IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION.

Southland Times, Issue 577, 12 October 1866, Page 3

IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION.

President Johnson, under date of the I7tn instant, has issued the following proclamation : — Whereas, a war is existing in the republic of Mexico, aggravated by foreign military intervention ; and, whereas, the United States, in accordance with their settled habits and policy, are a neutral power in regard to the war which thus afflicts the republic of Mexico ; and whereas it has become known that one of the belligerents in the said war, namely, the Prince Maximilian, who asserts himself to be Emperor in Mexico, has issued a decree in regard to the port of Matamoras and other Mexican ports, which are in occupation and possession of another of the said belligerents, namely, the United States of Mexico, which decree is the folio wings words: — The port of Matamoras and all those of the northern frontier which have withdrawn from their obedience to the Government are closed to foreign and coasting traffic during such time as the law of the empire shall not be therein reinstated. Article 2. — Merchandise proceeding from said ports on arriving at any other where the excise of the empire is collected shall pay the duties on importation, introduction and consumption, and on satisfactory proof of contravention shall be irremisibly confiscated. Our Minister of the Treasury is charged with the punctual execution of this decree. Given at Mexico, the 9th day of July, 1866. And whereas the decree thus recited, by declaring a belligerent blockade unsupported bj competent military or naval force, is in violation of the neutral rights of the. United States as denned by the law of nations, as well as of the treaties existing between the United States of America and the aforesaid United States of Mexico : . Now, therefore, I, Andrew Johnson,

President of the United States, do hereby proclaim and declare that the aforesaid decree is held and will be held by the United States to be absolutely null and void as against the Government and citizens of the United States, and that any attempt which shall be made to enforce the same against the Government or citizens of the United States will be disallowed. The President has also issued a proclamation declaring that the State of Texas is restored to the Union, that the insurrection throughout all the Southern States is now at an end, and that peace, order, tranquility and authority, now exist in and throughout the whole of the United States of America.