Basis of Agreement for the surrender of the Confederate Army of the Tennessee

Basis of Agreement

 

1st. The contending armies now in the field to maintain the status quo until notice is given by the commanding general of any one to his opponent, and reasonable time, say forty-eight hours allowed. 

 

2nd. The Confederate armies now in existence to be disbanded and conducted to their several State capitals, there to deposit their arms and public property in the State Arsenal, and each officer and man to execute and file an agreement to cease from acts of war, and to abide the action of both State and Federal authorities. The number of arms and munitions of war to be reported to the Chief of Ordnance at Washington City, subject to the future action of the Congress of the United States, and in the mean time to be used solely to maintain peace and order within the borders of the States respectively. 

 

3rd. The recognition, by the Executive of the United States, of the sereral State Governments, on their officers and legislators taking the oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States; and where conflicting State Governments have resulted from the war, the legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. 

 

4th. The re-establishment of all Federal Courts in the several States, with powers, as defined by the Constitution and the laws of Congress. 

 

5th. The people and the inhabitants of all States to be guaranteed, so far as the Executive can, their political rights and franchises, as well as their rights of person and property, as defined by the Constitution of the United States, and of the States respectively. 

 

6th. The Executive authority or Government of the United States not to disturb any of the people by reason of the late war, so long as they live in peace and quiet, and abstain from acts of armed hostility, and obey laws in existence at the place of their residence. 

 

7th. In general terms it is announced that the war is to cease: a general amnesty, so far as the Executive of the United States can command, on condition of the disbandment of the Confederate Armies, the distribution of arms, and the resumption of peaceful pursuits by officers and men hitherto composing said armies. 

 

Not being fully empowered by our respective principals to fulfill these terms, we, individually and officially pledge ourselves to promptly obtain authority, and will endeavor to carry out the above programme.