Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-07-13
Proclamation by the Governor.
fhV v.4g I'm STATE or LOUISIANA, s43
iS' "4'- NN3 EXECUTIVES DEPl aTMEST,
New Orleans, June 10, 1866. !


| New Orleans, June 10, 1865.
To the peopEe of the Parishes Of st. Tammapy
| y Washington, ST. Helena, Livingston, West Ba
ton Rouge Pofnte Coupee, st. Martin, Cont,or
dia, Madison, Carroll, franklin, st. Mary, East
Feliciana, West Felictsna, Tensas, 'ermiliion
Naschitoches, Sabine, Caddos ouachita, DeSoto
Rapides, Union, Jackson, Caldwell, Catshoula,
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 cou ntry, the sym
boil of Law, order and freedom, and which
| now waves in majestic power over an I'M
| divided nation. Our once wealthy and
| fertile State, now bankrupt aud 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 the 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, it is better
that all such matters be buried ont OF sight
forever It is not the past, but the pres
ent and future we have to deal with.
Great and responsible duties rest upon ev-j
cry citizen at this crisis, to manfuily go to
work and assist in the re-establishment of
civil government. In that connection tits
most cheering signto see the spirit of
submission to the laws, and willingness to
acquiesce in the result, manifested by those
so 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 expressing desire to atone for the
errors of the past by cheerful obedience to
the Governments, and glad again to enjoy,
It's behifcent rule. You, my friendsand
fellow-citizens, for esteem it privilege
TO cal you SO, must follow in the Footsteps
of so good an example. Yon must so to
wofkto organize civil government 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
ong yourselves and select men of in
tegrity and capacity TO fill these positions,
] will act on your recommendations by
appointing the persons. named by you, if
they are men Of proper character, and
have taken the oath prescribed in the Ere
sident's Proclamation OF the Sth of De-
cember, 1868, or that Of the 10Th Of May,
1864. -. ..t..., 'o.. sLs ssI
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 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 appointive by the
Executive, under the new constitution, for
q term of six years, and invite recon-
mendations from you as to who shall fill 4
those offices, as also District Attorneys. n y
| cannot urge upon you too strongl y, the
Importance ofyour acting promptly and \
with tunanimity in tho matters herein
brought to your notice. If you 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 ac-
ceptable to you. Important elections will
be held this fall. Members Of Congress
and q Legislature will have to be elecUed,
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. f -#4.
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 ia or
der TO hasten the restoration Of civil gov
ernment in the State, have adopted a new
constitution and elected a Legislature
which has passed laws, yet feel author
lied to say that 1t was with no intention
of forestalling or denying your rightsto
participate in the making Of the fundamea-
tai, as well as all other laws. 49,
In conclusion, assure you that 40 ono
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.