab
lish State government which shall be
republican, and in nowise contravening said
oath, such shall be recognized as the true
government of the State, and the State shall
receive Hereunder the benefits of the con-
stitutional provision which declares that
The United States shall guaranty to every
State in the Union republican form of gov
and shall protect each of them
against invasion and, on application OF the
legislature, or the executive, (when the legis
lature cannot be convened,) against domestic
anu 10 lul pGOCldlul, ucCidiC, dUu
make known that any provision which may
be adopted by such State government in re-
lation to the freed people Of such State,
which shall recognize and declare their per-
manent freedom, provide for their education,
and which may yet be consistent, as TEN
porary arrangement, with their present con-
dition as laboring, landless, and homeless
class, will not be objected to by the national
Executive. And it is suggested as not i'm
proper, that In constructing a loyal State
government in any State, the name of the
State, the boundary, the Subdivisions, the
and the general code OF laws,
as before the rebellion be maintained. sub
jeCt only to the notifications made neces-
sary by the conditions ,hereinbefore stated,
and such others, If any, not contravening
said conditions, and which may be deemed
expedient by those framing the new State
government.
To avoid misunderstanding 1t may be
proper TO say that rthis proclamation, 50 lar
as 1t relates to State governments, has no
reference to States wherein loyal State gov
have all the while been maintained.
And for the same reason, it may be proper to
further say, that whether members sent to |
Congress from any State shall be admitted to
seats constitutionaliy, rests exclusively with |
the respective houses, land not to any extent |
with the Executive. And still further, that !!
this proclamation is intended to present the |
people of the Statesmwherein the national |
authority has been suspended, and loyal |
State governments. have been subverted, |
mode in and by which the national authority |