The Placer herald., 1862-04-05
Release Of State Prisoners,

issued the following order regarding the re-.
lease of State prisoners, under date OF Feb
ruary l4th:
The breaking out of formidable insurr &C.
tion, based on conflict Of political ideas, be-
ing an event without precedence in the Uni,
ted States was necessarily attended with
great confusion and perplexity Of public
mind.
Disloyalty, before unsuspected, suddenly
became bold, and treason astonished 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
paralysed by treason Defections appeared
in the Senate, Consuls returned from foreign
countries to enter the insurrectonary coun
ellis, or land or naval force; commanding and
other officers in the army, and in the navy,
betrayed the councils, or deserted their posts,
for commands in the insurgent force. Tr, a.
son was fragrant in the Revenue and the
Post Office services, as we'll as in the Terri
toria Governments and Indian Reserves.
Not only Governors, Judges, legislators
and ministerial officers in the States, but
even whole States rushed one after another,
with apparent unani,nty, into rebellion.
The Capital was beleaguered, and its con
necton with all the States cut off. Even in
the portions Of the country which were most
loyal, political combinations and secret soci.
tiles were found turlhering the work Of disu-
MON; while from motives of disloyalty or
cupidty, or from excited passions or pre-
verted sympathes, individuals were found
furnishing men, money, materials of war and
supplies to the insurgents military and naval
force. Armies, ships, fortfications, navy
yards arsenals, military posts garrisons, one
after another, were betrayed or abandoned
to the insurgents.
Congress had not anticipated, and SO had
not provided for the emergency. The mu-
nicipa authorities were poweress and inact
i've. The Judiciary machinery seemed as if
it had been designed not to sustain the Gov
ernment but to embarass it. Foreign inter.
vention was openly invited and industriously
ins,igaed by the abettors Of the insurrection,
and il became imminent and has only been
prevented by the practice of strict and i'm
partial justice, with the most perfect mode
ration in our intercourse with other nations.
The public mind was alarmed and appre
hensive, though fortunately, not distracted
or 1i>hearlcned. 1t seemed to be doubtful
whether The National Government, which
one year ago had been thought model wor
thy OF universe acceptance, had indeed the
abili y to defend aud maintain itself Some
reve,ses, which perhaps, were unavoidable,
suffered by newly y levied and insufficient for
ces, discouraged the Ioya. and gave new ho'
pes to the insurgents. Voluntary enlistment
seemed to cease, and dcserlinn conme.,red.
Parties speruated upon the question
whether the consrIplion had not be-
come necessary to fill up the armies of the
United States.
In this emergency the President felt i, his
duty to employ with energy the extraordna-
ry powers which the Constitution confides
to him in cases of insurrection. He called
into the field such military and nava! force
autho lied by existing laws as seemed nee
essary. lie directed measures to prevent
the use Of the Post Office for reasonable
correspondence. lie subjected travellers to
and from foreign countries to new passport
regulations; and he instituted a blockade;
suspended the habeas corpus in various pa-
ces, and caused many persons who were rep.
resented to him as being engaged or about
to engage in disloyal and reasonable prac-
tices, to be arrested by special civil as we'll
as military agencies and detained in military
custody, when necessary, to prevent them and
deter others from such Practices. Examna.
tions of such cases were instituted, and some
OF the persons so arrested have been dischar,
ged from time to time, under circumstances
or upon conditions compatible, as was
thought, with public safe y.
Meantime Il ia orable change of public
opinion has occurred. The line between 10y
atty and disloyaIty is plainly defined. The
whole structure Of the Government is firm
and stable. Apprehensons of public dan
GER and facilities for reasonable practices.
have diminished with the passions which
prompted the needless persons to adopt
them. The nsurrection is believed to have
eliminated, and to be declining.
The President, in view of these facts, and
course of the Administration, as far as re-
CARDS to faith and the public welfare will al
low, directs that all political prisoners, or
States prisoners, now held in military Gus
tody, to be released on subscribing 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
discretion, except from the effect of this or.
der any persons detained as spies in the ser
vice of the insurgents, or Others whose re
lease 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 grants an
amnesty for any past offences of treason or
disIoyalty which they may have committed.
Extraordinary arrests will, hereafter, be
made under the direction of military author