[From McPherson's History of Reconstruction, p. 198.]
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 46.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, July 13, 1866.
Ordered, That all persons who are undergoing sentence by military courts and have been imprisoned six months, except those who are under sentence for the crimes of murder, arson, or rape, and excepting those who are under sentence at the Tortugas, be discharged from imprisonment and the residue of their sentence remitted. Those who belong to the military service and their term unexpired will be returned to their command if it is still in service, and their release is conditional upon their serving their full term and being of good behavior.
By order of the President of the United States:
E.D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
[From Senate Ex. Doc. No. 82, Forty-ninth Congress, second session, pp. 3-5.]
Whereas, pursuant to the convention between the United States and Spain for the adjustment of the question of reclamation arising from the capture of the Virginius, entered into upon the 27th February, 1875, and duly ratified upon the 11th day of March, 1875, the Spanish Government engaged to deliver to the United States the sum of $80,000, or 400,000 pesetas, for the purpose of the relief of the families of those of the ship's company and of such of the passengers as were citizens of the United States who were executed, and to afford compensation to such of the ship's company and to such passengers as in like manner were citizens of the United States who were detained and suffered loss, excluding from any participation therein all individuals indemnified as British subjects; and
Whereas it was therein further provided that when such amount should have been received the President of the United States would proceed to distribute the same among the parties entitled thereto, in the form and manner which he may judge most equitable; and
Whereas such amount has been duly paid at Madrid and the proceeds thereof are now in possession of the Government of the United States: