to slaves, and except also as to any
property of which any person may have been legally divested under the
laws of the United States.

In testimony whereof I have signed these presents with my hand and have
caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed.

[SEAL.]

Done at the city of Washington, the 4th day of July, A.D. 1868, and
of the Independence of the United States of America the ninety-third.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President:
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
_Secretary of State_.

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas by an act of Congress entitled "An act to admit the States of
North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida
to representation in Congress," passed on the 25th day of June, 1868,
it is declared that it is made the duty of the President, within ten
days after receiving official information of the ratification by the
legislature of either of said States of a proposed amendment to the
Constitution known as article fourteen, to issue a proclamation
announcing that fact; and

Whereas the said act seems to be prospective; and

Whereas a paper purporting to be a resolution of the legislature of
Florida adopting the amendment of the thirteenth and fourteenth articles
of the Constitution of the United States was received at the Department
of State on the 16th of June, 1868, prior to the passage of the act of
Congress referred to, which paper is attested by the names of Horatio
Jenkins, jr., as president _pro tempore_ of the senate, and W.W. Moore
as speaker of the assembly, and of William L. Apthoop, as secretary of
the senate, and William Forsyth Bynum, as clerk of the assembly, and
which paper was transmitted to the Secretary of State in a letter dated
Executive Office, Tallahassee, Fla., June 10, 1868, from Harrison Reed,
who therein signs himself governor; and

Whereas on the 6th day of July, 1868, a paper was received by the
President, which paper, being addressed to the President, bears date of
the 4th day of July, 1868, and was transmitted by and under the name of
W.W. Holden, who therein writes himself governor of the State of North
Carolina, which paper certifies that the said proposed amendment, known
as article fourteen, did pass the senate and house of representatives of
the general assembly of North Carolina on the 2d day of July instant,
and is attested by the names of John H. Boner, or Bower, as secretary