Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet., 1865-07-08
Proclamation by the Governor.

HtH OFiebNbg VRbh iVs iobos
To tho People Of the Parishes Of St. Tammany,
Warrington, d.. Helena, Livingston, West Ba-
ton Rouge, Potnte Donpee, st. Martin, Copeor.
dia, Madison, Carroll, FRANKLIN. vt. Mary, East
Fellciana, West fslicana, Tensas, Vermillion,
ST. Landry. Lafayette, Calcasisu, Avoyelies
Natchitoches, Sabine. Caddo, ouachita, Desoto,
Rapides, Union, jackson. Caldwell, Catahona,
Claiborne, Boaser, Biens and VIM:
extend to you my heartfelt congratu.
lations on your being restored TO the pro-
lection Of the flag Of our country, the sym
boil of law, order and freedom, and which
now waves in majestic power over an un-
divided nation. Our once wealthy and
fertile State, now bankrupt aud desolate
from the ravages Of intestine war resumes
her natural relations fwhieil have been
teIn porgrily disrupted within tho glorious
Union of the States, united by the bonds of
universal freedom and ties that can never
be disssyered. IL 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. Whatever may have been
the causes Of the outbreak, and however
bitter may have beensthe feelings engen-
dered In the hearts of some, IL 10 better
that all such matters be buried out Of sight
forever. II IL not the past, but the pres
ent and future We have TO deal with.
Great and responsible duties rect upon ev-
cry citizen at this crisis, TO manfully go TO
work and assist in the ere-establishment Of
civil government. In that connection il il
lao osL cheering sign 10 see the spirit OF
submission to the laws, and willingness to
aequicsce in the result, manifested by those
no recently engaged In hostility to the
Government. Even the soldiers return to
their homes wiser and better men, frankly
owning to the failure Of their experiment,
and ali ex pressing desire toatone for the
errors Of the past by cheerful obedience to
the Government, and glad again to enjoy
ITS benifcent rule. you, nay friends and
fellow citizens, for | esteem it privilege
to call you so, must follow in the footsteps
of 80 good an example. You must go to
work TO organize civil government In your
respective Parishes. Sherifis, Recorders,
Clerks Of Courts and Police Jurors will
have to be appointed Professionally, until
elections can DO held to fill these offices,
as provided by law, You must confer
among yourselves, and select men of in
tegrity and capacity 10 fill these positions.
] will act on your recommendations by
appointing the persons named by you, II
they are men Of proper character, and
have taken che oath prescribed In the Isre
sident's Proclamation OF the sth Of De-
cember, 1868, or that Of the Goth Of May,
1854, .sU8iia4 aj
This will be requisite in all cases,
the original or certified copy of which oath
must be transmitted with the application
for appointment. It's also my intention
to organize the judiciary throughout the
State by appointing professionally Judges
of the District Courts and District Attor-
neys as soon as practicable. The former
class of officers are made appontive by the
Executive, under the new constitution, for
term OF six years, and invite recon-
mendations from you as TO who shall fill
those offices, as also District Attorneys.
cannot urge upon you too strongly the
importance Of your acting promptly and
with unanimisy in the matters herein
brought to your notice. If you neglect to ]
avail yourselves Of the opportunity offered
you shall be compelled to make appoint
nents to Office for your section, from tho
best information in my possession, and
you cannot blams me if they are not &c
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
officers 10 open the polls, an election for
Governor and other State officers, accord
ing to the new constitution, will take place
at the same time.
While the population Of that portion of
the State which has been 80 fortunate IA to
enjoy the protection of the strong arm Of
tho General Government, sooser than
other sections, and for which they are not
entitled to any merit Of thGir own in or
dor TO hasten the restoration Of civil gov
srnment in the State, have adopted new
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 tho making Of tho fundamen-
tai, az well as all other laws.
In conclusion, assure you that no ono
is more anxious to have the whole State
represented in all general elections, and
for tho office Of Governor,
than myself. J. MADISON WELLs,
Governor of Louisiana.