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the mails, free of postage, to the honorably discharged soldiers of West Virginia, and to the relatives and friends of those who were killed or died of wounds or disease while in service, certain medals furnished by the legislature of that State. [January 14, 1867.]

No. 5.-Post Office and U. S. Court in New York-Appoints a commission to purchase for the sum of $500,000 the lower part of City Hall Park, as site for a building for the postoffice and United States courts in New York. [Jan. 22, 1867.]

of Brevet Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott. [March 2, 1867.]

No. 46.-Payment Prohibited to Certain Persons.-Prohibits payment by any government officer to any person not known to have been opposed to the rebellion. [March 2, 1867.]

No. 49.-National Banking Associations.Excess of duty paid by any national bank shall be refunded. [March 2, 1867.]

No. 51.-Ship Canal through the Isthmus of Darien.-Directs the Secretary of State to obtain from the United States of Colombia author

No. 7.-National Asylum for Disabled Vol-ity for the United States to make survey of the unteers.-The Secretary of War may transfer to Isthmus of Darien for a ship canal. [March 2, the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer 1867.] Soldiers any of the property of the United States still remaining at Point Lookout, Md. [Jan. 29, 1867.]

No. 52.-Thanking the Chambers of Brazil. -Acknowledges resolutions of sorrow for death of President Lincoln adopted by the Chambers of Brazil. [March 2, 1867.]

No. 11.-Internal Revenue. - Alcohol and burning fluid made from certain materials Ne. 53.-Post-Office and Sub-Treasury of on which taxes have been paid shall be ex-Boston.-Appoints a commission to select site empt from tax. The annual tax of $50 on dis- for Post-Office and Sub-Treasury in Boston. tillers of burning fluid, &c., is repealed. [Feb. [March 2, 1867.] 5, 1867.]

No. 12.-Kentucky Militia.-Directs the Secretary of War to cause the claims of the Kentucky forces under the command of James S. Fish to be investigated and paid. [Feb. 8, 1867.] No. 14.-Alcohol in Bond.-Alcohol may be withdrawn from bond by curators of scientific institutions without payment of internal tax. [Feb. 18, 1867.]

No. 15.-Ocean Mail Service.-The Postmaster-General is authorized to employ ocean mail service between San Francisco, Cal., and Portland, Oregon, three times per month, the cost not to exceed $25,000 per annum. [Feb. 18, 1867.]

No. 16.-Pensions.-The pensions of widows of revolutionary soldiers shall, from Sept. 30, 1865, be paid at the same rate as the deceased soldiers would be entitled if living. [Feb. 18, 1867.]

No. 17. David's Island.-Authorizes the Secretary of War to purchase David's Island, in Long Island Sound, at the sum of $88,500. [Feb. 18, 1867.]

No. 23.-Supplies for the People of the Southern States.-Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to assign a public vessel to transport supplies to the suffering people of the Southern States. [Feb. 22, 1867.]

No. 26.-Ship Canal across the Isthmus of Darien.-Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to furnish aid and facilities to citizens of the United States engaged in the survey of a route for a ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien. [Feb. 25, 1867.]

No. 80.-Additional Compensation to Civil Officers.-Twenty per cent. additional pay shall be allowed to certain persons in the civil service at Washington, D. C. This resolution shall not apply to those whose salary exceeds $8,500 a year. [Feb. 28, 1867.] No. 81. -Agricultural Colleges.-Extends the provisions of the acts in regard to agricultural colleges (1862, ch. 180, and 1865, ch. 209) to the State of Tennessee. [Feb. 28, 1867.]

No. 55.-Exchange of Public Documents.50 copies of all documents printed by order of Congress, and 50 copies additional of all documents printed in excess of the usual number, together with 50 copies of each publication issued by any department or bureau of the government, shall be exchanged, through the agency of the Smithsonian Institution, for works published in foreign countries, said works to be deposited in the library of Congress. [March 2, 1867.]

No. 57.-Thanks to Cyrus W. Field.-Presents the thanks of Congress to Cyrus W Field, for his foresight, courage, and determination in establishing telegraphic communication by means of the Atlantic cable, traversing mid-ocean and connecting the Old World with the New; and requests the President to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscription, to be presented to Mr. Field. [March 2, 1867.]

