Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-09-25
An Important " State Paper"

A friend has favored us with the following inter
oO+iro document, It is proclamation of much force
ond mower and little VOLTS Scheldam Aromat-
70 is " warranted genuine" 1t may awaken some
ooiriscences of somewhat strange character. At any
rate it is document per and can now hurt nobody
PROCLAMATION.
Kboroos have seen in the Providence papers certain
document purporng to be Proclamation by his Exceen
cv John Brown Francis, Governor and Captain Gehera
the Armies Fleets of the State of Rhode Island IN "hch
the circumstance of late duel set forth and deScrDeo as
crime of unparalleled atrocity and wickednesS' anu one
the actors therein, pronounced an assassin pirate anu ~
thirsty southerner the of five huhdred COLLARS "
tuaIv offered as a reward for his apprehension;
and rboons have my doubts as to his Excelency cor
rect understanding in any other matter IN winch 'he
e+ooo f Masonry not concerned and am sorely
avnd lest his Proclamation may mislead and preudce the
bHc mind of the State of Rhode Island, State, Wch
lament to say already sufficiently mislead msrued and
misgoverned;
and cberens dqai The aforesaid State of Rhode Island
10 not much more extensive in its territory than North
Carolina plantation and the salary the Governor thereof
ia limited to the sum four hundred dollars, sum OF mo-
new much less the pay of southern oVesee and
one hundred dollars than the reward recited in
this preamble
And qcheeas have gravely counselled with sundry en-
nent and sku nancers to whether his EXceIency had
in offering large reward for the apprehension OF myself
and the aforesaid nanciers after solemn consultation have
reported that salaries of the Judges of the Supreme
Court of Rhode Island limited to the sum OF two hundred
and fifty dollars, and that thus would take the salaries OF
two Judges pay for my apprehension and therefore they
appeal to the premises
And furthermore chereas, again. feel haered by all
these considerations and have determined after grave and
solemn consideration and reflection to fight another
duel within aforesaid State of Rhode Island, but
hereaftcrwards when belligerenty disposed herea
bouts shall fight across the State, which is not than
the usual distance between the parties in such
vened
and arhcreaS finally, Inasmuch the aforesaid John
Francis, individual weighing according to the
received opinion about five hundred pounds and has
VIGOROUSLY but little -not knowing the little dignity due
the place which he unfortunately fills have concluded
to wind up this Proclamation, by calling upon all the good
people of the world and of Rhode Island in particular seri
ouy, soemny and Soberly to counsel and beseach the
aforesaid John Brown Francis endeavoring to bring him
back of the duty of gentleman and magistrate,
enjoying it upon him rule which ne cannot safely vO
late that to be respected he must be decent and that the
petty dignity of the petty Office which he fills will not confer
upon him that mpunty official misbehavor with which
an honorable office is sometimes invested but which hon
orabe man claims which base coward thought
he chain might not enjoy and finally, should all
such friendly offices fail to the end that the aforesaid John
Francis may be brough proper account for his
outrageous behavior hereby offer reward for his de-
livery Cape Lookout North Carolina barrel of
tar and forty pounds of feathers.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, 10. Seaweu Jones' of ShOccO
S the 22d day of February 1884, have hereunto affixed
the great seal of ShOcCo evidence of the dignity of
this paper. 10. SEAWELL JONES,
PriUate Secretary
Ma FOGG