re: 150 years ago this day...

Monday, 29 May 1865

By presidential proclamation and in an act of reconciliation, President Andrew Johnson grants amnesty and pardon to all people who directly or indirectly participated in "...the existing rebellion..." with a few exceptions. Though he had followed the pattern laid down by President Lincoln, except that people who participated in the War Between the States and had a taxable property of over $20,000 were excluded. There were numerous other excepted classes where those impacted could apply to the President where "...such clemency will be liberally extended as may be consistent with the facts of the case and the pace and dignity of the United States." Johnson was liberal in granting such clemency, which set the tone for his later Reconstruction policies.

Another report: President Andrew Johnson began implementing his version of former President Abraham Lincoln’s Reconstruction plan by issuing two proclamations. The "Amnesty Proclamation" pardoned those involved in the "existing rebellion" if they swore allegiance to the U.S. and acknowledged the end of slavery. Several classes of southerners were ineligible for amnesty, and they were required to personally request a presidential pardon and "...realize the enormity of their crime..." whereupon amnesty would be "...liberally extended."

The "North Carolina Proclamation" restored civil government in that state. Johnson appointed William Woods Holden as provisional governor; Holden was to organize a convention to draft a new state constitution. Convention delegates were required to swear allegiance to the United States, reject the ordinance of secession, repudiate the Confederate war debt, and ratify the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. Ten percent of registered voters were required to approve the constitution before elections could be held for local, state, and federal offices.

The "North Carolina Proclamation" violated the United States Constitution’s guarantee of a republican form of government for each sovereign state because Holden was not popularly elected, and 10 percent of the voters overruled the other 90. Johnson, nevertheless, used this as the template for restoring the remaining conquered states--South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas--to the Union.

The territory in the Trans-Mississippi, south of the Arkansas River, is designated the Federal Military Division of the Southwest, by Major General Philip H. Sheridan. Operations commence under the Major General in Texas on the Rio Grande River--as Sheridan begins a mopping up campaign after the surrender of Lieutenant General E. Kirby Smith--overseeing the renamed Military Division, relocating troops and chasing Indians.

The Army of the Tennessee and the Army of Georgia (except the troops belonging to the East) are ordered to Louisville, Kentucky.

The District of East Louisiana is formed, to consist of the Districts of Baton Rouge and Port Hudson and the Post of Clinton, and Brigadier General Michael K. Lawler is assigned to its command.

Federal operations continue against partisan guerrillas in Johnson County, Missouri.

Brevet Major General John E. Smith assumes command of the Federal District of West Tennessee.

Charles Francis Adams, American Minister to Great Britain, claimed that the cruiser policy England had encouraged during the War had destroyed the United States thriving merchant marine. In a letter to the British Foreign Minister, Adams held English policy directly responsible for the 110,000 tons of American shipping burned or sunk then went on to broaden the indictment by adding that "...the action of these British built, manned and armed vessels has had the indirect effect of driving from the sea a large portion of the commercial marine of the United States." Although the American flag disappeared from the sea, the merchant ships that had flown it (except for the destroyed prizes) did not. More than 800,000 tons of American owned shipping was either transferred to foreign registry or sold to foreign ship owners in order to gain the shelter of a neutral flag. Prior to the War Between the States, the United States had become the world's leading maritime carrier measured by both tonnage of bottoms and value of cargo. The Civil War cost the nation this number one position.