PROCLAMATIONS.

Dec. 28, 1866.-Tonnage Duties on French Vessels. Proclaims that on and after Jan. 1, 1867, so long as vessels of the United States shall be admitted to French ports on the same_terms as vessels belonging to citizens of France, French vessels entering ports of the United States will be subject to no higher rates of duty on tonnage than are levied upon vessels of the United States.

Jan. 12, 1867.-Enforcing Neutrality in the Civil War of Japan.-Calls a public attention to and sanctions and confirms a notification by the minister resident of the United States in Japan forbidding American merchant vessels from stopping or anchoring at any port or roadstead in that country except the three opened ports, viz: Kanagawa (Yokohama), Nagasaki, and Hakodate, unless in distress or forced by stress of weather, as provided by treaty, and giving notice that masters of vessels committing a breach of the regulation would thereby render themselves liable to prosecution and punishment, and also to forfeiture of the protection of the United No. 45.-Equestrian Statue to Lieutenant- States, if the visit to such non-opened port or General Winfield Scott.-Authorizes the Secre- roadstead should either involve a breach of tary of War to contract, at a price not exceeding treaty or be construed as an act in aid of the in$20,000, for an equestrian statue, in bronze,surrection or rebellion in Japan.

Jan. 29, 1867.-Tonnage Duties on waiian Vessels.-Proclaims that acts imposing discriminating duties of tonnage and impost within the United States shall be suspended as respects vessels of the_Hawaiian Islands, and their cargoes, from December 10, 1866, so long as the reciprocal exemption of the vessels of the United States, and the produce, manufac-hort tures, and merchandise imported in them into the dominions of the Hawaiian Islands, shall be continued on the part of the government of the King of the Hawaiian Islands.

Ha-I call upon all good and well disposed citizens of the United States to remember that upon the said Constitution and laws, and upon the judgments, decrees, and process of the Courts made in accordance with the same, depend the protection of the lives, liberty, property, and happiness of the people. And I exthem everywhere to testify their devotion to their country, their pride in its prosperity and greatness, and their determination to uphold its free institutions, by a hearty co-operation in the efforts of the Government to sustain the authorof the law, to maintain the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, and to preserve unimpaired the integrity of the national Union.

March 1, 1867.-Admission of Nebraska.-Pro-ity claims that the fundamental conditions imposed by Congress on the State of Nebraska to entitle that State to admission to the Union have been ratified and accepted, and that the admission of the State into the Union is now complete.

March 30, 1867.-Extraordinary Session of the Senate.-Convenes an extraordinary session of the Senate for April 1, 1867.

September 3, 1867.-The supremacy of Civil Courts to be enforced.-After referring to the duty of the President as chief executive officer of the Government of the United States, to the supremacy of the Constitution by which the judges in every State are bound, to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the inferior courts which Congress may from time to time ordain and establish, to the duty of all civil and military officers to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, to the duty of all officers of the army and navy to obey the orders of the President, the General, or other superior officers set over them, to the right of the Executive to secure the faithful execution of the laws of the United States by the employment of the land and naval forces, in case it shall become impracticable to enforce them by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, the proclamation continues as follows:

Whereas, Impediments and obstructions serious in their character have recently been interposed in the States of North Carolina and South Carolina, hindering and preventing for a time a proper enforcement there of the laws of the United States, and of the judgments and decrees of a lawful court thereof, in disregard of the command of the President of the United States; and

Whereas, Reasonable and well-founded apprehensions exist that such ill-advised and unlawful proceedings may be again attempted

there or elsewhere:

Now therefore, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby warn all persons against obstructing or hindering in any manner whatsoever the faithful execution of the Constitution and the law; and I do solemnly enjoin and command all officers of the Government, civil and military, to render due submission and obedience to said laws, and to the judgments and decrees of the Courts of the United States, and to give all the aid in their power necessary to the prompt enforcement and execution of said laws, decrees, judgments, and process, and I 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 a faithful administration of the laws thereof, and in the judgments, decrees, mandates and processes of the Courts of the United States. And

