Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-05

lied armed resistance OF misguided citi-
zens or others to the authority OF the
United States, in the states of Georgia,
South Carolina, Virginia, North Carroll
ma, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, AT,
kansas, Mississippi and Florida, and
laws can be sustained and enforced
therein by the proper civil authority,
state or federal, and the people of the
said states are we'll and Loyalty disposed,
and have conformed or will conform In
their legislation TO the condition OF affairs
growing ont OF the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States pro-
hibiting slavery within the limits and
jurisdiction OF the United States; and,
Whereas In view Of the before reclted
premises 1t is the manifest determination
OF the American people that no state OF
It's own win has the right or power 10
20 out OF, or separate itself FROM or be
separated from the American Union, aud
that, therefore, each state ought TO re-
main and constitute an integral part of
the United States and,
Whereas, The people of the several be-
fore mentioned states have, In the man
ner aforesaid, given satisfactory evil
dence that they acquiesce In this sover-
eign and important revolution Of the ma
tional unity; and,
W21eas It's believed to be funda-
mental principle of government that peo-
pie who have revolted, and who have
been overcome and subdued, must either
be dealt with so as TO induce them vol
UNFAIRLY TO become friends, or else they
must he held by absolute military power
or devastated so as TO prevent them from
ever again doing harm as enemies, which
last. named policy is abhorrent to human
ity and freedom and,
Whereas, The Constitution Of the
United States provides for constitution
al communities only as states, and not
as territories, dependencies, provinces or
protectorates; and
Whereas, Such constituent states must
necessarily be, and by the constitution
and laws of the United States are, made
equals, and placed on like footing as TO
political rights, immunities, dignity
and power with the several states with
which they are united; and
Whereas, The observance Of political
equality as a principle OF right and JUS
tlce is well calculated to encourage the
people CT the aforesaid states to be and
become more and more constant and
persevering in their renewed allegiance +;
and
Wheeas Standing armies, military
occupation, martial law, military tri-
bunals, and the suspension of the priv
ilege of the writ of habeGs corpus, are, in
time of peace dangerous to public lib
erty Incompatible with the individual
rights of the citizens, contrary to the
genius and spirit Of our free inStitu-
tions, and exhaustive Of the national re-
sources, and ought not, therefore, TO be
sanctioned or allowed, except in cases
of actual necessity for repelling inva-
sion or suppressing instruction or re-
bellion; and
Wh~eas, The policy of the Govern
ment of the United States, from the be-
ginning Of the instruction to it's over
throw and final suppression, has been in
conformity with the principles herein
set forth and enumerated;
Therefore, I, ANDREW JOHNSON, Presi-
dent of the United States, do hereby pro-
claim and declare that the instruction
which heretofore existed in the states of
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,
Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, louisiana,
Arkansas, Mississippi and Florida, is
at an end, and henceforth to be so re.
garded.
In testimony whereof, | have here
unto set my hand, and caused
the seal of the United States TO
be affixed. Done at the city OF
IL. ST. Washington, the second day of
April, in the year ofour Lord one
thousand eight hundred and
sxty-six, and Of the indep9nd-
ence of the United States OF
America the ninetieth,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President
WILLIAM Ell. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State.