Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-08-24

! hlbited ana there IS neither desire nor pur-
pose on tie part of the Southern States that
it should ever be re-established upon the. soil
or within the jurisdiction Of the United States;
and the emancipated slaves in all the States
Of the Union should receive, in common with
all their inhabitants, equal protection in per-
son and property.
s. While VIC regard as utterly invalid,
and never to be assumed or made of binding
force, any obligation incurred or undertaken
in making war against the United States, we
hold the debt of the nation to be sacred and
inyiolable; and we proclaim our purpose in
discharging this, as in performing all other
national obligations to maintain unimpaired
and unimpeachcd, the honor and the faith of
the Republic.
9. 1t is the duty of the national Govern
ment to recognize the services of the federal
soldiers and sailors in the contest Just closed,
by meeting promptly and fully all their just
and rightful claims for the services they have
rendered the nation, and by extending to
those of them who have served and to the
widows and orphans of those who have fall
en-, the most generous and consderatc sup
port.
| TO- In Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, who has proved steadfast in
his devotion to the constitution, the laws,
| and the interests of his country, unmovcd by
persecution and undeserved reproach, hav-
ing faith unassallable in the people and in
the principle of free government, we recog-
nize Chief Magistrate worthy Of the nation,
and equal to the great crisis upon which his
! lot is cast. And we tender to him, in his
high and responsible duties, our profound re-
spect, and assurance of our cordial and sin
cerc support.
Step by step President johnson moves on
in the course he has marked out, undismay-
ed by the !" taunts Or jeers of Congress- or
the threats of subsidized eliminating
press" On the second Of April 1866, he
proclaimed the instruction at an end in all
the States excepting Texas. He now pro-
claims not only the instruction at an end in
all the States, but that peace, order, tran
guilty and cir5 authority noe eria IN and
throughout the aeAole Of the United States of
44merica."
This surely means that martial law is re-
moved and the writ of habeas corpus restored,
throughout the Southern States, or else civil
authority does not exist. Great indeed will
be the exultation of patriots throughout the
land on account of this last act of President
johnson.
We copy below the essential portions of
the proclamation issued On Saturday last.
And whereas, subsequently to the said sec
ond day of April, one thousand eight hun
dred and sixty-si the instruction in the
State Of Texas has been completely and ev
erywherc suppressed and ended, and the au-
thority Of the United States has been success
fully and completely established in the said
State of Texas, and now remains therein I'M
restricted and undisputed, and such of the
proper United States officers as have been du-
ly commissioned within the limits of the said
State are now in the undisturbed exercise of
their official functions;
And whereas, the laws can now be sus-
tanned and enforced in the said State of Tex
as by the proper civil authority, State or Fed
eral, and the people of the said State of Tex
as, like the people of other States before
named are well and Loyalty disposed, and
have conformed Or will conform in their leg
islation to the condition of affairs growing out
of the amendment of the Constitution of the
United States prohibiting slavery within the
limits and jurisdiction of the United States
And whereas all the reasons and conclu-
sons set forth in regard to the several States
therein specially named now apply equally
and in all respects to the State of Texas, as
we'll as to the other States which had been
involved in instruction
And whereas adequate provision has been
made by military orders to enforce the exc
cution of the acts of Congress and the civil
authorities, and secure obedience to the Con-
stitution and laws Of the United States with
in the State Of Texas, if a resort to military
force for such purpose should at any time
become necessary;
Now, therefore, I, Andrew johnson,
President Of the United States, do hereby
proclaim and declare that the instruction
which heretofore existed in the State of Tex
as is at an end, and is to be henceforth SO
regarded in that State, as in the other States
before named, in which the said instruction
was proclaimed to be at an end by the afore-
said proclamation of the second day of April,
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six
And do further proclaim that the said
instruction is at an end, and that peace, Or
der, tranquility and civil authority now ex-
list in and throughout the whole of the Uni
ted States Of America
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, this TWEEN
~ tieth day Of August, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hun
" dred and sixty-six, and of the in
~ dependence of the United States of
America the ninety first.
By the President: ANDREW JOHNSON.
WILLIAM II. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State.
From the speech of President johnson to