Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-08
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION
uF THE IINNE>SEE


NASHVILLE, Tenn, Dec. -, 1863.
General orders. No. 40.-Armed resistance to the
authority of the United States having been put
down. the President, the 18th day OF May last,
issued his proclamation of amnesty declaring that
armed resistance having ceased in all quarters, he
invited those lately in rebellion 10 reconstruct ana
restore civil authority, thus procaiming the mag
uanimity of our Government towards all, no mat
ter how criminal or how deserving Of punishment.
Alarmed ut this imminent and impending peril 10
the cause in which he had embarked with all his
heart and mind, and desiring 10 check, II possible,
tue spread of popular appreciation and grateful
appreciation of the mGgnaumOuS policy OF the PreSl-
dent in his efforts 20 bring the people OF the United
states back 10 their former friendly ana national re-
Iatons one with another an individual, styling HIM
self Bishop Of Alabama, forgetting his IN >SlOn 10
preach peace ON earth and good will towards men,
aud being animated with the same spirit which,
through temptation, beguiled the mother OF men to
the commission of the first sin-thereby entailinS
eternal toll and trouble earth-.SSued, from be-
hind the shield of his Office his manifesto of the 10Th
of June last 10 the clergy of the Episcopal Church
of Alabama, directing them to omit the usual and
customary prayer for the President OF the United
States and an Others in authority until the troops OF
tie United States had been removed from the limits
Of Alabama, cunningy justified this reasonable
course, by plauSiby representing 10 the mlndN
OF the people that civil authority not hav'
inc vet been restored in Alabama, there
was no occasion for the use OF said prayer, as
such PRAYER was intended for the civil authority
alone and rs the military was the only authority M
Alabama it was manitestly improper 10 pray for the
continuance of military rule. This man, in his posi-
ton of teacher Of religion, charity, and good iel
loyyShip with his brothers, whose paramount duty
a such should have been characterized by frankness
and freedom from all cunning, thus took advantage
OF the sanctity Of his position TO miSead the minds
of those who naturally regarded him As teacher IN
whom they could trust and attempted 10 lead them
back into the abyrinths Of treason. ForthiS covert
and cunning act he deprived OF the privileges OF
citizenship 50 far as the right to otcia'e as minister
of the Gospel. because il was evident he could not
DE trusted to Ofciate and contne his teachings 10
matters of religion alone; IN fact that religious
matters were but 4 secondary consideration IN his
mind, he having taken an early opportunity TO sub
vert the church TO the Justification and dl>semlna-
ton Of his reasonable sentiments. As It Is how
manifest that far from entertaining the same
political views Bishop Wilmer the people Of Ala
baml are honestly endeavoring To restore the civil
authority in that state in conformity with the Con.
stituuOn of the United States and to repudate their
acts OF hostility during the past four years and have
accepted with loyal and becoming spirit the mag
/ unanimous terms offered them by the President;
therefore, the restrictions heretofore imposed upon
I the Episcopal clergy Of Alabama are hereby removed
I aud Bishop Wme- Il left 70 that rem0rse of con-
science consequent to the exposure and failure of the
diabolical schemes of designing and corrupt minds
| BY command OF Major-General Thomas
/ WM. d. WHIPPLE,
3 Assistant AlutaDt General