PROCLAMATION OF REWARDS FOR ARREST OF LIN

COLN CONSPIRATORS, 1865

Within a few days after his assumption of office, or on May 2d, President Johnson issued the following proclamation offering rewards for the arrest of the Lincoln conspirators, and directed the ProvostMarshal-General of the United States to cause a description of the persons named in the proclamation, with notice of the rewards, to be published. From "Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897," edited by J. D. Richardson. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897, Vol. VI., pp. 307–308. (See page 11.)

Whereas it appears from evidence in the Bureau of Military Justice that the atrocious murder of the late President, Abraham Lincoln, and the attempted assassination of the Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, were incited, concerted, and procured by and between Jefferson Davis, late of Richmond, Va., and Jacob Thompson, Clement C. Clay, Beverley Tucker, George N. Sanders, William C. Cleary, and other rebels and traitors against the Government of the United States harbored in Canada:

Now, therefore, to the end that justice may be done, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do offer and promise for the arrest of said persons, or either of them, within the limits of the United States, so that they can be brought to trial, the following rewards:

One hundred thousand dollars for the arrest of Jefferson Davis.

Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of Clement C. Clay.

Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of Jacob Thompson, late of Mississippi.

Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of George N. Sanders.

Twenty-five thousand dollars for the arrest of Beverley Tucker.

Ten thousand dollars for the arrest of William C. Cleary, late clerk of Clement C. Clay.

JOHNSON'S PROCLAMATION OF AMNESTY, 1865

This, the second in the series of four such proclamations, was issued under date of May 29, 1865, and was the beginning of the reconstruction measures of the Congress. From text in "Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897," edited by J. D. Richardson. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897, Vol. VI., pp. 310-312. See also "Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty" on page 117. (See page 12.)

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

THOMAS NAST

(From an unused woodcut. In the upper half of the picture Johnson is scattering pardons to the secession prodigals, while Stanton looks grimly on.

Below, Seward is washing the stains from the battle

flags which Gideon Welles is hanging on the line)

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

(From an engraving by J. C. Buttre. Before her marriage to Andrew Johnson in 1826 she was Eliza McCardle, and she is credited with having taught Johnson writing and ordinary arithmetic. Andrew Johnson was only four years old when his father died, and at the age of ten he was bound out to a tailor. He learned to read between his labors. He removed to Greenville in East Tenr.essee in 1826 where he worked at his trade and where he was married)

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