Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-04


and whereas, all officers Of the
army and navy Of the United
States in accepting their commissions
under the laws Of Congress, and the
rules and articles Of war, incur an obi
cation to observe, obey, and follow such
directions as they shall from time to
time receive from the President,
or the General, or other superior Off =
GERS set over them according to the rules
and discipline Of war; and whereas, II
it is provided by law that whenever by
reason of unlawful distractions, COM
binatons or assemblages Of persons, or
rebellion against the authority Of the
government of the United States,
it shall become impracticable in
the judgment Of the President
of the United States to enforce, by the
ordinary course of judicial proceeding,
the laws of the United States within
any State or territory, the Executive, in
that case, is authorized and required to
secure their faithful execution by the
employment of the land and naval
forces; and whereas, impediments
and distractions, serious in their
character, have recently been interposed
in the States of North Carolina and
South Carolina, hindering and prevent
ing for a time a proper enforcement Of
the laws of the United States and
of the judgments and DEGREES Of
the lawful courts thereof, in dis
regard of the command of the Presi-
dent of the United States; and,
whereas, reasonable and well founded
apprehensions exist that such i'll advised
and unlawful proceedings may again be
attempted there or elsewhere, now, there
fore, /, Andrew Johnson, President of
the United States, do hereby warn all
persons against obstructing or hinder.
ing in any manner whatever the faithful
execution of the Constitution and laws,
and do solemnly enjoin and command
all officers of the Government, civil and
military, to render due obedience
to said laws, and to the judgments and
DEGREES of the courts of the United
States, and to give all the aid in their
power necessary to the prompt enforce
ment and execution Of said laws,
DEGREES, Judgments and processes; and
/ do hereby enjoin upon the officers OF
the army and navy to assist and sustain
the courts, and other civil authorities of
the United States in faithful admins
tration of the laws thereof, and in the
judgments, DEGREES, mandates and pro-
cesses Of the courts of the United
States, and l call upon all good
and we'll disposed citizens of the United
States to remember that upon the said
Constitution and laws, and upon the
judgments, DEGREES and processes OF the
courts made in accordance with the
same, depend the protection OF the lives,
liberty, prosperity and happiness of
the people, and / exhort them every
where to testify their devotion to their
country, their pride in its prosperity and
goodness and their determination to
uphold its free institutions by hearty
in the efforts of the Gov.
eminent to sustain the authority of law,
to maintain the supremacy of the
Federal Constitution, and to preserve
unimpaired the integrity of the National
Union. In testimony whereof | have
caused the seal of the United States to
be affixed to these presents, and sign the
same with my hand.
Done at the City of Washington
this, the third day of September,
in the year one thousand eight hundred
and sixty-seven.
[Signed] ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President
WILLIAM II. SEWARD,
Secretary Of State.