In testimony whereof, I 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, the third day of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven. ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Sept. 8, 1867.- Amnesty Proclaimed.The proclamation at first refers to the declaration by both Houses of Congress, in July, 1861, that "the war then existing was not waged on the part of the Government in any spirit of oppression, nor for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, nor purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of the States, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the Union with all the dignity, equality, and rights of the several States unimpaired, and that as soon as these objects should be accomplished the war ought to cease;" to the proclamations by the President, on Dec. 8, 1863, and March 26, 1864, "offering amnesty and pardon to all persons who had directly or indirectly participated in the then existing rebellion, except as in those proclamations was specified and reserved;" to the proclamation of May 29, 1865, granting "to all persons who had directly or indirectly participated in the then existing rebellion, except as therein excepted, amnesty and pardon, with restoration of all the rights of property except as to slaves, and except in certain cases where legal proceedings had been instituted, but upon condition, that such persons should take and subscribe an oath therein prescribed, which oath should be registered for permanent preservation, but excepting and excluding from the benefits of this proclamation fourteen extensive classes of persons therein specially described;" to the proclamation of April 2, 1866, declaring that "the insurrection was at an end and was thenceforth to be so regarded." The President then goes on to state, that "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 Texas, and the laws can be sustained and enforced therein by the proper civil authority, State or Federal, and the people of said States are well and loyally disposed, und have conformed, or if permitted to do so will conform, to the condition of affairs growing out of the amendment to the Constitution of the

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United States prohibiting slavery within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States;" that "there no longer exists any reasonable ground to apprehend within the States which were involved in the late rebellion any renewal thereof, or any unlawful resistance by the people of said States to the Constitution and laws of the United States; " that "large standing armies, military occupation, martial law, military tribunals and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, and the right of trial by jury, are, in time of peace, dangerous to public liberty, incompatible with the individual rights of the citizen, contrary to the genius and spirit of our free institutions, and exhaustive of the national resources, and ought not, therefore, to be sanctioned or allowed except in cases of actual necessity, for repelling invasion, or suppressing insurrection or rebellion;" that a retaliatory or vindictive policy attended by unnecessary disqualifications, pains, penalties, confiscations, and disfranchisements, now, as always, could only tend to hinder reconciliation among the people, and national restoration, while it must seriously embarrass, obstruct and repress popular energies and national industry and enterprise." For these reasons the President deems it to be "essential to the public welfare, and to the more perfect restoration of constitutional law and order," that the proclamation of May 29, 1865, should be modified, and that "the full and beneficent pardon conceded thereby should be opened and further extended to a large number of persons who, by its aforesaid exceptions, have been hitherto excluded from Executive clemency." Accordingly, the President declares that the full pardon described in the proclamation of May 29, 1865,"shall henceforth be opened and extended to all persons who directly or indirectly participated in the late Rebellion, with the restoration of all privileges, immunities, and rights of property, except as to property with regard to slaves, and except in cases of legal proceedings under the laws of the United States; but upon this condition, nevertheless, that every such per

son who shall seek to avail himself of this proclamation shall take and subscribe the following oath, and shall cause the same to be registered for permanent preservation, in the same manner and with the same effect as with the oath prescribed in the said proclamation of the 29th day of May, 1865, namely:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will in like manner abide by and faithfully support all laws and proclamations which have been made during the late Rebellion with reference to the emancipation of slaves. So help me God."

The following persons, and no others, are excluded from the benefits of this proclamation, and of proclamation of May 29, 1865, namely: "First. The chief or pretended chief Executive officers, including the President, Vice-President, and all heads of Departments of the pretended Confederate or Rebel Government, and all who were agents thereof in foreign States and countries, and all who held, or pretended to hold, in the service of the said pretended Confederate Government, a military rank or title above the grade of Brigadier-General, or naval rank or title above that of Captain, and all who were or pretended to be Governors of States while maintaining, abetting, or submitting to and acquiescing in the Rebellion.

Second. All persons who in any way treated otherwise than as lawful prisoners of war, persons who in any capacity were employed or engaged in the military or naval service of the United States.

