The national Republican., 1862-02-19

I'm portant Executive Order Relative 70
STATE Prisoners.
War DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
February IA, 1862.
ExEcUTrvE Orders m RELATION TO STATE PRIs.
oNERs, No. 1.-The breaking out Of formida.
BILE insurrection, based on a conflict Of political
ideas, being an event without precedent In the
United States, was necessarily attended by
great confusion and perplexity Of the public
mind. Disloyalty, before unsupported, sudden.
ly became bold, and treason astonished the
world BY bringing at once into the field military
forces superior In numbers To the standing army
Of the United States.
Every department of the Government was
paralized by treason. Detection appeared In
the Senate, In the House Of Representatives, In
the Cabinet, In the Federal courts; ministers
and consuls returned from foreign countries to
enter the insurrectonary councils, or land or
naval forces. Commanding and other officers
In the army and In the navy, betrayed the coun.
oils, or deserted their posts for commands In
the inmrgent forces. Treason was fragrant In
the revenue and In the post Office service, as
we'll ss In the territorial governments and in
the Indian revenue.
ministerial officers In the States, but even whole
States rushed one after another, with apparent
unauimity, into rebellion. The capital was be-
seiged and its connection with all the States cut
of.
Even in the portions of the country which
were most loyal, political combinations and
secret societies were formed, furthering the
work Of disunlon while, from motives Of dis
loyalty or cupidity, or from excited passions
or perverted symoathies, individuals were
found furnishing men, money and materials
Of war and supplies to the insurgents military
and naval forces. Armies, ships, Notifications,
navy yards, arsenals, military posts and garri.
sons, one after another, were betrayed or
abandoned to the iDsurgents.
Congress had not anticipated and 20 had not
provided for the emergency. The municipal
authorities were powerless and inactive. The
judicial machinery seemed as If it had been
designed not to sustain the Government but TO
embarrass and betray 1t.
Foreign Intervention, openly invited, and
industriously instigsted by the abettors Of the
insurrection, became imminent, and has only
been prevented by the practice Of strict and
impartial justice with the most perfect moder.
alton In our intercourse with nations.
The public mind was alarmed And apprehen-
sve, though fortunately not distracted or dis.
heartened. 1t seemed to be doubtful If the
Federal Government, which one year before
had been thought model worthy Of universal
acceptance, had indeed the ability to defend
and maintain itself.
Some reverses, which perhaps were unavoid
able, suffered by newly levied and ineficien,
forces, discouraged the loyal, and gave new
hopes to the insurgents. Voluntary enlist
ments seemed about to cease, and desertions
commenced. Parties speculsted upon the
question whether conscripdon had not become
necessary to fll up the armies Of the United
States
10 this emergency the President felt II bis
duty to employ with energy the extraordinary
powers which the Constitution copfdes to him
In cases Of insurrection. He called into the
field such military and naval forces, authorized
by the existing laws, as seemed necessary. HI
directed measures to prevent the use Of the
post office for reasonable correspondence.
He subjected passengers to and from foreign
countries to new passport regulations, and be
instituted blockade, suspended the writ o.
hdbeds corpus in various places and caused
persons who were represented to him as being
or about to engage In disloysl and reasonable
practices to be arrested by special civil as well
as military agencies, and detained In military
custody when necessary, to prevent them and
deter others from such practices
Examination Of such cases were instituted
and some of the persons 20 arrested have been
discharged from time to time, under circum.
stances or upon condltlons compatible, a. Wae
thought, with the public safety. Meantime 9
favorable change Of public opinion has occur
red. The line between loyalty and dislOyalty
Ia plainly defned-the whole structure OF tht
Government Is firm and stable. Apprehension
Of public danger and facilities for reasonable
practices have diminished with the passion
which prompted needless persons to adop
them. The insurrection Is believed TO have
eliminated and to be declining.
The President, In view Of these facts anG
anxious to favor return to the normal courss
of the Administration, az far as regard for the
public welfare will allow, directs that all po
litical prisoners or State prisoners now held il
military custody be released on the subscrib
ing to parole engaging them to render no aid
or comfort TO the enemies now In hostility tt
the United States.
The Secretary Of War will, however in hi
discretion, except from the effect Of this orde
any persons detained ss spies In the service oil
the insurgents, or others whose release at tb,
present moment may be deemed incompatible,
with the public safety.
To all persons who shall be 30 released, snt
shall keep their parole, the President grants al
amnesty for any past offences OF treason or dis
loyalty which they may have committed.
extraordinary arrests will hereafter be mad
under the direction Of the military auth0ritie
alone.
BY order OF the President:
EDWIN N. STANTON,
Secretary of War.