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Whereas, the President of the United States, on
the 8th day of December, A. D. 1863, and on the 26th day of March, A. D.
1864, did, with the object to suppress the existing rebellion, to induce
all persons to return to their loyalty, and to restore the authority of
the United States, issue proclamations offering amnesty and pardon to certain
persons who had, directly or by implication, participated in the said rebellion;
and
Whereas, many persons who had so engaged in said
rebellion have, since the issuance of said proclamations, failed or neglected
to take the benefits offered thereby; and
Whereas, many persons who have been justly deprived
of all claim to amnesty and pardon thereunder by reason of their participation,
directly or by implication, in said rebellion and continued hostility to
the Government of the United States since the date of said proclamations
now desire to apply for and obtain amnesty and pardon.
To the end, therefore, that the authority of the
Government of the United States may be restored and that peace, order, and
freedom may be established, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States,
do proclaim and declare that I hereby grant to all persons who have, directly
or indirectly, participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter
excepted, amnesty and pardon, with restoration of all rights of property,
except as to slaves and except in cases where legal proceedings under the
laws of the United States providing for the confiscation of property of
persons engaged in rebellion have been instituted; but upon the condition,
nevertheless, that every such person shall take and subscribe the following
oath (or affirmation) and thenceforward keep and maintain said oath inviolate,
and which oath shall be registered for permanent preservation and shall
be of the tenor and effect following, to wit:
I, __________, do solemnly swear (or affirm),
in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support,
protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union
of the States thereunder, and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully
support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the existing
rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves. So help me God.
The following classes of persons are excepted
from the benefits of this proclamation:
First. All who are or shall have been pretended
civil or diplomatic officers or otherwise domestic or foreign agents of
the pretended Confederate government.
Second. All who left judicial stations
under the United States to aid the rebellion.
Third. All who shall have been military
or naval officers of said pretended Confederate government above the rank
of colonel in the army or lieutenant in the navy.
Fourth. All who left seats in the Congress
of the United States to aid the rebellion.
Fifth. All who resigned or tendered resignations
of their commissions in the Army or Navy of the United States to evade duty
in resisting the rebellion.
Sixth. All who have engaged in any way
in treating otherwise than lawfully as prisoners of war persons found in
the United States service as officers, soldiers, seamen, or in other capacities.
Seventh. All persons who have been or are
absentees from the United States for the purpose of aiding the rebellion.
Eighth. All military and naval officers
in the rebel service who were educated by the Government in the Military
Academy at West Point or the United States Naval Academy.
Ninth. All persons who held the pretended
offices of governors of States in insurrection against the United States.
Tenth. All persons who left their homes
within the jurisdiction and protection of the United States and passed beyond
the Federal military lines into the pretended Confederate States for the
purpose of aiding the rebellion.
Eleventh. All persons who have been engaged
in the destruction of the commerce of the United States upon the high seas
and all persons who have made raids into the United States from Canada or
been engaged in destroying the commerce of the United States upon the lakes
and rivers that separate the British Provinces from the United States.
Twelfth. All persons who, at the time when
they seek to obtain the benefits hereof by taking the oath herein prescribed,
are in military, naval, or civil confinement or custody, or under bonds
of the civil, military, or naval authorities or agents of the United States
as prisoners of war, or persons detained for offenses of any kind, either
before or after conviction.
Thirteenth. All persons who have voluntarily
participated in said rebellion and the estimated value of whose taxable
property is over $20,000.
Fourteenth. All persons who have taken
the oath of amnesty as prescribed in the Presidentís proclamation
of December 8, A. D. 1863, or an oath of allegiance to the Government of
the United States since the date of said proclamation and who have not thenceforward
kept and maintained the same inviolate.
Provided, That special application
may be made to the President for pardon by any person belonging to the excepted
classes, and such clemency will be liberally extended as may be consistent
with the facts of the case and the peace and dignity of the United States.
The Secretary of State will establish rules and
regulations for administering and recording the said amnesty oath, so as
to insure its benefit to the people and guard the Government against fraud.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, the 29th day of
May, A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.
ANDREW JOHNSON
By The President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD
Secretary of State