The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-06-07
Governor Wells Circular
STATE OF LOUISIANA,
FxEcUrIyE DEPARTMENT,
nnrrA1s- June 10, 1865.

New ORLEANS, June 10, 1860.
n tho neonIe of the parishes of st. Tammany,
washington. St. Helena, Livingston, West
ration Rouge. Point Coupee, ST. Martin, Con-
corda Madison. Carroll, Franklin, st. Mary
East Felieiana, West Feliciana, Tensas, Yer
million, st. Landry, Lafayette, CaicaSleu'
Avoyelles, Natchitoches, Sabine, Oaoo9, qua
cbita. De Soto, Rapides, Morehouse, oIlon'
Jackson. Caldwell, Catahoula, CLAIBORNE DOS
sier. Bienville and VIM:
Iextend to you my heartfelt congratuia'l,ohso On
your being restored to the protection Oh ,he nag
of our country, the symbol OF law, oiue. w
freedom, and which now waves IN ma
mower over an undivided nation Our once
ps,oaIthv and fertile State, now bankrupt and
dasoIate from the raVages Of intestine war; re-
Srrnae her natural relations (Which have been
tamnorarily disrupted) within the glorious Union
of The States. united by the bords of universal
freedom and ties that can never be Observed IL
i not nv purpose to rake up the ashes OF the
nact nv enduring who has erred and VINO mas
not erred in the fearful struggle the nation mas
inst nassed through Whatever may nave oeeh
! the causes of the outbreak, and however oiIVef
NAV have been feelings engendered IN the iea,sS
of some it is better that all such matters NC
buried out of sight forever 1t is not the pass
but the present and future, we have TO deat With
| Great and responsible duties rests upon every
citizen at this crisis, to manully go TO WORK anu
assist in the establishment of civil government
| In that connection it is most cheering sign "
! see the spirit of submission to the laws, anu
willingness to acquiesce in the result, nahlleseeu
by those so recently engaged in hostility TO Tie
| government. Even the soldiers return 10 theif
| homes, wiser and better men, frankly owning 10
| the failure of their experiment, and all express
ing desire to atone for the errors OF the past oV
cheerful obedience to the government, and glad
again to enjoy its benefcent rule. GU my
i friends and fellow-eitizens, for | esteem it q
privilege to call YOU so, must follow in the foot
steps of so good an example You must 60 TO
work to organise civil government in your res
pective parishes SherifS, Recorders, Clerk Of
! Courts. and Police Jurors, will have to be ap
pointed Professionally, until elections can be held
to fill these offices as provided by law. You
must confer among yourselves, and select men
of integrity aud capacity to I'LL these POSITIONS
will act on your recommendations by appoint
ing the persons named by you, if they are met
! of proper character, and have taken the oatt
prescribed in the Presidents Proclamation o.
the Sth of December, 1868, or that OF the z9tL
, of May, 1864. This will be prerequisite IN al
cases, the original or certified copy OF which
oath, must be transmitted with the Application
for appointment 1t is also my intention tt
organise the Judiciary throughout the State by
appointing Professionally Judges OF the Dlstnc
Courts and District Attorneys, as soon as prac
ticable The former class Of officers are made
{ appontive by the Executive under the new
: Constitution for term of six years, and invite
= recommendations from you as to who shall III
, those offices, as also District Attorneys.
tnpS tp
, nortance of your acting promptly and with una
nimitv in the matters herein brought to you
notice. If YOU neglect to avail yourselves 0
the opportunity offered you, shall be compelled
= TO make appointments to Office for your section
from the best information in my possession ant
; YOU cannot blame me, if they are not acceptable
to YOU. Important elections will be held thl
f.a2 Members of Congress and Legislature
. will have to be elected, and if each parish l
4 provided with proper offices to open the polls
= an election for Governor and other State officers
according to the new Constitution, will take plac
p at the same time.
While the population of that portion of To
State which has been so fortunate as to EMO
: the protection Of the strong arm of the Genera
= Government, sooner than other sections Tan
for which they are not entitled to any merit
their own) in order to hasten the restoration {
civil government in the State, have adopted
new Constitution and elected a Legislatul
which has passed laws, yet feel authorised
saw. that it was with no intention of forestallin
; or denying your rights, to participate IN tn
making of the fundamental, as well as all otbt
: laws.
y In conclusion, | assure you that no one
- more anxious to have the whole State represente
~ in all general elections, and particularly for tt
4 Office of Governor, than myself.
~ j. MADISON WELLS,
Governor of Louisiana.