Lincoln, Abraham. Autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln") as President....

Description

Lincoln, Abraham. Autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln") as President. 1-page (3.1 x 2.5 in.; 79 x 64 mm), no place, 16 February 1865. Ink smudging from the time when written with light mounting remnants on verso. The Oath of December 8, 1863. Lincoln writes in full: Let this man take the oath of Dec. 8, 1863 & be discharged. A. Lincoln Feb.16,1865 The Oath of December 8th was announced by Lincoln, on that day, in his annual message to Congress in 1863. He would offer a pardon to any man who would swear, without coercion, his allegiance to the Union. The Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction provided, then, a general pardon to soldiers in the Rebellion, and to those, too, who deserted the Union cause. The Oath reads in part: I, [name], do solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the union of states thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide and faithfully support all acts of Congress passed during the existing rebellion with reference to slaves...So help me God."

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