Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-10
The Episcopal Clergy OF Alabama and
Bishop Wilmer.

Below We give Gsneral Orders No. 40, from Gen
Thomas Headquarters, removing the restrictions
imposed upon the Episcopal clergy of Alabama
and Bishop Wilmer is left to that remorse of con-
science consequent to the exposure and failure of the
diaboical schemes of designing and corrupt minds:
Armed resistance to the authority of the United
States having been put down. the President, on the
10Th day of MAY last, issued his Proclamation of
Amnesty, declaring that armed resistance having
ceased in all quarters he invited those lately in re-
belon to reconstruct and restore civil authority,
thus proclaiming the magnanimity of our Govern
ment towards all, no matter how criminal or how
deserving Of punishment. Alarmed at this immi-
nent and impending peril to the cause in which he
had embarked with all his heart and mind, and de-
string to check, if possible the spread of popular
appreciation and grateful appreciation OF the mag
unanimous policy of the President in his efforts to
bring the people of the United States back to their
| former friendly and national relations one with
another, an individual, styling himself Bishop OF
Alabama forgetting his mission TO preach peace on
earth and good will towards man, and being ANNA
ted with the same spirit which through temptation
| begued the mother of men to the commission OF
the first sinthereby entalng eternal toll and trou-
bic on earth-issued from behind the shield of his
office his manifesto the Goth Of June last to the
clergy of the Episcopal Church of Alabama, direct
ing them to omit the usual and customary prayer
for the President of the United States and all Others
in authority until the troops of the United States
| had been removed from the limits of Alabama
cunningly iustifying this reasonable course, by
pausibly presenting the minds Of the people that
civil authority not having yet been restored in Ala
bama there was occasion for the of said pray
er as such prayer was intended for the civil author
ity alone and as the military the only authority
in Alabama, it manifestly improper tc pay for
| the continuance of military rule. This man, in his
position of teacher of religion charity, and good
| Fellowship with his brothers whose paramount du-
ty as such should have been characterized by frank
ness and freedom from all cunning, thus took ad-
vantage of the sanctty of his position to msead the
minds Of those who naturally regarded him as 8
teacher in whom they could trust and attempted to
lead them back into the labyrinths of treason. Fol
this covert and cunning act he was deprived of the
privileges of citizenship, in far the right tc
officate as a minister of the Gospel because 1t was
evident he could not be trusted to ofcate and
/ fine his teachings to matters of religion alone-in
fact that religious matters were but secondary
sideraton in his mind he having taken an early Op-
portunty to subvert the church to the justification
and dissemination of his reasonable sentiments
As it is. however, manifest that far from enter
tanning the same political views as Bishop Wilmer
| the people Of Alabama are honestly endsavoring tc
restore the civil authority in that State IN conform
ty with the requirements of the Constitution of the
United States, and to repudiate their acts of host
/ ty during the past fOur years, and have accepted
with a loyal and becoming spirit the magnanimou!
terms offered them by the President; therefore the
restrictions heretofore imposed upon the Episcopa
/ clergy of Alabama are hereby removed, and Bishop
Wilmer is left to that remOrse of conscience conse
quent to the exposure and failure Of the diaboica
/ schemes of designing and corrupt men.
! By command Of Major General THOMAS:
WIN. D. WHPPLE,
Assistant Adutant General