The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-02-26
Important Executive Orders
Relative to State Prisoners.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Feb. IA, 1859.

WASHINGTON. Feb. IA, 1859. (
The breaking out of formidable i'd
surrection, based on conflict of Political
ideas. being an event without precedent
in the United States, was necessarily at
tended with great confusion aud perplex.
ity of the public mind Disloyalty, be.
fore unsupported, suddenly became bold.
and treason astonished the world BY
bringing at once into the field forces su
perior in numbers to the standing army
of the United States. Every department
of the Government was parslyzed by
treason. Detection appeared in the Sen.
ate, in the House of Representatives, in
the Cabiset, in the Federal Courts. Min
listers aad cousuls from foreign countries
to enter the insurfectionary councils, or
the land and naval forces; commanding
and other officers 10 the army and in the
navy betrayed the couacils or deserted
their posts for commands in the insurgent
forces. Treason was fragrant in the rev.
enue and tne post Office service, as well
as in che territorial governments. and iu
the Indian reserves. Not only governors,
judges, Legislators aud ministerial officers
in the States but eveG whole States.
rushed, one after another. with apparent
unanimity, into rebellion. The capital
was besieged, and It's connection with all
the States cut off Even in the PORTIONS
of the country most loyal, political com
binations and secret societies we're formed
furthering the work OF disunion. while
from motives of disioyatty or cupidity. or
from excited passions or perverted 81 N
pathies, individuals were found furnish
ing men, money. materials of war, and
supplies to the iusurgent military and ma
/ val forces. Armies., ships, Notifications,
navy yards. arseuais, military posts aud
garrisons, one after another. were bes
trayed or abandoned to the Insurgents.
Congress ha6 not anticipated. aud SO
had not provided for the emergency; the
municipal authorities were powerless aud
inactive. The judicial machinery seemed
as if it had been designed not to sustain
the Government, but to embarrass and
betray it. Foreign Intervention was
openly invited and industriously instiga.
ted by the abettors of the instruction
became imminent, and has only been pre-
vented By the practice of strict and im
partial justice with the most perfect mod
GRAFTON in our intercourse with other ma
tions. The public mind was alarmed anc
Iapprehensive, though fortunately not dis
tracted or disheartsned. 1t seemed to bi
doubtful whether the Federal Government
which one year before had been though
a model worthy of universal acceptance
had indeed the ability to defend and main
tain itself. 9a 81 atSt3e $3.50
i Some reverses, which perhaps wer,
unavertable, suffered by newly leviet
and inefficient forces, discouraged tn,
loyal and gave new hopes to the insur
gents. Voluntary enlistment seemed
about to cease, and desertions com
menced. Parties speculated upon thu
question, whether conscription had no
become necessary to fill up the armies
of the United States.5 In this emer
gency the President felt it his duty t.
iemploy with energy the extraordinary
powers which the Constitution con6de
to him in cases of insurrection. II,
called into the field such military an,
naval forces authorized by existing law
as seemed necessary. He directe'
. measures to preyen. the use of tn
postofice for reasonable correspon
i dence. He subjected passengers to AM
! from foreign countries to new pass
port regulations, and he instituted
4 blockade, suspended the habeas corpu
in various places, and caused person
who were represented to him as bein;
engaged, or about to engage, in disloya
] anu ire asonabie practices, to-be srrests'
4 bv special civil as well as nilitar,
agencies, and detained iii military Gus
tody, when necessary 70 prevent then
i and deter others from such practices
! Examinations Of such cases were insti
| tuted, and some of the persons SO ar
rested have been discharged, from tim
to time, under circumstances or upor
conditions compatible, as was thought
with the public SAFETY. $ 5ei5
of public opinion has occurred. Th'
line between loyalty and disloyalty il
| plainly defined. The whole structur,
of the Government is firm and stable
Apprehension of public danger ans
facilities for reasonable practices hav,
diminished with the passions whiel
prompted needless persons to adop
them. The insurrection is believed tt
have eliminated, and to be declining
The President, in view of these facts
and anxious to favor return to th'
normal course of the Administration a
far as regard for the public welfar
i will allow, directs that all political pris
oners now held in military custody b.
released on their subscribing to parol
engaging them 70 render no aid or CON
i fort to the enemies in hostility to tn
i United States. ,.s..,....z,..s
The Secretary Of War will, however
in his discretion, except from the efec
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