This document contains a copy of the full pardon President Johnson issued to "all persons engaged in the late rebellion." The document goes beyond just the Civil War, however, and includes the pardons granted by Presidents Washington, Adams, Madison and Lincoln. These earlier pardons were intentionally included by Johnson to show precedent in providing amnesty to participants of the Civil War. Earlier in 1868 this same Senate Judiciary Committee challenged the President’s authority to grant a general pardon.

This is an important document not only for its key proclamation to restore the Union but also for its reassertion of the President’s authority to grant general pardons. Octavo, 13 pages, disbound with original string ties. There are no past sales records and only four copies held in institutions per OCLC.

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Condition: B+

A bright copy with a very faint dampstain in the upper portion of the text.