three fourths of said legislatures, shall be valid, to all intents and purposes, as a part of the said constitution, namely: "ARTICLE XIII. "SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. "SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." twenty-seven And whereas it appears from official documents on file in this department that Amendment to the amendment to the Constitution of the United States proposed, as aforesaid, the constitution has been ratified by the legislatures of the States of Illinois, Rhode Island, ratified by Michigan, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Maine, Kansas, Massachusetts, states Pensylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Missouri, Nevada, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont, Tennessee, Arkansas, Connecticut, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina, and Georgia; in all twenty-seven states; And whereas the whole number of states in the United States is thirty-six ; and whereas the before specially-named states, whose legislatures have ratified the said proposed amendment, constitute three fourths of the whole number of states in the United States: Amendment Now, therefore, be it known, that I, WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of valid. State of the United States, by virtue and in pursuance of the second section of the act of congress, approved the twentieth of April, eighteen hundred and eighteen, entitled "An act to provide for the publication of the laws of the 1818, ch. 80, § 2. United States and for other purposes," do hereby certify that the amendment Vol. iii. p. 439. aforesaid has become valid, to all intents and purposes, as a part of the Consti tution of the United States. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the Department of State to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this eighteenth day of December, in the [L. S.] year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninetieth. WILLIAM H. SEWARD. EXECUTIVE ORDERS. Secretary of State. No. 1. EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 10, 1863. March 10, 1863. Soldiers absent IN pursuance of the twenty-sixth section of the act of congress entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other pur- without leave to poses," approved on the third day of March, in the year one thousand eight return to their hundred and sixty-three, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President and commander- regiments forthin-chief of the army and navy of the United States, do hereby order and with. command, that all soldiers, enlisted or drafted into the service of the United 1863, ch. 75, § 26. States, now absent from their regiments without leave, shall forthwith return to Vol. xii. p. 735. their respective regiments. And I do hereby declare and proclaim, that all soldiers now absent from their Soldiers reportrespective regiments without leave, who shall, on or before the first day of April, ing before April eighteen hundred and sixty-three, report themselves at any rendezvous desig- 1, 1863, at designated rendeznated by the General Orders of the War Department number fifty-eight, vous, to be rehereto annexed, may be restored to their respective regiments without punish- stored, &c. ment, except the forfeiture of pay and allowances during their absence; and Others to be all who do not return within the time above specified shall be arrested as arrested as dedeserters, and punished as the law provides. serters. Patriotic citi zens exhorted to aid in restoring soldiers to their regiments. And whereas, evil disposed and disloyal persons at sundry places have enticed and procured soldiers to desert and absent themselves from their regiments, thereby weakening the strength of the armies and prolonging the war, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and cruelly exposing the gallant and faithf soldiers remaining in the ranks to increased hardships and danger, I do there fore call upon all patriotic and faithful citizens to oppose and resist the aforementioned dangerous and treasonable crimes, and to aid in restoring to ther regiments all soldiers absent without leave, and to assist in the execution of the act of congress for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes, and to support the proper authorities in the prosecution and punishment of offenders against said act, and in suppressing the insurrection and rebellion. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. Done at the city of Washington, this tenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. No. 2. April 4, 1865. Rewards for the arrest of fel ons from foreign countries committing felonies in the United States. To all whom these presents may concern: WHEREAS, for some time past, evil-disposed persons have crossed the borders of the United States, or entered their ports by sea from countries where they are tolerated, and have committed capital felonies against the property and life of American citizens, as well in the cities as in the rural districts of the country: Now, therefore, in the name and by the authority of the President of the United States, I do hereby make known that a reward of one thousand dollars will be paid, at this Department, for the capture of each of such offenders upon his conviction by a civil or military tribunal, to whomsoever shall arrest and deliver such offenders into the custody of the civil or military authorities of the United States. And the like reward will be paid, upon the same terms, for the capture of any such persons so entering the United States, whose offences shall be committed subsequently to the publication of this notice. A reward of five hundred dollars will be paid, upon conviction, for the arrest of any person who shall have aided and abetted offenders of the class before named within the territory of the United States. [L. S.] Given under my hand, and the seal of the Department of State, at WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. April 29, 1865. No. 3. