Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-07-15
Proclamation by the Governor.
STATE or LOUISIANA, /
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

yFs s@14 ExEcpTfyE RPARTaENT, ~
Hs New Orleans, jane 10, 1885,
To the People Of the Parishes Of St. Tammany,
Washington, St. Helena, Livingston, West Ba-
ton Rouge, Pointe Coup6e, So. Martin, Concor.
dia. Madison. Carroll, Franklin, st. Mary, East
Feliciana, west Feliciana, Tensas, Vermiiion,
st. Landry, Lafayette, Calcasieu,. Avoyelles,
Natchitoches, Sabine, Caddo, 0uachita, Desoto,
Rapides, Union, Jackson, Caldwell, CatahouIa,
Claiborne, Bossier, Biens lille and VIM: ss
extend to You my heartfelt congratn-
lations on your being restored to the pro-
lection of the flag ofsour country, the SYM
boil of law, order and freedom, and which
now waves in majestic power over an nm
divided nation. Our once wealthy and
fertile State, now bankrupt and desolate
from the favages of intestine war resumes
her natural relations (Which have been
temporarily disrupted within the glorious
Union of the States, united by the boadsof
universal freedom and ties that eau never
be discovered. 1t is not my purpose to
rake up the ashes of the past, by inquiring
who has erred and who has not erred in
the fearful struggle the nation has just
passed through. w hatever may have been
the causes of the outbreak, and however
bitter may have been the feelings engen-
dered ia the hearts of some, it is better
that all such N alters hs buried out of sight
forever tits not The past, but the pres
emit and future We have to, deal with.
Great and responsible duties rest upon ev-
cry citizen ut this crisis, to rnanfuily 80 to
work and assist in the establishment Of
civil government. In that connection tits
O most cheering sign to see the spirit of
submission to the laws, and willingness 10
acquiesce in the result, m anifested by those
SO recently engaged in hostility to the
Government Even the soldiers return TO
their homes wiser and better men, frankly
owning tothe failure of their experiment,
and all expressing desire to atone for the
errors Of The past by cheerful obedience to
the Government, and glad again to enjoy
its beniheent rule. You, my friends and
fellow citizens, for esteem it privilege
to call you SO, must follow in the footsteps
Of so good an example. You must 60 to
work to organize civil governments in your
respective Parishes. Sheriffs, Recorders,
Clerks of Courts and Police Jurors will
have to be appointed Professionally, until
elections can be held to fill these offices,
as provided by Law. You must confer
among yourselves, and select men of in
tegrity and capacity to fill these positions.
] will act OH your Recommendations by
appointing the persons named by you, if
they are men of proper character, and
have taken tha oath prescribed IN the Efe
sident's Proclamation of the sth Of De-
cember, 1858, or that of ths 2ech of May,
1864. 81 .H .sl.s eet 2 f7Tffi
This will be prerequisite in all cases,
the original or certified copy Of which oath
must be transmitted with the application
for appointment. 1t is also myintention
to organize the judiciary throughout the
State by appointing Professionally Judges
of the District Courts and District Attor-
neys as soon rs practicable. The former
class of officers are made appointiye by the
Executive, under the new constitution, for
q term of six years, and invite recon-
nendatiops from you rs TO who shall I'LL
those offices. as also District Attorneys.
cannot urge upon you too strongly the
Importance OF your acting promptly and
with unaniinity in the matters herein
brought to your notice. lfyou neglect to
avail yourselves of the opportunity offered
you shall be compelled to make appoint
iuents to office for your section, from the
best information in my possession, and
you cannot blame me if they are not ac-
ceptable to you. Important elections will
be held this fall. Members Of Congress
and Legislature will have to be elected,
and if each Parish is provided with proper
OluCcIs W opctl snp PoA'o; 81 OiSSaiVH lJI
Governor and other State officers, accord
ing to the new constitution, will take place
at the same time. sa8ssI
While the population Of that portion Of
the State which has been so fortunate as to
enjoy the protection of the strong arm of
the General Government, sooner than
other sections, and for which they are not
entitled to any merit of their own in Or
der to hasten the restoration ofeivil gov
eminent in the State, have adopted new
constitution and elected Legislature
which has passed laws, yet feel author
lied to say that 1t was with no intention
of forestalling or denying your rights TO
participate in the making of the fundametr-
tai, as well as all other laws. ''ls
In conclusion, assure you that no ono
is moro anxious to have the whole State
in all general elections, and
particularly for the office of Governor,
than myself J.MAD1soN WELLS,
ts4 u Governor OF LouisianG.
n..l.- n.-