Year: 1863

WASHINGTON May s, 1868.


WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States,
at its last session, enacted law entitled an Act
for enrolling and calling out the national forces.
and for other purposes, which was approved on
the third day of March last; and whereas it is
recited in said Act that there now exists in the
United States an insurrection and rebellion
against the authority thereof and it is under the
Constitution Of the United States, the duty of
the Government to suppress insurrection and re-
bellon, to guarantee to each State a republican
form of government and to preserve the public
tranquility and whereas, for these high purpo-
ses military force is indispensable, to raise and
support which all persons ought willingly to con-
tribute; and whereas no service can be more
praiseworthy and honorable than that which is
accorded for the maintenance of the Constitution
and the Union, and the consequent preservation
of our Government; and whereas, for the rea-
sons thus stated, it was enacted by the said stat
ue that all able-bodled male citizens of the Uni
ted States, and persons of foreign birth who
shall have declared on oath their intention to be-
come citizens, under and in pursuance of the laws
thereof between the ages of 81 and 45 years,
with certain exceptions not necessary to be here
in mentioned, and declared 10 constitute the ma
tonal forces, and shall be liable to perform mill
tary duty in the service of the United States,
when called on by the President for that pur-
nose and whereas, it is claimed in behalf of
persons Of foreign BIRTH within the ages specified
in said statute, who have heretofore declared on
oath, their intentions to become citizens Ynder
and in pursuance of the laws of the United
States, and who have not exercised the right of
suffrage or any othce poltca! franchise under the
laws Of the United States or of any of the States
thereof, and are not absolutely conceded by their
oIesaid declaration of intention Of renouncing
their purpose to become citizens; and that on the
contrary such persons under statutes or the law
of nations retain right to rerounce that purpose
and forego the privilege of citizenship and resi-
dence within the United States under the obiga-
tons imposed By the aforesaid Act Of Congress


Now therefore, to avoid all misapprehensiOns
concerning the liability OF persons concerned to
perform the service required by such enactment,
and to give it full effect do hereby order and pro-
claim that no plea of alenage will be received or
allowed to exempt from the obligations imposed
by the aforesaid Act of Congress any person Of
foreign birth who shall nave declared on oath
his intention to become citizen of the United
States under the laws thereof, and who shall be
found within the United States at any time du-
ring the continuance Of the present insurrection
and rebellion at or after the expiration of the pc
riod of sixty-fve days from the date of this Pro
clamaton, nor shall any such plea of alienage lie
allowed in favor of any such person who has so
aforesaid declared his intention to become citi-
zen of the United States, and shall have exer-
cised at any time the right of suffrage or any
other political franchise within the United States
under the laws of any OF the several States


By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.


VIM II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.