Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1861-04-27
Proclamation by President Davis.


The Governor then retired.
Proclamation by President Davis.
MoNTGoMERY, April 1.-THE following
proclamation was issued to-day:
Il Proc(dmGtton Jy the President Of tic
Confederate S:utcs 0/' Iimcricn
Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the President
of the United States, has by proclamation an
nouncod the intonton of invading this Con-
fedcracy with an armed force for the purpose
ct capturingitS fortrcsses and thereby subvert-
ing its independence, and subjecting the free
people thereof to the dominion of foreign
power; and whereas it HIS thus become the
duty Of this Government to repcl the threat
ened invoson and to defend the rights and
Liberties of the people by all the means which
the laws of nations and the usages of civilized
warfare place at its disposal
Now, therefore, /, Jefferson Davis, Prcsi-
dent of the Confederate States of America,
do issue this my proclamation, inviting all
those who may desire by service in vate
armed vessels on the high seas to alI this
Government in resisting so wanton and wicked
an aggression, to make application for com
missions or letters of marquc and reprisa, to
be issued under the seal of these Confederate
States. And do notify all persons applying
for letters OF malquc, to make statement in
writing, giving the name and suitable de-
scrption Of the character, tonnage and force
of the vessel and the name and place of resi-
dcnce of each owner concerned therein, and
the intended number of the crew, and to SIGN
said statement and deliver the same to the
Secretary of State, or to the Collector of any
port of entry of these Confederate States, to
be by him transmitted to the Secretary of
State. And do further notifyan applicants
eforesaid, that before any commission or letter
of marquc is issued to any vessel, the owner or
owners thereof, and the Commander for the
time being, will be required to give bond to
the Confederate States, with at least TWO re-
sponsible suretics, not interested in such vcs-
sci, in the penal sum of FIVE thousand dollars :;
or if such vessel be provided with more than
one hundred and fifty men, then in the penal
sum of ten thousand dollars; with condition
that the owners, officers and crew who shall
be employed on board such commissioned YES
sci, shall observe the laws of these Confcder
ate States, and the Instructions given to thom
for the regulation Of their conduct: that they
shall satisfy all damages done contrary to the
tenor thereof by such vessel during her com
mission, and deliver up the same when re-
yokcd by the President of the Confederate
States. And do further specially enjoin on
| all persons holding Offices, civil and military,
under the authority of the Confederate States,
that they be yigilal and Jealous in discharg-
ing the duties incident thereto. And / do,
moro over, solcmnly cXhort tho good people of
these Confederate States, rs they love their
country, as they prize the blessings of free
Government, as they feel the wrongs of the
past and these now threatened in an aggrava-
ted form, by those whose enmity is more im-
placabe, because unprovoked, that they exert
themselves in preserving order, in promoting
concord, in maintaining the authority and eff
ficiency of the laws, and in supporting and
invigorating all the measures which may be
adopted for the common defence, and by
which, under the blessing of Divine Provi-
tiio"C5, So may itopo fSvG i speedy Just ,!! 4!
honorable peace.
In testimony whereof, have hercunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the Gonfeder
ate States to be affixed, this seventeenth day
of April, 1861.
BY the President
(Sgned;) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
II. TooMB9, Secretary of State.
CONSTITUTIONAL lIREEDoM.- The South
crn Christian Advocate IN referring to the
lSSui' vi tnO 'SttHtbVt diiliTJ suJS. l-'
''That no lives should have kcen lost in so
fierce struggles cause of devout thankful
ncss. is it not an earnest of the fact that the
God in whom We trust, will give us the vcto-
~ yet, without the shedding of the blood of
those so lately fellow-citi2cNs. In Him we
trust. Our cause is no longer that of the re-
lations Of thenegro to the white man but
thntof Constitutional liberty that of the right
of people composing large separate section
of therace, to govern themselves II is a
question between free institutions and a mill
tnry despotisn. If our neghbors prefer the
latter, let them have it. We of the South
prefer the former, ani we will have them or
consent to take as the alternative utter extcr-
mination. 81 wfi fhp i~ M
f1A---~rzpy ~---+--.4z5 lssise-s ..ssfl
VIsIT 10 FoRp SUMrER.- Yesterday NOR
ming Mr. Russell, the correspondent of tho
London Times, now in Gharleston, says the
Mercury, visited Fort Sumter. He was ac-
companied by Col. Miles, Col. Chesnut Col.
NIahping, ard Col. Whitiug, aids to General
Beahtegafds and, Col T4ucas, aid to Governor
Piekens. SIR Bontaine, Of the N. Y. HcraId,
and Others wcrs Of the party 2