The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-04-25
WASHINGTON
PROCLAMATION BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
The 25th Of May Appointed Day OF
Humiliation and Mourning for the
Death Of Abraham Lincoln.
>>~>~~~>~~~~~>>~~~~~>~~>~~
Visit of Southern Refugees to
the President.
Their Address and Mr.. JOhnsOn's
Reply.
Paroled Rebel Officers Going
Abroad,
Sc, &C.. sc.

A
Abroad,
Sc, &C.. sc.
The Presidents Proclamation or Day
OF Humiliation and Mourning.
q Whereas by my direction the acting Secretary OF
y State in notice to the public the 18th Of April,
REQUESTED the various religious denominations to
BILE on tho 10th Of April the occasion Of the obsques
of Abraham Lincoln late President OF the United States
and TO observe the with appropriate ceremonies
4 And whereas country has become one great
house of mourning, where the head of the family has
q been taken away and believing that special period
shoud be assigned again humbng ourselves before
Almighty Cod in order that the bereavement may be
81 sancled to the nation
= Now therefore, in order 70 mitigate that grief on
n earth which only be assuaged by communion
with the Father in heaven, and in compliance with
9the wishes Of Senators and Representatives in
n3Congress communicated TO by resolution
a adopted at the national capital ], ANDREW JOHNSON
"a Presdent of the United States do hereby appoint
- Thursday, the 25th day Of May next to be observed
81 wherever in the United States the flag Of the country
"a may be respected day OF humiliation and mourning
and recommend my fellow citizens then to assemble in
"a their respective places Of worship there TO unite in
u solemn service to Almighty God in memory of the good
man who removed, that all shall be occupied
j row for his sudden and violent end.
q In witness whereof have hereunto my hand and
III caused the seal Of the United States to be Affixed.
Done the city of Washington the 25th day OF April
81 in the year Of our Lord 1865 and Of the indepen-
dence of the United States Of America the eighty
Il ninth. ANDREW JOHNSON.
II BY the President
81 W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State.
"a Visit Of Southern Refugees to the Presi-
dent-Their Address and the President's
Z Reply.
WASHINGTON, April "a, 1865.
large number OF refugees from the insurrcctonary
States at present in Washington called upon President
/ Johnson this morning, and through Judge Underwood
presented him address The President evidently
profoundly by this demonstration the part of
those who like himself had personally experienced the
devsh atrocity Of the rebellion and had been robbed
of their property and driven from their homes for their
loyalty to the constitution and the integrity and existence
/ Of the nation
ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT.
As all whom the room would accommodate
had entered Judge Underwood of Virginia. stepped
ward and said
. Mr.. PHsrDENr-The gentlemen who come with me to
pay their respects to the Chief Magistrate OF the nation
4 are for the most mart. ey.,Tss from the South
s. vAiies for their devotion to the Union and
~ the constitution, in defiance Of threats and
persecution Of the saveholdng arisocracy Your
uterances have stirred spirits like the sound
trumpet encouraged the hope that we may ere lone
M in safety visit our desoated farms and rebuild ouI
II houses in the sunny South. We have no feelings but
OF Kindness for the common people of our section
,even for those who, by physical moral cempuon
by gross deception have been arraycd in against
The government We would not say, with Joshua of old
81 Every who rebels shall be put death -
M the wicked leaders who, though banled are neither
iumbled nor subdGed; whose and are
u as dangerous and TO the country as ever We
q thank you for declaring that these great crmi.
y mails must be punished The Great Author of
ND chat ~.
lsow the wind shall reap the whrwind We
know that we cannot go home in safety while traitors
~ whose hands still dripping with the blood OF
n our martyred brothers, remain defiant and ap-lsled
is folly to give sugar pums TO tigers and hyenas 1t is
moro than folly to talk of cemency and mercy to these
worse than Cataines for cemency and mercy TO them Is
n cruelty and murder to the innocent and unborn. If
General Jackson had punished the Of Calhoun
z we should not have witness d this rebellion If the
guilty leaders OF this rebellion shall be properly punished
our chdrens children will not be compelled TO look
upon another like it for generations BY the blood Of
maryred President, by the agonies Of starved
.3and mntilat2d prisoners, by the tens of thou
Y sands slam in battle, and the desolations OF
land treasure for the last four years, with no
feelings of revenge but in snccrest sorrow pray that
"A your administration may be both terror evil doors
and protection to all who pursue the paths Of peace
And while we mourn and lament gr and good and
81 these stormy times thank God for the belief that
knowing the character Of the leaders Of the rebellion
N you do, you will deal with them that whole
I4y VIII be an asylum for the Cypress Of every creed
and every clme-he home of peace freedom industry
|3cducation and reigion-a Eight and example TO the
RI nations OF the whole earth, down long, bright and
"a benehcent future.
N THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
n The President then made the following reply
II Is hardly necessary for this occasion TO say
q that my sympathes and impulses in connection with
lthis nefarious rcbeion beat in unison with yours
Those who have passed through this bitter ordeal and
a who cpaed in II to extent compc-
tent think, judge and determine the policy
which should be pursued (Applause have but little
say this question In response to what has been said
~ II enuncates and expresses my feelings to the full
a est extent; and In much better language than
= the present moment summon TO my aid. The most
that have deyoved upon me under circumstances
that perlous and Responsible and being thrown into
g. the position occupy unexpectedly In consequence
of the sad event. the heinous assassination which has
taken placei in view Of all that Is before and the cir
that surround mel cannot but feel that your
encouragement dnd kindness peculiarly acceptable
and appropriate. do not think you, who have been ia
miar with my course-you who are from the South
y the future this occasion, TO express what my
course will be upon questions that may arise IL my
past life is no indication of what my future will be, my
professions both worthless and empty; and In
4turnng you my thanks for this encouragement
- and sympathy, only reterae what have said be-
fore, and, Ia part, what has just been read As far
cemoncy and mercy concerned and the proper exer
vi else OF the pardoning power, think understand
the nature and character OF the latter In tho exercise
Of cemency and mercy that pardonng power should be
exercised with caution do not give utterance 10 my
opinions this point In any spirit OF revenge unkind
feelings Mercy and cemency have been pretty large
ingredients In my compound having been the Executive
y OF a State, and thereby placed in position In which
Il necessary 10 exercise cemency and mercy.
have been charged with going too far being too enent
and have become satisfied that mercy without justice
y Is q crime, and that when mercy and cemcncy
exercised by the Executive IL should always DO
\ donc In view OF justice, and In that manner