The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-12

II
the Peace and Constable, the Office Of Board q
Of County Police, the Office Of County Treas {
urer and Collector, and Assessor and County
Surveyor, and the several municipal offices
Of every Incorporated city or town, whose
have. been regularly kept up.
This general appointment Of officers is not
intended 10 revoke any special appointment
made by me prior 10 the date of the procla-
nation. And iRGsmnch IS il is necessary
that these several Offices should be filed by
who are loyal 10 the United
States Government, reserve the power TO
remove any, one who may be exeept0nable
in this respect, and / earnestly invoke the |
loyal citizens Of each county TO give me
timely aud the most authentic information
that can be procured, in regard to any Of
fcer who is obnoxious TO this serious objec-
ton.
Second. These several officers before they
enter upon the discharge Of the duties Of
their respective offices, shall take and sub
scribe the amnesty oath prescribed in the
Presidents proclamation q the 18th Of May,
1865, and must Immediately transmit the
cath 50 taken to this Office. At the end of
the amnesty oath, after the word "slaves"
must be added the words ssand will faith
fully discharge the duties Of my Office TO the
beat Of my ability" And any one who may
undertake 10 act in his Official capacity
without compliance with this requisition,
will subject himself 10 punishment. This
oath may be taken before any commissioned /
officer, civil, military or naval, in the ser
vice Of the United States, or before the |
Judges Of Probate hereby appointed, or |
heretofore appointed by me alter they shall !
have taken the oath themselves, OF before |
the Judge Of the Criminal Court Of Warren |
county. But no one can hold any OF these |
offices who is exempted IN the Pres dents |
proclamation from the benefits Of the am
Desty unless first specially psrdoned by lhe
President.
Third In counties which have been dis
organized, or where there are no persons
who can I'll the several county offices,
either in consequence of death or otherwise,
special appointments viii be Immediately
made, when the necessity for such appoint
ments shall be made known to me.
Fourth. The sherifis hereby appointed,
or IN case there be no sheriffs, the Judge of
probate, or the coroner or any justice OF the
| peace, in the order in which they are here
/ placed, she'll hold an election at the several
| election precincts in each county, on Mon
day, the 9TH day of August next, for dele
/ gates TO a convention for the purpose men
tioned in the Presidents proclamation. No-
| tiers for delegates to this convention must
possess the qualification required by the
constitution and laws as they existed prior
70 the 9sh day Of January, 1861, and must
also produce certificate that they have
taken, before competent officer, the amnes-
ty oath prescribed by the proclamation
Of the 29th May, 1865, which certificate shall
be attached 70 or accompanied by copy Of
the oath, and no one viii be eligible as
M -mber Of this convention who has not also
taken this oath. The sheriff shall give pub
lie 5otice Of the election by posting up this
proclamation or otherwise.
Fifth. Each county and town entitled to
separate representation, shall be entitled
70 be represented in the convention by the
same number Of representatives they were
entitled 60 in the lower branch Of the
Legislature, prior TO the oh day Of January,
1861.
Sixth. The returning officers of the cleo
ton, shall give TO the persons having the
highest number of votes, a certificate of
election and the delegates so elected shall
assemble at the city OF Jackson, on Monday,
l4th day Of August next, aud shall organize
a convention by electing proper officers, and
adopting necessary rules, and after taking
an oath to support the Constitution Of the
United States, may proceed in the discharge
Of their duties.
Seventh The trustees Of the University
OF Mississippi are required TO meet at Ok
lord, on Monday, the 3lst day of July, for
the purpose Of putting the institution into
operation.
