The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-10
A PROCLA NATION


WHEREAS, BY proclamation of the 18th and
10th of April, 1861, the President of the Uni
ted States, in virtue of the power vested 10 him
:hy the Constitution and laws, declared that the
laws of the United States were opposed ana the
execution thereof obstructed, in the States OF
South Carolina, Georgia, ALABAMA, florloa,
Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, by comolna-
,tiens too powerful to be suppressed by the ordi
mary course of judicial proceedings or by the
powers vested in the Marshas by law;
And whereas, BY another proclamation, made
on the 10th day of August, in the same year, In
pursuance of an act of Congress, approved July
18th. 1861, the inhabitants of the States of
Georgia. South Carolina, Virginia, North Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas,
Arkansas, Mississippi aud Florida, except the
inhabitants Of that part of the State of Virginia
lying west of the Allegheny mountains, and to
such other parts of that State, aud the other
States before named, as nj ght malntaln loyal
adhesion to the Union and the Constitution, or
might be, from time to time, occupied aud con-
trolled by the forces of the United States en-
gagged in the dispersion of the insurgents, were
declared to be in a state of instruction against
,the United States;
And whereas, By another proclamation of the
list day of July, 1862, issued in pursuance of an
eact of Congress, approved June 7th, 10 the same
existing in the States aforesaid, with the excep-
ton of certain specified counties in the State of
Virginia;
And whereas, BY another proclamation made
ON the I'd of April, 1868, in pursuance of the
act of Congress Of July 18th, 1861, the excep-
:tions named in the proclamation OF August
10Th, 1861, were revoked, and the Inhabitants
<of the States of Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Tex
as, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida and Virginia,
except tie forty eight counties of Virginia des-
iguated as West Virginia, and the ports of New
Orleans Key West, Port Royal and Beaufort in
South Carolina, were declared to be still in
state of instruction against the United States.
And whereas, The House Of Representatives
on the 22d day of July, 1861, adopted resou-
ton 10 the worGs following, namely:
Resolved by the House Of Representatives of
sthe Congress Of the United States, That the
present deplorabe civil war has been forced up
on the country by the disunionists of the South
.,ern States, now in revolt against the Constitu-
tional Government, and in arms around the Cap
ital
That, in this national emergency, Congress,
banishng all feelings of mere passion or resent
ment, will recollect only its duty to the whole
country.
That this is not wagcd on our part in any
spirit Of oppression, nor for any purpose Of con-
quest or subjugatlon, nor purpose of overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or established
institutions of these States, but to maintain and
defend the supremacy of the Constitution and to
preserve the Union, with all its dignity, equali-
~ aud rights of the several States unimpaired.
And that as soon as those objects accom-
.plishe6 the war ought to cease
And whereas, The Senate OF the United
. tho DSth T,,l,,
solution 10 the words following, to-wit:
RESOLVED, That the present deplorable civil
war has been forced upon the country by the
disunonists of the Southern States, now 10 re-
volt against the Constitutional Government, and
in arms around the Capital; that in his nation
al emergency, Congress banishing all feeling of
mere passion or resentment, will recollect only
Its duty to the whole country; that this is
not prosecuted on our part in any spirit of OPP
preston, nor for any purpose of conquest
subjugaton, no purpose of overthrowing or in
sterfering with the rights or established institu-
tions OF these States, but to defend and maintain
the supremacy of the Constitution and all laws
made 10 pursuance thereof, and to preserve the
&Union with all the dignity, equality and rights
of the several States unimpaired; that, as soon
as these objects are accomplished, the war
ought to cease
And whereas, these resolutions, though not
joint or concurrent in form, substa ntially
identical, and as such may be regarded as hav-
ing expressed the Of Congress upon the
subject to'which they relate;
And whereas, by my proclamation of the
18th day of June last, the instruction in the
State of Tennessee was declared to have been
suppressed, the authority of the United States
therein to be undisputed, aud such United
I States officers as had beer duly commissioned
to be in the uninterrupted exercise of their off
cial functions;
And whereas, There now exists no organized
armed resistance Of misguided citizens or others
to the authority 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 the people
of the said States well and Loyalty dis posed,
aud have conformed, or will conform, in their
legislation, to the condtioa of affairs growing
out of the amendment to the Constitution of
the United States, prohibiting slavery within
the limits and jurisdiction of the United States;
And whereas, in view of the before recited
premises, it is the manifest determination of the
American people that State of its own will.
has the right or power to 60 out of, or separate
itself from, or be separated from the American
Union; and that, therefore, each State ought to
femain and constitute integral part of the
United States;
And whereas, The people of the several be-
ore mentioned States have, n the manner afore
aid, given satisfactory evidence that they ac
iuiesce in the sovereign and important restora-
ion of national unity;
And whereas, As it is believed to be funda-
pt,l nj of ~