Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-17
IMPORTANT EXECUTIVE ORDER REL
ATIYE TO STATE PRISONERS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE following i'm
Portant order has just been issued :.

porIant OEuef mas yahot oeon issued =
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
.-a.-.-f February IA, 1862
- EXECUTIVE ORDERS IN RELATION TO STATE
= PRISONERS, No. The breaking out of a
formidable insurreetion, based on conflict of
political ideas, being event without prece-
dent in the United States, was necessarily
attended by great confusion and perplexity of
the public mind. DislOyalty, before unsus-
pected, Suddenly became hold, and treason
sstOnished the world by bringing at once into
the field military forces superior in numbers to
the standing army Of the United States.
ESery department Of the Government was
paraliLed by treason. Detection appeared in
the Senate, In the House of Representatives,
In the Cabinet, in the Federal courts; minis
ters and cOnsuls returned from foreign c0un-
tries to enter the insurrectionary COUNCILS, or
land OF naval forces. Commanding and other
Jficers in the army and in the navy betrayed
the councils or deserted their posts for COM
mandS in the insurgent forces. Treason was
fagrsnt in the revenue and in the post Office
service, as well as in the territorial govern
ments and in the Indian revenue. :
Not only governors, judges, legislators and
ministerial officers in the States, but even
whole States rushed one after another with ap-
parent unanimity, into rebellion. The capital
was besieged and its eonnec ction with all the
States cut of.
RYen in the portions Of the country which
were most loyal, political combinations and
. secret societies were formed, furthering the
work Of disuniOn; while, from motives Of dis
loyalty or cupidity, or from excited passions or
perverted sy1hpathies, individuals were found
furnishing men, money and materials Of war
and supplies to the Insurgents military and
naFAl forces. Armies ships, fOrtifcations,
navy yards srsenals, military posts and gsrri-
sons, one sfter another, were betrayed or
abandoned to the insurgents.
Congress had not anticipated and so had not
provided for the emergency. The municipal
authorities were pOweTless and inactive. The
Judicial machinery seemed as if it had been
designed not to sustain the Government but to
embarrasS and betray it.
Foreign Intervention, openly invited, and
indUstriOusly instigated By the abettOrs Of the
insurrectien, became imminent, and has only
been prevented by the practice Of strict and
impartial Justice with the most perfect mod
Grafton in our intercourse with nations.
The public mind was alarmed and appre-
hensiye, though fortunately not distracted or
disheartened IL seemed to be doubtful if the
Federal Government, which one year before
acceptance, had indeed the ability to defend
and maintais itself.
Some reVerses, which perhaps were un-
ayOidable, suffered by newly levied and inef-
fcient forces, disc .uraged the loyal, and gave
new hopes to the insurgents. Voluntary en-
llStmeQbS ScelQeu ABOUT 10 cease, anu OeSerIlODS
commenced. Parties speculated upon the
question whether CONSUMPTION had not become
necessary to ell up the armies Of the United
States -a-.. ....si
In this emergency the President felt it his
duty u employ with energy the extraordinary
powers which the Constitution conides to him
In cases Of insurrection. He called into tho
field such military and naval forces. author
lied by the existing law, as seemed necessary.
lie directed measures to prevent the use Of the
pest office for reasonable correspondence. q
lie subjected passengers to and from foreign
countries to new passport regulations, and be
instituted a blockade, suspended the writ OF
EaBsay c0JguS in various places, and caused
persons who we're represented to him as being
or about to engage in disloyal and reasonable
practices to be arrested by special civil as well
as military ager"ies, and detained in military
custody when necessary, 10 prevent them and
deter others from such practices.
Examination Of such cases were Instituted,
and some of the persons so arrested have been
discharged from time to time, under circum-
stances or upon conditions compatible, as was
thought, with the public safety. Meantime q
favorable change of public opinion has 90
Cured. The line between loyalty and dis
loyalty is plainly defned-the whole structure
of the Government is firm and stable. Appre-
hensiOn Of public danger and facilities fer trea-
sonable practices nave diminished with the
PaeSt0hc NutOA P1co ucCuAcSo pCis0Ao W
adopt them. The insurrection is believed to
have eliminated and to be declining. a..-.E . .
The President, in view Of these facts, and
anxious to favor return to the normal course
of the Administration, as far as regard for the
public welfare will allow, directs that all po-
liticsl prisoners or State prisoners now held
in military custody be released on their SUBJ
scribing to parole engaging them to render
no aid or comfort to the enemies now in.hos-
tility TO the United States
The Secretary Ct War viii. however, In bis
discretion, 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 may be deemed incompatible
with the public safety.
To all persons who shall be so released and
shall keep their parole, the President grant Is
an amnesty for any past Offenses of treason OF
dislOyalty which they may have committed. =
Extraordinary arrests will hereafter be
made under the direction Of the military au.
thOTities alone. 4-.. = I {
By order Of the President:
EDWIN n. STANTON,