lamation of December 25, and justified his course in issuing it as warranted by the Constitution and in harmony with the action of certain of his predeThe proclamation did not affect the suffrage qualifications in the reconstructed States.

cessors.

REFERENCES.

Text in U.S. Statutes at Large, XV, 711, 712. See Senate Report 239, 40th Cong., 3d Sess.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS the President of the United States has heretofore set forth several proclamations, offering amnesty and pardon to persons who had been or were concerned in the late rebellion against the lawful authority of the government of the United States

.;

And whereas, the authority of the Federal Government having been reëstablished in all the States and Territories within the jurisdiction of the United States, it is believed that such prudential reservations and exceptions as at the dates of said several proclamations were deemed necessary and proper may now be wisely and justly relinquished, and that a universal amnesty and pardon for participation in said rebellion extended to all who have borne any part therein will tend to secure permanent peace, order, and prosperity throughout the land, and to renew and fully restore confidence and fraternal feeling among the whole people, and their respect for and attachment to the National Government, designed by its patriotic founders for the general good:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, ANDREW JOHNSON, President of the United States, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested by the Constitution, and in the name of the sovereign people of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare unconditionally, and without reservation, to all and to every person who directly or indirectly participated in the late insurrection or rebellion, a full pardon and amnesty for the offence of treason against the United States, or of adhering to their enemies during the late civil war, with restoration of all

rights, privileges, and immunities under the Constitution and the laws which have been made in pursuance thereof.

*

No. 76.

Provisional Governments of Virginia,
Texas, and Mississippi

February 18, 1869

A JOINT resolution for the removal of certain civil officers in Virginia and Texas was introduced in the Senate July 24, 1868, and passed the same day. The bill was not taken up in the House until December 10; it was then referred to the Committee on Reconstruction, which reported it, January 18, 1869, with an amendment, the amendment being the first two provisos of the act. The same day the bill passed the House. The Senate added the proviso including Mississippi, in which the House concurred. The resolution became law under the ten days rule.

REFERENCES. Text in U.S. Statutes at Large, XV, 344. For the proceedings see the House and Senate Journals, 40th Cong., 2d and 3d Sess., and the Cong. Globe. The debate was unimportant.

A Resolution respecting the provisional Governments of Virginia and Texas.

Resolved. That the persons now holding civil offices in the provisional governments of Virginia and Texas, who cannot take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the act... [of July 2, 1862]. . ., shall, on the passage of this resolution, be removed therefrom; and it shall be the duty of the district commanders to fill the vacancies so created by the appointment of persons who can take said oath: Provided, That the provisions of this resolution shall not apply to persons who by reason of the removal of their disabilities as provided in the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution shall have qualified for any office in pursuance of the act . . . [of July 11, 1868]. And provided further, That this resolution shall not take effect until thirty days from and after its passage: And it is further provided, That this resolution shall be, and is hereby extended to, and made applicable to the State of Mississippi.

.:

A BILL "to provide for giving effect to treaty stipulations between this and foreign governments for the extradition of criminals" was introduced in the Senate, December 17, 1868, by Trumbull of Illinois. The bill was called up January 11, 1869, but went over until February 5, when it was read and passed. The bill passed the House March 2. There was no debate in either house. REFERENCES. Text in U.S. Statutes at Large, XV, 337, 338. The proceedings are unimportant. On the general subject see Wharton, International Law Digest, II, chap. 7.

An Act further to provide for giving Effect to Treaty Stipulations between this and foreign Governments for the Extradition of Criminals.

Be it enacted That whenever any person shall have been delivered by any foreign government to an agent or agents of the United States for the purpose of being brought within the United States and tried for any crime of which he is duly accused, the President shall have power to take all necessary measures for the transportation and safe-keeping of such accused person, and for his security against lawless violence, until the final conclusion of his trial for the crime[s] or offences specified in the warrant of extradition, and until his final discharge from custody or imprisonment for or on account of such crimes or offences, and for a reasonable time thereafter. And it shall be lawful for the President, or such person as he may` empower for that purpose, to employ such portion of the land or naval forces of the United States, or of the militia thereof, as may be necessary for the safe-keeping and protection of the accused as aforesaid.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person duly appointed as agent to receive in behalf of the United States the delivery by a foreign government of any person accused of crime committed within the jurisdiction of the United States and to convey him to the place of his trial, shall be, and hereby is, vested with all the powers of a marshal of the United

States in the several districts through which it may be necessary for him to pass with such prisoner, so far as such power is requisite for his safe-keeping.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall knowingly and wilfully obstruct, resist, or oppose such agent in the execution of his duties, or shall rescue, or attempt to rescue, such prisoner, whether in the custody of the agent aforesaid, or of any marshal, sheriff, jailer, or other officer or person to whom his custody may have lawfully been committed, every person so knowingly and wilfully offending in the premises shall, on conviction thereof before the district or circuit court of the United States for the district in which the offence was committed, be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned not exceeding one year.

APPROVED, March 3, 1869.

No. 78. Act to strengthen the Public Credit

March 18, 1869

A BILL "to strengthen the public credit, and relating to contracts for the payment of coin," was introduced in the House, January 20, 1869, by Schenck of Ohio, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. The bill was taken up February 24, and passed the same day by a vote of 121 to 60, 41 not voting. On the 27th the bill passed the Senate, but was disposed of by a "pocket" veto. The second section of the bill legalized contracts for payments in coin. The same bill was again introduced by Schenck March 12, and passed the House the same day by a vote of 93 to 48, 52 not voting. A bill of somewhat different character had been introduced in the Senate March 9. On the 15th the Senate bill was laid aside, and the House bill, without the second section, passed, the final vote being 42 to 13.

REFERENCES. Text in U.S. Statutes at Large, XVI, 1. For the proceedings see the House and Senate Journals, 40th Cong., 3d Sess., and 41st Cong., Ist Sess., and the Cong. Globe.

An Act to strengthen the public Credit.

Be it enacted

That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the government to discharge all just obligations

to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of the laws by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin or its equivalent of all the obligations of the United States not bearing interest, known as United States notes, and of all the interest-bearing obligations of the United States, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligation has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money or other currency than gold and silver. But none of said interest-bearing obligations not already due shall be redeemed or paid before maturity unless at such time United States notes shall be convertible into coin at the option of the holder, or unless at such time bonds of the United States bearing a lower rate of interest than the bonds to be redeemed can be sold at par in coin. And the United States also solemnly pledges its faith to make provision at the earliest practicable period for the redemption of the United States notes in coin. APPROVED, March 18, 1869.

No. 79. Equal Rights in the District of Columbia

March 18, 1869

A BILL to give equal political rights, regardless of color, to persons in the District of Columbia, passed the Senate July 17, 1867, and the House July 18, but was not acted on by the President. The same bill again passed the Senate December 5, and the House December 9, and was again left without action. A third bill, in the words of the act following, passed the Senate February 11, 1869, and the House March 2, but failed under a "pocket" veto. The same bill was again introduced in the Senate, March 6, by Sumner, and on the 8th passed by a vote of 31 to 27. The House passed the bill without amendment on the 15th, the vote being 111 to 46, 39 not voting, and on the 18th the act was approved.

REFERENCES. Text in U.S. Statutes at Large, XVI, 3. For the proceedings see the House and Senate Journals, 41st Cong., Ist Sess., and the Cong. Globe. The important debates took place on the earlier bills.