The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-20
Governor johnson Of Georgia.

On the ISL instant the hon. James
johnson, Provisional Governor of Geor-
gia, addressed the citizens at Savannah
on their duties. II was mainly directed
to proving the propriety of the oath they
We're required to take and to explaining
his views on the policy of emancipation.
In the course of his remarks he said =
"The President is authorized by the
Constitution to command the military
forces OF the United States to suppress
Instructions and to repel invasions.
The writ of habeas corpus may be sus-
pended in case of rebellion, and Con-
gress has power to make captures by sea
andby land. Warhas existed between the
United States and the South within the
meaning and purview of the Constitu-
ton; it was rebellion--too large for an
insurrection. The President, by virtue
of his office as commander-in-ch of
the armies, had right to make cap
lures, to seize horses, to take property
he had right to capture our soldiers, to
make prisoners and to release them on
parole or not. We could under our right
as belligerents do the same thing; it was
right of war. 1t follows as legal Sc
quence that the President had the power
to capture negro, to hold him in GUS
tody, to detain him, whether considered
as property or a person. The President
acquired an authority over persons and
property which he could not exercise in
time of peace. 1t was latent power, a
war power; and by virtue of this power
to command the armies of the United
States, he issued that proclamation as a
rule of war, for the purpose of suppress
ing the rebellion. The slaves, upon the
surrender of our armies, were captured,
legally if not actually-(in law it makes
no difference whether they were actual
ly captured or not)-and, tonight, by
virtue of that proclamation, they stand
emancipated. I state this to be my
opinion as lawyer, and as lawyer 1
state that, in my opinion, such will be
the decision of the Supreme Court. i
could wish, myself, that such had not
been the case, and that the change had
not been thus violently and abruptly
made. But slavery in any event is gone,
and gone forever, and have no tears to
shed or lamentations to make over its
.sr
His closing advice to the people was as
follows:
GA provost judge is to be appointed in
every district to administer the oath,
give certified copy to the person TAX
ing it, and send the original to Wash
ington. Every opportunity is to be CIV
en-. Come forward and do it yourself,
and take your neighbor by the arm and
induce him to do SO. Put yourself in
the right position and there will be no |
difficulty, If Georgia is the first State |
to return to the Union, it will not only |
confirm her right to the title OF the En-
pire State of the South, but give her
new claims to honor and glory. Redeem
her. and State after State will wheel in
TO line. After the waste and ravages of
both armies, she will "bud and BIOS
som as the rose" five cultivate further
anmosity we shall become hateful to
others aud ourselves, calamity after ca
lamity will come upon US, and we shall
live still under military burdens. Your
destiny is in your own hands. I have
made these remarks with q view to in
luce you to renew your allegiance tothe
government of our country. Iapproach
! step above-let us renew our allegi-
,nce to the King Eternal; and having
On our Bonded knees confessed that we
nave all sinned, with hearts attuned by
go forth and sing the angelic
ong, Peace, peace on earth, and good
will toward men!u