Eighth. Crime must be suppressed, and
guilty persons punished. The command
ing General at this Post has kindly offered
TO use the forces under his command for the
protection Of the people and for the appre-
bension Of offenders against tbs law, aud it
is hoped the people viii give him timely in
formation, and render such assistance as
will enable him to carry cut this lsudable
object. 1 would advise the people when it
may be necessary, in consequence Of their
remoteness from military force, to organ
ize themselves into 3 county patrol, for the
apprehension Of offenders, who, when ar
rested ii they cannot be safely confined in
the county, may be brought 10 jackson for
confinement in the military prison, until
they can be dispo.ed of by civil law. in
taking recOgnizances the justices of the
, posce will mske them returnable 10 the next
term Of the circuit court IS now established
by law, or that may hereafter be established
; by law.
, Probably there are some persons who have
some conscientious scrupIes about taking
the amnesty oath, because they believe the
emancipation proclamation unconstitution-
ell. / sllude to this subject oniy because
have understood there are few such.
; This objection certainly cannot be raise
! with propriety by such az den ed that they
were subject TO the Constitution Of the Unid
! ted States IS the supreme law, when the
? proclamation was issued. Whether il
. be Constitutional or not is the question which
the people have no right to determine; the
determination Of that question rests with the
supreme judicial department OF the govern
{ ment. Legis alive bodies often pess uncon-
stitutionai acts, but they must be regarded
as valid, ard they must be observed as the
|, law, until the proper department Of the
, | government declares them void. Every pre-
sumption IL in favor of their validity. And
l Is is precisely the same case with ex-
j. ecutive acts. This proclamation there
fore must beregaTded as valid until the
: Supreme Court shall decide otherwise.
wnen it does so decide, parties will be alb
solved from the obligation Of the oath.
Perhaps, however, parties who believe
, the proclamation void, are over sanguine in
the Correctness Of their opinions. There is a
: general principle in the law Of nations
which suthurizes one bellIgerent party TO do
towards his enemy whatever will strengthen
{ himself and weaken his enemy, limited OF
q course By tho laws OF humsnity. Some wri-
ters Of high authority hold mat legitimate
e power in war, towards an enemy, is cock
tensive with necessity. Even the desolating
Of q country and the burning Of towns and
villages are held 20 be Unstable scts in Ger
= tain cases. Whether these principles be
4 | brosd enough 60 cover the taking OF slaves.
~ they certainly are with regard to o,her
property, Is not Tor me 20 determine, and /
, mention them ouly 60 show to those who en-
, terta'n this opinion, that perhaps it doss not
rest on as solid a foundation s. they imagine
} il does. The people Of the southern States
l. we're in rebellion; the President Of the
United States had right to prescribe terms
OF amnesty; be has doae 80, and il is hoped
the people viii all eheeriully take his oath
j. With fixed purpose 10 observe il in good
n faith. Why should they now hesitate or
doabi since slavery has ceased to be pree.
teal question: Il was the Odenslhle cause
6 Of the war, Il was stakad upon the issue Of
the war and that issue has been decided
, against ms. Il is The part Of wisdom aud Of
l. honor 20 submit without a murmur. The
isgioes are free, free by The fortunes az vrsr
- --iFee by the prOclamation--free b,-leer,r,,o,,
epnsent-iree practically, az well a. tbeoret
ically, and il 10 too late 10 rasse tecbn,es,
questions as 10 the means by which thew he.
: esme 50 Besides, il would lie bad solicv
J. now to undertske 70 change their condition
! il we could do 20. Il would be nothing les
than an effort 10 establish slavery where il
: doa not exist. Therefore let as cordially
q unite in cur efforts 10 organize our State
government, so that We may BY wise leeis-
I iation, prepare ourselves 70 i've in prosperi-
" sud happiness in the changed condition
Of our domestic relations. Fellow -citisens.
| accept the Office Of Provisional Governor
ia full view Of the troubles and responsible
ties incident 70 il. I was actuated bv no
) other motive than desire 10 aid the people
. in organizing civil government prepara-
D tory 70 the restoration Of their harmonious
relations with the Government Of the United
Ststea. That ] shall commit errors ] know
fan we'll, but know also that shall very
r soon leave the Office, and that shall carry