Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-03
HIGHLY IMPORTANT
PROCLAMATION OF TIE PRESIDENT.
THE WAR DECLARED AT AN END.
Restoration of the Government Authority
THE POLITICAL EQUALITY OF ALI.
THE STATES DECLARED.

WASHINGTON. April 2-The President has Just
issued the following proclamation:
Byth President Of the United States Of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, By proclamation of the 18th and 10Th of
April, 1861. the President of the United States in
virtue of the power vested in him by the Constitu-
ton and the laws. declared that the laws of the
United States opposed and the execution there
Of obstructed in tie States of South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana
and Texas by combinations too powerful to be sup
pressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceed
ngs or by the powers vested in the marshals by law
And
Whereas, By another proclamation made on the
10th day of August in the year. in pursuance of
an Act fCongress, approved July 18TH 1861 the in
habitants of the States Of Georgia. South Carolina,
Virginia, North Carolina Tennessee Alabama, Loui.
siana Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi and Florida ex-
cep the inhabitants of that part of the State of Vr
glnta lying west Of the Allegheny mountains and to
such other parts of that State and the other States
before named as might maintain loyal adhesion to
the Union and the Constitution, or might be from
time to time occupied and controlled by the forces of
the United States engaged in the dispersion of the
insurgents. declared to be in state of nsur-
rection against the United States; and
Whereas. By another proclamation of the first day
gress approved June 7th, in the same year. the in
surrection was declared to be still existing in the
States aforesaid, with the exception of certain speci
fed counties in the State of Virginia; and
Whereas By another proclamation made on the I'd
day Of April 1868. in pursuance of the act of Con-
of July 18th, 1861 the exceptions named in the
proclamation of August 10TH 1861. were revoked and
the inhabitants of the States of Georgia, South Car
olina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Loui-
cio Arb 40
ginia except the forty-eight counties of Virginia
designated as West Virginia, and the ports of New
Orleans, Key West, Port Royal, and Beaufort in
South Carolina declared to be still in state of
insurrcction against the United States and
Whereas the House of Representatives, on the 22d
day of july 1861, adopted resolution in the words
following, namely:
ResolUed by the House Of Representatives Of the
Congress of the United Stres That the present de-
plorabe civil has been forced upon the country
by the disunionists of the Southern States now in
revolt against the constitutional Government, and in
arms around the Capital.
That IN this national emergency, Congress baniSh
ing all feelings of mere passion or resentment, will
recollect only its duty to the whole country.
That this is not waged our part in any spirit
of oppression, for any purpose of conquest or
subjugation, nor purpose of overthrOwing or inter
fering with the rights of established institutions of
acy of the Constitution. and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity equality and rights of the several
States unimpaired. And that these objects
are accomplished, the war ought to cease.
And Whereds The Senate of the United States, on
the 25h day of July 1861 adopted resolution in the
words following, to wit:
Resoyued That the present deplorable civilwar has
been forced upon the country by the dsunonists of
the Southern Etates, in revolt against the Con-
stitutional Government and in around the Cap
ital, that in this national emergency Congress, ban
ishins all feeling of mere passion resentmen will
recollec only its duty to the whole country. That
this war is not prosecuted part in any spirit
of oppression, nor for any purpose OF conquest or
subugaton, nor purpose of overthrowing interfer
ing with the rights established institutions ofthose
States but to defend and maintain the supremacy of
the Constitution and all laws made in there
Of and to preserve The Union with all the dignity
equity, and rights of the several States unmpaired
That as soon as these objects are accomplished the
war ought to cease.
And aohe,eas. These resolutions, though not joint
or concurrent in form, are substantially identical
and such may be regarded having expressed the
sense of Congress upon the subject to which they re-
late; and
Whereas, By my proclamation of the 18th day of
June last the nsurrection in the State of Tennessee
declared to have been suppressed the authority
ofthe United States therein to be undsputed, and
such United States officers as had been duly commits
stoned to be in the undisputed exercise of their Off
cial functions; and
Whereas, There now exists no organized armed
resistance of misguided citizens, or Others to the
thority Of the United States in the States of Georgia.
South Carolina, Virginia North Carolina, Tennessee
Alabama, Louisiana. Arkansas Mississippi Florida
and the laws can be sustained and enforced therein
by the proper civil authority, State or Federal and
A. I
posed and have conformed or will conform in their
legislation. to the condition of affairs growing out of
the amendment to the Constitution of the United
States prohibiting slavery within the limits and ju
risdiction of the United States; and
Whereas, in view of the before recied premises it
is the manifest determination of the American peo-
pie, that State, of its WILL has the right or
to go out of separate itself FROM or be sep
arated from the American Union and that therefore
each State ought to remain and constitute an inte-
grail part of the United States; and
Whereas. the people of the several before men
toned States. have in the aforesaid given
satisfactory evidence that they acquesce in the SOW
ereign and important restoration of national unity
and
Whereas, as it is believed to be a fundamental
principle Of Government that people who have re-
volted. and who have been overcome and subdued,
must be dealt with as to induce them voluntarily
TO else tney De nelQ by aDSO
Lutte military power devastated so as to prevent
them from ever again doing harm as enemies. which
last named policy is abhorrent to humanity and
freedom; and
Whereas. the Constitution of the United States
provides for Constitutional communities only as
States, and not territories dependencies, prov
inces or protectorates; and
Whereas. Such constituted States must necessarily
be, and by the Constitution and laws of the United
States are, made equals and placed upon a like
footing to political rights. mmunites. dignity and
power with the several States with which they are
united; and
Whereas. The observance of political equality a
principle of right and justice is well calculated to
encourage the people of the aforesaid States to be
and become more and more constant and persevering
in their renewed allegiance; and
Whereas, Standing armies. military occupation,
martial law, military tribunals and the suspension
of the privilege of the writ of haben8 corpus in times
of peace endangers the public liberty is incompat-
be with the individual rights of the citizen contrary
to the genius and spirit of free institutions and
exhaustive of the national resources and ought not
therefore, to be sanctioned allowed except in cases
of actual necessity for repeling invasion or sup
preston of instruction, or rebellion; and
Whereas, the policy of the Government of the
United States from the beginning of the nsurrection
to its overthrow, and final suppression has been in
conformity with the principles herein set forth and
enumerated.
Now, therefore. I, ANDREW JOHNSON, President of
the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare
that the nsurrecon which heretofore existed in the
States of Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas
Mississippi and Florida. is at an end and is hence
forth to be so regarded.
In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand
and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed
Done at the City of Washington the I'd day of
r~I-o) April in the year of our Lord, 1866 and of
! SEAL. the Independence of the United States of
'-0C' America the ninetieth.
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President
W. q. SEWARD. Secretary of State.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE ON OIL CREEK.
Thirty Oil Wells Burned-ParticuIars OF