M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-03-06
EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN RELATION TO
STATE PRIsONBRs--No. /.

Wan DEPARTMENT WAsHNsIoN, Feb "A.
The breaking out OF a formidable insur
reciion. based % a conflict Of politics
ideas being an event without precedent il
the United States. was necessarily a,tende
whh great confusion and perplexity Of tn
public mind.
Disloyalty, before unsuspected, snddenl
became bold. and treason sstonished tn
whole world by bringing at once into tn
field military force superior in numbers I
the standing army Of The United States.
Every department Of the Government wa
Varalyzed By treason. Detection appeared il
The Senate, in the House Of Representatives
! in the Cabinet and in the Federal Courts
Ministers Vnd ConsulS returned from foFeiRI
countries, to enter ths insurFeclionary coun
ciis, or land or naval f,lTce; commanding AM
other Offices in the army, and in the navy be
tea ysd the councils, or deserted their posts
fer commsds in the insuTgent force. TIeas
on was fagunt in the Revenue and III,
i Post Office servicss, as well no in the Ter
ritoriA Governments end in the Indian Re
serves.
I Not ooly governors, judges legislators an,
ministerial officers in tine States, but ever
" hole States rushed one after another, will
apparent unanimitS into rebellion.
The Capital was belesguered, andits con
nec,ion with all The States cut of. Ever
in the portion Of the county which wert
most loyal, political combinations and secrs
societies were found fur,heiing the work o
dsunion; while. from motives dislOyalty OF
cupidity or from excited passions or pervett
ed svmpbsthies, individuals were found fur
nishIng men. money. materials Of war anC
supplies 10 the insurgeht, military and ma.
val force. Armies, ships, fortifcation, ma.
w yards, arsenals, military posts and garri.
sous, one alter smother, were betrayed OF
aba ndoned 10 the insurgents.
Congress had not anticipated, ald 90 had
not provided for the emergency. The mu-
nicipsl authorities weTs powerless aud inac-
tive. The judiciary machinery SEEMED ss
if it had been desig ned not to sustain the
Government. but to embRrress and betray it,.
Foreign inteTven tion was openly invited,
and industriously instigated by the abettors
of the insurrection, and il became imminent
aud has only been prevented BY the practice
Of strict and impartial justice with the most
perfect moderation in our intercourse with
other nations.
The'public mind was alarmed and appre-
hsnsiYS, though, fortunately mot distracted
or dishearte ned. 1t SEEMED 10 be doubtful
whe tber the National Government. which
enc year ago had been though model wor-
the Of universal acceptance, had indesd the
ability to defend, and maintain ITSELF
Some reverses. which perhaps were unsvoid.
able, suffered BY newly levied and insuffi-
cient forces, discouraged the loyal, and gave
new hope 10 the insurgents. Voluntary en-
listmentS seemed ceased and desertions com.
mcnced. Parties speculated upon the ques-
ton whether the consciiption had not be-
come necessary to fill up the armies Of the
United States.
In this emergency the President felt il
his duty to employ with energy the extra
ordinary powers which the Constitution
confides to him in cases Of insunection.-
He called into the field such military md
naval forces authorized by existing laws
and seemed necessary. He directed mea.
cures 10 prevent the use Of the POST Office
for reasonable correspondence. He sub
jected travellers 10 and from foreign coun.
tries to new passport regulations; and he
instituted 4 blockade; suspended the ha.
beas co.pns in various places and caused
persons who were represented TO him as
being engaged or about to engage in dis
loyal and reasonable practices 10 be arrest
ed by special, civil as tsell asmili,ary sgen-
cies and detained in military custody, when
necessary. TO prevent them and deter others
from such practices. Exam minations Of such
cases ware instituted, and some sf the per-
sons 30 arrested have been discharged from
time to time, under circumstances Ut upon
conditions, compatible, as was thought, with
the public safety.
Meantime a favoroble change Of public
opinion has occurred. The line between
loyalty and disloyalty is plainly defined -
The whole structure Of the Government is
firm and stable. Apprehensions Of public
danger, and facilities for reasonable prac-
iices have diminished with the passions
which promped the needless persons 10
adopt them. The insunection is believed
to have eliminated, and to be declining.
The President, in view OF these facts, and
anxious to favor ret IN TO the normal
course Of the Admin isration. as far as re-
CARDS faith and the pubic welfare will allow,
directs that all political prisoners, or States
prisoners, uow held in military custody, be
released on their subscri bing parole en-.
gsging them to render no aid or comfort
TO enemies in hostility to the United States.
The Secretary Of War will, however, in his
except from the effect of this
order any persons detained as spies in the
service Of the insurgents. or others whose
release at the present moment maybe deem
ed incompatible with the public safety. To
all persons who shall be- so released. aud
shall keep here parole, the President grants
IN amnesty for any past offenses Of tire ason
,r disloyslty which they may have commit.
ed. Extraordinary arrests will, hereafter,
V made under the direction Of the military
authorities aloue.
By order Of the President.
EDWIN M.SrANT0N. Ssc'y ofWar