Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-07-04
Proclamation by the Governor.
STATE or LOUISIANA,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

New OfleAnEy June ~, 1ooe. +.
To tho People of the Parishes of st. Tammany.
Washington, st. Helena, Livingston, West "a.
ton Rouge, Ponte Gonpee, St. Martin, Concor-
dia, Madison, Carroll, Franklin, st. Mary, East
Feiieiana, West Feicianis, Tensas, Vermillion,
st. Landry, Lafayette, Calcasieu. Avoyeiles,
Nstchitoches Sabine, Caddo, 0uachita, Desoto,
Rapides, Union, jackson, Caldwell, Catahouia'
Claiborne, Bossier, Bienviile 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 UNI
divided nation. Our once wealthy and
fertile State, now bankrupt and desolate
from the rayages Of intestine war resumes
her natural relations (Which have been
temporarily disrupted within the glorious
Union of the States, united by tho bonds OF
universal freedom and ties that can 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. Whatever may have been
the causes of the outbreak, and however
bitter may have been the feelings engen-
dered in the hearts of some, il is better
that all such matters be buried out of sight
forever. 1t is not the past, but the pres
emit and future we have to deal with.
Great and responsible duties rest upon ey-
cry citizen at this crisis, to mantully go to
work and assist in the establishment of
civil government. In that connection 1t Is
a most cheering sign to soc the spirit of
submission to the laws, and willingness TO
aeauiesce in the result, manifested by those
40 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 all OK EXPRESSING desire to atone for the
errors of the past by cheerful obedience to
tho Government, and glad again to enjoy
It's benifeent rule. You. my friends and
fellow citizens, for esteem it o privilege
TO call yon so, must follow in the footsteps
of 80 good an example. You must go to
work to organize civil government in your
respective Parishes. Sheriffs, Recorders,
Clerks of Courts and Polics 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
tegrlty and capacity to 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 the oath prescribed in the Rre
sident's Proclamation of the sth of De-
cember, 1858, or that of the 18th of May,
1854.
This will be prerequisite in ell cases,
the original or certified copy Of which oath
must be transmitted with the application
for appointment. 1t is also my intention
to organize the Judiciary throughout the
State by appointing Professionally judges
of the District Courts and District Atsor-l
neys as soon as practicable. The former
class of officers are made appointive 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 unanimity in the matters herein
brought to yonr notice. Ifyou neglect to
avail yourselves of the opportunity offered
you shall be compelled to make appoint
ments to Office for your section, from the
best information in my possession, and
you cannot blame 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 to 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 heen 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 of civil 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
participation the making of the fundamen-
tai, as well as all other laws.
In conclusion, | assure you that no one
is more anxious to have the whole State
represented in all general elections, and
particularly for the office of Governor,
than myself. j. MADISON WELLS,
Governor of Louisiana.