St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-05-02
JEFF, DAVIS PROCLAMATION,

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln, President
of the United States, has, by procla-
nation, announced his intention of
invading the Confederacy with an
armed force, for the purpose of cap
turing it's fortresses, and thereby
subvertihG its independence and
subjecting the free people thereof
to the dominion of q foreign power ;
and whereas, it has thus become
the duty of this government to re-
pei the threatened invasion and de-
tend the rights and liberties of the
people by all the means which the
laws of nations and usages of civil
lied warfare place at our disposal,
Now, therefore, |, Jefferson Davis,
President of the Confederate States of
America, do issue this, my proclama-
ton, inviting all those who may de-
sire, by service in private armed ves-
sells on the high seas, to aid this gov
ernment in resisting SO wanton and
wicked an aggression, to make appli-
cations for commissions or letters of
marque and reprisal, to be issued un-
der the seal of the Confederate States
and do further notify all persons ap-
plying for letters of marque, to make
a statement in writing, giving the
name and suitable description of the
character, tonnage and force of the
vessel, name Of the place of residence
of each owner concerned therein, and
the intended number of crew, and to
sign each statement, and deliver the
same to the Secretary of State, OF
collector of the port of entry of these
Confederate States, to be by him
transmitted to the Secretary of State,
and l do further notify all applicantr
aforesaid, before any commission os
letter of marque is issued to any YES
sci, or the owner or owners thereof,
and the commander for the time being,
they will be required to give bond to
the Confederate States, with at least
two responsible sureties not interest
ed in such vessel, in the penal sum of
five thousand dollars, or if such vessel
be provided with more than one hun
dred and fifty men, then in the penal
sum of ten thousand dollars, with the
condition that the owners, officers and
crew who shall be employed OH such
commissioned vessel shall obey the
laws Of these Confederate States, and
instructions given them for the regu-
lation of their conduct, that shall sat
isfy all damages done contrary to the
tenor thereof by such vessel during
her commission, and deliver up the
same when revoked 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 vigilant and zeal.
GUS in the discharge of the duties in.
cident thereto and ! do moreover,
exhort the good people of these Con-
federate States. as they love their
country-as they prize the blessings
of free government-as they feel the
wrongs of the past, and those now
threatened in an aggravated form by
those whose enmity is more implaca-
BILE, because unprovoked-they exert
themselves in preserving order, in
promoting concord, in maintaining the
authority and efficacy of the laws, and
IN supporting, invigorating all the
measures which may he adopted for
common defence, and by which, under
the blessing of Divine Providence, we
may hope for a speedy, just and honor
able peace.
In witness whereof, l have set nv
hand and have caused the seal of the
Confederate States of America to be
attached this Seventeenth day of
April, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty one.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
ROBERT ToosBs. Secretary Of State.