Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-07
osicIAL.
By Me President Of the Uasted States
of America.

WHEREAS, by proclamation which was issusd
on the 18th day of April, 1851, the President OF
the United States announced and declared that the
laws of the United States had been for some time
past, and then were, opposed and the execution
thereof obstruoted, in certain States thereie men
toned, by combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course OF judicial proceed
ings, or by the powers vested in the Marshals by
law;
And whereas Immediately after the issuing OF
the said proclamation, the land and naval forces OF
the United States were put into activity to sup
press the said instruction aud rebellion;
And whereas the Congress of the United States,
by an act approved on the Sd day Of March, 1858,
did enact that during the said rebellion the Presi-
dent Of the United States, whenever in his judg-
ment the public safety may require it. is authorized
to suspend the privilege of the writ Of habea'
corpus in any case throughout the United States,
or in any part thereof;
And whereas the said insurrection and rebellion
still continue, endangeying the existence OF the
Constitution and Government Of the United States;
And wherea, the military forces of the United
States are now actively engaged in suppresslng
the said instruction and rebellion in various parts
of the States where the said rebellion has been
successful in obstructng the laws and public authori
ties, especially in the Skates Of Virginia and
Georgia;
And whereas on the fifteenth day Of September
last, the President Of the United States duly issued
his proclamation, wherein he declared that the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus should be
suspended throughout the United States in the
cases where, by the authority of the President OF
the United States military, naval, and civil officers
Of the United States or any of them, hold persons
under their command or in their custody, either as
prisoners of war; spies, aiders or abettors OF the
enemy, or officers, soldiers, seamen enrolled or
drafted or mustered or enlisted in or belonging to
the land or naval forces of the United States or as
deserters therefrom, or otherwise amenable to mill
tary law or the Rules and Articles of War, or the
rules regulations prescribed for the military or
naval service by authority of, the President Of the
United States, or for resisting draft or for any
other offence against the military or naval service;
And whereas many citizens of tho State of Ken
lucky have joined the forces Of the insurgents, and
such insurgents have on several occasions entered
the said State of Kentucky in large force, and, not
without aid and comfort furnished by dsafected
and disoyal citizens of the United States residing
therein, have not only greatly disturbed the public
peace but have overborne the civil authorities and
made fragrant civil war, destroying property and
life in various parts Of that State;
AID nh - bos made Hnou IN he
President of the United States by the officers COM
manding the national armies that combinations
have been formed in the said State of Kentucky
with purpose Of melting rebel forces to renew
the said operations of civil war within the said
State, and thereby to embarrass the United States
armies now operating in the said States Of Virginia
and Georgia, and even to endanger their safety
Now, therefore, l, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Presi-
dent of the United States by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and laws, do
hereby declare that, in my judgment, the public
safety especially requires that the suspension of
the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, so pro-
claimed in the said proclamation of the 18th of
September, 1863, be made efectual and be duly
enforced in and throughout the said State of Ken
lucky, and that martial law be for the present
established therein. / do, therefore, hereby re-
qure of the military officers in the said State that
the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus be
effectually suspended within the said State, accord
ing to the aforesaid proclamation, and that martial
law be established therein, to take effect from the
date of this proclamation, the said suspension and
establishment of martial law to continue until this
proclamation shall be revoked modified but
not beyond the period when the said rebellion
shall have been suppressed or come to an end.
And ! do hereby require and command, as we'll
all military officers all civil officers and authori-
ties existing or found within the said State of Ken
lucky, to take notice Of this proclamation and to
give full effect to the same.
The martial law herein proclaimed, aud the
things in that respect herein ordered will not be
deemed or taken to interfere with the holding Of
lawful elections, or with the proceedings Of the
constitutional Legislature of Kentucky, or with the
administration Of justice in the courts of law ex-
listing therein between citizens of the United States
in suits or proceedings which do not Affect the
military operations the constituted authorities Of
the Government Of the United States.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand and
caused the seal Of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this fifth day of July,