parole and disbandment, and there being no authorized troops of the enemy east of the Mississippi river, all persons found in arms against the United States, or who committed acts of hostility against it east of the Mississippi river, from and after June 1st, would be regarded as guerrillas and punished with death. Major-General Philip H. Sheridan was assigned to the command of all the troops west of the Mississippi. The work of reconstruction therefore presented itself with still greater force on the Administration,* and will be mainly illustrated by the following documents:

OPENING OF TRADE-BELLIGERENT RIGHTS DISAVOWED.

"Whereas, by the proclamation of the President, of the 11th day of April last, certain ports of the United States therein specified, which had previously been subject to blockade, were, for objects of public safety, declared, in conformity with previous special legislation of Congress, to be closed against foreign commerce during the national will, to be thereafter expressed and made known by the President:

"And whereas, events and circumstances have since occurred which, in my judgment, render it expedient to remove that restriction, except as to the ports of Galveston, La Salle, Brazos de Santiago, Point Isabel and Brownsville, in the State of Texas:

"Now, therefore, be it know, that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby declare that the ports aforesaid, not excepted as above, shall be open to foreign commerce from and after the 1st day of July next; that commercial intercourse with the said ports may from that time be carried on subject to the laws of the United States, and in pursuance of such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. If, however, any vessel from a foreign port shall enter any of the before-named excepted ports in the State of Texas, she will continue to be held liable to the penalties prescribed by the act of Congress, approved on the 13th day of July, 1861, and the persons on board of her to such penalties as may be incurred pursuant to the laws of war for trading or attempting to trade with an enemy.

"And I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States of America, do hereby declare and make known that the United States

On the 15th the Hon. Mr. Usher, Secretary of the Interior, retired and was succeeded by Hon. James Harlan, formerly United States Senator from Iowa.

of America do henceforth disavow to all persons trading or attempting to trade in any of the United States in violation of the laws thereof, all pretense of belligerent rights and privileges; and I give notice, from the date of this proclamation, all such offenders will be held and dealt with as pirates.

"It is also ordered that all restrictions upon trade heretofore imposed in the territory of the United States east of the Mississippi river, save those relating to contraband of war, to the reservation of the rights of the United States, to property purchased in the territory of an enemy, and to the twenty-five per cent. upon purchases of cotton, are removed. All provisions of the Internal Revenue law will be carried into effect under the proper officer.

"In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

"Done at the city of Washington this twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the independence of the United States of America, the eighty-ninth.

"By the President:

"ANDREW JOHNSON.

W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State."

On the 22d of May President Johnson declined to receive a fine carriage, span of horses, and suitable equipments from a number of prominent citizens of New York, having ever held it to be the duty of those occupying high official positions to decline such offerings. On the 23d the grand Army of the Potomac, under Major-General Meade, and MajorGeneral Sheridan's invincible cavalry, were reviewed by the President, attended by the Cabinet, Generals Grant and Sherman, the diplomatic corps and a vast multitude of spectators from all parts of the United States. On the next day General Sherman's command, the Armies of Tennessee and Georgia, were reviewed amid equal demonstrations of enthusiasm and delight. On both days the paths of the favorite and successful generals were strewn with flowers, and the soldiers welcomed with boundless joy. President Johnson, members of the Cabinet, and Generals Grant, Sherman and Meade were frequently compelled to rise and bow their acknowledgments.

The President removed his office to the White House on the 25th, where he received a visit from Secretary Seward, supported by two servants and accompanied by his daugh

ters.

A dispatch from General Canby, dated New Orleans, May 26, announcing the conclusion of "arrangements for the surrender" of Kirby Smith's forces in the Trans-Mississippi having been received, the President issued the following order:

"WASHINGTON, Saturday, May 27. "The following order has just been issued from the War Department:

"That in all cases of sentences by military tribunals of imprisonment during the war, the sentence be remitted, and that the prisoners be discharged.

"The Adjutant-General will issue immediately the necessary instructions to carry this order into effect.

"By order of the President.

(Signed)

24

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War."

CHAPTER XXII.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.

AMNESTY Proclamation - Reconstruction Policy - The President and the Sunday-school Children - Provisional Governors for North Carolina and Mississippi Further Removal of Trade Restrictions - A Deputation of Colored Men from Virginia - Provisional Governors for Georgia, Texas and Alabama All Trade Restrictions removed - Interesting Interview of South Carolinians with the President - Plain Talk - Negro Suffrage: who would control the Negro vote? - Position and Desires of South CarolinaThe Twenty thousand Dollar Clause in the Amnesty Proclamation - Provisional Governor for South Carolina - Ill-health of the President -- Gettysburgh Letter Approves the Sentences on the Assassination Conspirators Virginia Merchants wish the Twenty-thousand Dollar Exceptions removed; the President's' Views on the subject - Provisional Governor for Florida Interview with Couth Carolina Delegation; Governor Perry's account to Governor Brownlow - Attorney-General's Opinion on Legality of the Military Tribunal - Secretary of Interior's Decision on Homestead Law Appointments to the Port of New York Interview with Pardonseekers Conclusion.

ALL organized means of military resistance to the supremacy of the United States Government flag were now terminated; and President Johnson immediately followed up the announcement by two most important documents on the 29th of May-the Amnesty Proclamation and the Proclamation appointing a Provisional Government for the State of North Carolina; and indicating the reconstruction or restoration policy to be pursued by him towards the lately insurgent States.

AMNESTY.

Proclamation by the President of the United States of America. "Whereas, the President of the United States, on the eighth day of December, A. D. eighteen hundred and sixty-three, and on the

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twenty-sixth day of March, A. D. eighteen hundred and sixty-four, did, with the object to suppress the existing rebellion, to induce all persons to return to their loyalty and to restore the authority of the United States, issue proclamations offering amnesty and pardon to certain persons who had, directly or by implication, participated in the said rebellion; and

"Whereas many persons, who had so engaged in said rebellion, have since the issuance of said proclamation failed or neglected to take the benefits offered thereby; and

Whereas, many persons, who have been justly deprived of all claim to amnesty and pardon thereunder by reason of their participation, directly or by implication, in said rebellion and continued hostility to the Government of the United States since the date of said proclamation, now desire to apply for and obtain amnesty and pardon;

"To the end, therefore, that the authority of the Government of the United States may be restored, and that peace, order and freedom may be established, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do proclaim and declare that I hereby grant to all persons who have directly or indirectly participated in the existing rebellion, except as hereinafter excepted, amnesty and pardon, with restoration of all rights of property, except as to slaves, and except in cases where legal proceedings, under the laws of the United States providing for the confiscation of property of persons engaged in rebellion, have been instituted, but on the condition, nevertheless, that every such person shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation, and thenceforward keep and maintain said oath inviolate, and which oath shall be registered for permanent preservation, and shall be of the tenor and effect following, to wit:

"I do solemnly swear or affirm, in presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support and defend the consti-. tution 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 existing rebellion with reference to the emancipationof slaves. So help me God. "The following classes of persons are excepted from the benefits of this proclamation:

"First-All who are, or shall have been, pretended eivil or diplomatic officers or otherwise, domestic or foreign agents of the pretended Confederate government.

"Second-All who left judicial stations under the United States to aid the rebellion.