Third. All persons who, at the time they may seek to obtain the benefits of this proclamation, are actually in civil, military, or naval confinement or custody, or legally held to bail either before or after conviction, and all persons who were engaged directly or indirectly in the assassination of the late President of the United States, or in any plot or conspiracy in any manner herewith connected."

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II. THE RECONSTRUCTION ACTS OF CONGRESS. 1.-Reconstruction Act of the XXXIXth Congress,of March 2, 1867.-We have given this act on p. 23. The bill passed the House, on Feb. 20, 1867, by the following vote-yeas 128 (all Republicans), nays 46 (all Democrats, except Hawkins of Tenn., James R. Hubbell of Ohio, and Kuykendall of Ill.). The Senate passed the bill on the same day-yeas 35 (all Republicans except Johnson of Maryland), nays 7 (all Democrats). The bill was vetoed on March 2. Both Houses of Congress re-passed it on the same day, the House by a vote of 188 (all Republicans), nays 51 (all Democrats, except Hale of N. Y., Hawkins of Tenn., Kuykendall of Ill., Stillwell of Ind., and Latham of W. Va.), the Senate by a vote of yeas 38 (all Rep. except Johnson of Md.), nays 10 (all Democrats).

2.-Supplemental Reconstruction Act of XLth Congress, of March 28, 1867.-A reconstruction bill, supplementary to the above act of March 2, passed both Houses of Congress on March 19. It was vetoed on March 23. On the same day the House repassed it by a vote of yeas 114 (all Republicans), nays 25 (all Democrats), and the Senate by a vote of yeas 40 (all Republicans except Johnson of Md.), and nays 7 (all Democrats).

The following are the main provisions of this act:

Before Sept. 1, 1867, the commanding general in each district, defined by an act entitled "An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," passed March 2, 1867, shall cause a registration to be made of the male citizens of the United States, 21 years of age and upwards, resident in each county or parish in the State or States included in his district, which registration shall include only those persons who are qualified to vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have taken and subscribed the following oath or affirmation: "I, do solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of Almighty God, that I am a citizen of the State of ; that I have resided in said State for months next preceding this day, and now reside in the county of -, or the parish of in said State (as the case may be); that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any State legislature,

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nor held any executive or judicial office in any State and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United States, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to do, so help me God;" which oath or affirmation may be administered by any registering officer. Sec. 2. After the completion of the registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and places therein as the commanding general shall ap point and direct, of which at least 30 days' public notice shall be given, an election shall be held of delegates to a convention for the purpose of establishing a constitution and civil government for such State loyal to the Union, said convention in each State, except Virginia, to consist of the same number of members as the most numerous branch of the State legislature of such State in the year 1860, to be apportioned among the several districts, counties, or parishes of such State by the commanding general, giving to each representation in the ratio of voters registered as aforesaid, as nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of the same number of members as represented the territory now constituting Virginia in the most numerous branch of the legislature of said State in the year 1860, to be apportioned as aforesaid. 3. At said election the registered voters of each State shall vote for or against a convention to form a constitution therefor under this act. The person appointed to superintend said election, and to make return of the votes given thereat, as herein provided, shall count and make return of the votes given for and against a convention; and the commanding general to whom the same shall have been returned shall ascertain and declare the total vote in each State for and against a convention. If a majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a convention, then such convention shall be held as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said votes shall be against a convention, then no such convention shall be held under this act: Provided, that such convention shall not be held unless a majority of all such registered voters shall have voted on the question of holding such convention. Sec. 4. The commanding general of each district shall appoint as many boards of regis tration as may be necessary, consisting of 3 loyal officers or persons, to make and complete the registration, superintend the election, and make return to him of the votes, lists of voters, and of the persons elected as delegates by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon receiving said returns he shall open the same, ascertain the persons elected as delegates according to the returns of the officers who conducted said election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a convention, the commanding general, within 60 days from the date

Sec.

been the true intent and meaning of the act of the 2d day of March, 1867, entitled "An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," and the act supplementary thereto passed the 23d of March, 1867, that the governments then existing in the rebel States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas, were not legal State governments, and that thereafter said governments, if continued, were to be continued subject in all respects to the military commanders of the respective districts, and to the paramount authority of Congress.

