Free A Just and Lasting Peace: A Documentary History of Reconstruction by John David Smith

abstain from, in any way, hindering, impeding, or discouraging the loyal people from the organization of a State government as herein authorized.
    Second
. That the Secretary of State proceed to put in force all laws of the United States, the administration whereof belongs to the State Department, applicable to the geographical limits aforesaid.
    Third
. That the Secretary of the Treasury proceed to nominate for appointment assessors of taxes, and collectors of customs and internal revenue, and such other officers of the Treasury Department as are authorized by law, and put in execution the revenue laws of the United States within the geographical limits aforesaid. In making appointments, the preference shall be given to qualified loyal persons residing within the districts where their respective duties are to be performed. But if suitable residents of the districts shall not be found, then persons residing in other States or districts shall be appointed.
    Fourth.
That the Postmaster General proceed to establish post offices and post routes, and put into execution the postal laws of the United States within the said State, giving to loyal residents the preference of appointment; but if suitable residents are not found, then to appoint agents, &c., from other States.
    Fifth.
That the district judge for the judicial district in which North Carolina is included proceed to hold courts within said State, in accordance with the provisions of the act of Congress. The Attorney General will instruct the proper officers to libel, and bring to judgment, confiscation, and sale, property subject to confiscation, and enforce the administration of justice within said State in all matters within the cognizance and jurisdiction of the Federal courts.
    Sixth.
That the Secretary of the Navy take possession of all public property belonging to the Navy Department within said geographical limits, and put in operation all acts of Congress in relation to naval affairs having application to the said State.
    Seventh.
That the Secretary of the Interior put in force the laws relating to the Interior Department applicable to the geographical limits aforesaid.
    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 this twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

A NDREW J OHNSON, “ A MNESTY P ROCLAMATION”
    (May 29, 1865)
    Johnson issued his Amnesty Proclamation on the same day that he announced his Presidential Reconstruction for North Carolina and the other former Confederate states. Following the spirit of Lincoln’s December 1863 amnesty proclamation, Johnson proffered amnesty to all former Rebels willing to take the oath of allegiance to the U.S. Johnson exempted fourteen classes from amnesty, including those already enumerated by Lincoln, plus individuals who had violated previous loyalty oaths, commerce raiders, graduates of the U.S. Military and Naval academies, and those persons whose worth exceeded twenty thousand dollars. However, Johnson allowed persons in the exempted classes to make special applications and he granted numerous individual pardons.

    Whereas the President of the United States, on the 8th day of December, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and on the 26th day of March, A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, 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