Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-24
Release of State ePrisOners-ImpOrt
Order from Sec tary Sta m TOM PrIs-
Oners To be Released oa giving Pa
role not to and the Enemy.
War DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON. Feb. ii.
xLCUTIFE ORDERS IN RELATION TO sTA1E PRIsO-


| IN RELATION TO STATE PRIS0-
oNERS-NO. /.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Feb. IA.
The breaking out of formidable insuuection,
based on a conflict CT political ideas, being an
event without precedent in the United States, was
necessarily attended with great confusion and per-
plexity of the public mind
Disloyalty, before unsuspected, suddenly be-
came bold, and treason astonshed the whole world
/ by bringing at once into the field military force
superior in numbers to the standing army of the
United States.
Every department of the Government was par
alyzed by treason. Detection appeared in the
Senate, in the House of Representatives in the
Cabinet and in the Federal Courts; Ministers and
Consuls returned from foreign countries to enter
the insurrectionary councils, or land or naval
force; commanding and other officers in the army
anu in the navy betrayed the councils or deserted
their posts for commands in the insurgent force.
Treason was fragrant in the revenue and the post
Office services, as well as in the Territorial Gov
ernments and in the Indian reserves.
Not only Governors, Judges, Legislators and
ministerial officers in the States but even whole
States rushed one after another, with apparent
unanimity. into rebellion.
The Capital was beleaguered .,and its connec-
| ton with all the States cut off Even in the por
tons of the country which were most loyal, po
ltical combinations and secret societies were
found furthering the work of disunion; while,
from motives of disoyalty or cupidity, or from
excited passion or perverted sympathies, indvid
uals we're found furnishing men, money, mate
rails of war and supplies to the insurgents mill
tary and naval force. Armies, ships, fortifca-
tions, navy yards, arsenals, military posts and
garisons, one after another, were betrayed or
abandoned to the insurgents
Congress had not anticipated, and so had not
provided for the emergency. The municipal au-
thorities were powerless and inactive. The Judi
ciary machinery seemed as if it had been designed
not to sustain the Government, but to embarrass
and betray it. Foreign interruption openly
invited, and industriously instigated by the abet
tors of the insurrection, and il became imminent,
and 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 apprehen-
siye, though, fortunately, not distracted or dis
heartened 1t seemed to be doubtful whether
the National Government, which one year ago
had been thought a model worthy of uni
versal acceptance, had indeed the ability TO
defend and maintain ITSELF Some reverses
which perhaps were unavoidable, suffered BY
newly levied and insufficient forces. discouraged
the loyal, and gave new hope to the insurgents
Voluntary enlistments seemed to cease and de-
sasions commenced. Parties speculated upon
the question whether the conscrption had not be-
come necessary to fill up the armies of the
United States.
In this emergency the President felt it his
duty to employ with energy the extraordi-
nary power which the Constitution con6des
to him in case of insurrection. He called
into the field such military and naval forces
authorized by existing laws and which seemed
necessary. He directed measures to prevent
the use of the Postofiice for reasonable cor
respondence He subjected travellers to and from
foreign countries to new passport regulations; and
he instituted a blockade; suspended the habeas
corpus in various places, and caused persons who
were represented to him as being engaged or
about to engage in dlsloyal and reasonable prac-
tces to be arrested by special civil as well as mil
itary agencies and detained in military custody.
when necessary, to prevent them and deter others
| from such practices. Examinations of such cases
were instituted, and some of the persons so
rested have been discharged from time TO time,
under circumstances or upon conditions compati-
| bic, as thought, with the public safety.
Meantime favorable change ofpublic opinion
has occurred The line between loyalty and dis
loyalty is plainly defined. The whole structure
ofthe Government is firm and stable. Appre
tensions of public danger, and facilities for trea
| sonable practices, have diminished with the pas
sions whiche prompted the Needless persons to
adopt them. Theinsurection is believed to have
eliminated. and to he declining.
The President in view of thcse facts, and anx-
ious to favor return TO the normal course OF the
Administration as far as regards faith and the
public welfare will allow. directs that all political
prisoners, or States prisoners, now held In mill
tary custody, be released on their subscribing a
parole engaging them to render no aid or comfort
to enemies in hostility to the United States. The
Secretary Of War will. however, in his dis
cretion, except from the effect Of this or
der any persons detained spies in the service of
the insurgents, or Others whose release at the
present moment may be incompatible Iith the
public safety To all persons who shall be so
leased, and shall keep their parole. the President
grants an amnesty for any past oifenses Of trea-
son or dsloyalty which they may have commit
ted Extraordinary arrests will. hereafter. be
made under the direction of the military author
ities alone. By order of the President,
EpwrS NJ STANTON Secretary of War