SEC. 2. That the commander of any district named in said act shall have power, subject to the disapproval of the general of the army of the United States, and to have effect until disapproved, whenever, in the opinion of such commander, the proper administration of said act shall require it, to suspend or remove from office, or from the performance of official duties, and the exercise of official powers, any officer or person holding or exercising, or professing to hold or exercise, any civil or military office or duty in such district, under any power, election, appointment, or authority derived from, or granted by, or claimed under, any so called State, or the government thereof, or any municipal or other division thereof, and upon such suspension or removal such commander, subject to the approval of the general as aforesaid, shall have power to provide from time to time for the performance of the said duties of such officer or person so suspended or removed, by the detail of some competent officer or soldier of the army, or by the appointment of some other person to perform the same, and to fill vacancies occasioned by death, resignation, or otherwise.

of election, shall notify the delegates to assemble in convention, at a time and place to be mentioned in the notification, and said convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and civil government according to the provisions of this act and the act to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall have been so framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the convention for ratification to the persons registered under the provisions of this act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as hereinbefore provided, and to be held after the expiration of 30 days from the date of notice thereof, to be given by said convention; and the returns thereof shall be made to the commanding general of the district. Sec. 5. That if, according to said returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the votes of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast at said election (at least one-half of all the registered voters voting upon the question of such ratification), the president of the convention shall transmit a copy of the same, duly certified, to the President of the United States, who shall forthwith transmit the same to Congress, if then in session, and if not in session, then immediately upon its next assembling; and if it shall, moreover, appear to Congress, that the election was one at which all the registered and qualified electors in the State had an opportunity to vote freely and without restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the Congress shall be satisfied that such constitution meets the approval of a majority of all the qualified electors in the State, and if the said constitution shall be declared by Congress to be in conformity with the provisions of the act to which this is supplementary, and the other provisions of said act shall have been complied with, and the said constitution shall be approved by Congress, the State shall be declared entitled to representation, and Senators and Representatives shall be admitted therefrom as therein provided. Sec. 6. All elections in the States mentioned in the said "Act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," shall, during the operation of said act, be by ballot; and all officers making the said registration of voters and conducting said elections shall, before entering upon the discharge of their duties, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the act approved July 2, 1862, entitled "An act to prescribe an oath of office:"ral Provided, That if any person shall knowingly and falsely take and subscribe any oath in this act prescribed, such person so offending and being thereof duly convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties, and disabilities which by law are provided for the punishment of the crime of wilful and corrupt perjury.

3.-Supplementary Reconstruction Act of XLth Congress, of July 19, 1867.-A reconstruction bill, supplementary to the two preceding acts, passed both Houses of Congress, on July 18. It was vetoed by the President on July 19, but on the same day re-passed by both Houses over the veto. The vote in the Senate stood-yeas 30 (all Repub.), nays 6 (all Democ.); in the House-yeas 100 (all Rep.), nays 22 (all Dem.). The bill is as follows:

SECTION 1. That it is hereby declared to have

SEC. 3. That the general of the army of the United States shall be invested with all the powers of suspension, removal, appointment, and detaching granted in the preceding section to district commanders.

SEC. 4. That the acts of the officers of the army, already done in removing in said districts persons exercising the functions of civil officers, and appointing others in their stead, are hereby confirmed; provided that any persons heretofore or hereafter appointed by any district commander to exercise the functions of any civil office may be removed either by the military officer in command of the district or by the gene

of the army, and it shall be the duty of such commander to remove from office, as aforesaid, all persons who are disloyal to the government of the United States, or who use their official influence in any manner to hinder, delay, prevent or obstruct the due and proper administration of this act and the acts to which it is supplement

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SEC. 5. That the boards of registration provided for in the act entitled "An act supplementary to an act entitled 'An act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States,' passed March 2, 1867, and to facilitate restoration. passed March 28, 1867, shall have power, and it shall be their duty, before allowing the registration of any person, to ascertain, upon such facts or information as they can obtain, whether such person is entitled to be registered under said act, and the oath required by said act shall not be

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