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Washington, April 29, 1865. BEING desirous to relieve all loyal citizens and well-disposed persons residing in insurrectionary states from unnecessary commercial restrictions, and to encourage them to return to peaceful pursuits, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED -- Restrictions on I. That all restrictions upon internal, domestic, and coastwise commercial intrade in parts of tercourse be discontinued in such parts of the States of Tennessee, Virginia, states lately in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and so rebellion, removed. much of Louisiana as lies east of the Mississippi River, as shall be embraced within the lines of national military occupation; excepting only such restric tions as are imposed by acts of congress and regulations in pursuance thereof, prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and approved by the President; and excepting, also, from the effect of this order the following articles, contraband of war, to wit: Arms, ammunition, all articles from which ammunition is manufactured, gray uniforms and cloth, locomotives, cars, railroad iron, and machinery for operating railroads, telegraph wires, insulators, and instruments for operating telegraphic lines. II. That all existing military and naval orders in any manner restricting in- Former orders ternal, domestic, and coastwise commercial intercourse and trade, with or in the revoked. localities above named, be, and the same are hereby, revoked; and that no military or naval officer, in any manner, interrupt or interfere with the same, or with any boats or other vessels engaged therein, under proper authority, pursuant to the regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury. ANDREW JOHNSON Ordered: No. 4. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Washington City, May 9, 1865. May 9, 1865. lished in Vir First. That all acts and proceedings of the political, military, and civil or The authority ganizations which have been in a state of insurrection and rebellion, within the of the United State of Virginia, against the authority and laws of the United States, and of States reëstabwhich Jefferson Davis, John Letcher, and William Smith, were late the respec- ginia. tive chiefs, are declared null and void. All persons who shall exercise, claim, pretend, or attempt to exercise any political, military, or civil power, authority, jurisdiction, or right, by, through, or under Jefferson Davis, late of the city of Richmond, and his confederates, or under John Letcher, or William Smith, and their confederates, or under any pretended political, military, or civil commission or authority issued by them, or either of them, since the 17th day of April, 1861, shall be deemed and taken as in rebellion against the United States, and shall be dealt with accordingly. Second. That the Secretary of State proceed to put in force all laws of the United States, the administration whereof belongs to the Department of State, applicable to the geographical limits aforesaid. Third. That the Secretary of the Treasury proceed, without delay, 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 shall 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 persons shall not be found, residents of the districts, then persons residing in other states or districts shall be appointed. Fourth. That the Postmaster-General shall 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 persons are not found, then to appoint agents, &c., from other states. Fifth. That the district judge of said district 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 civil and criminal within the cognizance and jurisdiction of the federal courts. Sixth. That the Secretary of War assign such assistant provost - marshal general and such provost - marshals in each district of said state as he may deem necessary. Seventh. The Secretary of the Navy will 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. Eighth. The Secretary of the Interior will also put in force the laws relating to the Department of the Interior. Ninth. That to carry into effect the guarantee by the federal constitution of a republican form of state government, and afford the advantage and security of domestic laws, as well as to complete the reëstablishment of the authority and laws of the United States, and the full and complete restoration of peace within given to Govthe limits aforesaid, Francis H. Pierpont, governor of the State of Virginia, ernor Pierpont. Aid will be ye federal government, so far as may be necessary, he may take for the extension and administration of the aroughout the geographical limits of said state. Say whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the sea alent: ANDREW JOHNSON. V. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State. No. 5. red, That 1. All persons claiming reward for the apprehension of John Wilkes Booth, s Payne, G. A. Atzerodt, and David E. Harold, and Jefferson Davis, or cher of them, are notified to file their claims and their proofs with the adjaant-general, for final adjudication by the special commission appointed to award and determine upon the validity of such claims, before the first day of January next, after which time no claims will be received. 2. The rewards offered for the arrest of Jacob Thompson, Beverly Tucker, George N. Saunders, William G. Cleary, and John H. Surratt, are revoked. By order of the President of the United States: E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General |