Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-04-26
BY W. A. LEE AND HUGH WILSON, JR.
PROCLAMATION OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.

PROCLAMATION OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.
MONTGOMERY, April 1.-THE following
proclamation was issued to-day:
n Proclamation by the President of the
Confederate States Of america
Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the Presi-
dent of the the United States, has by pro-
clamatiou announced the intention of inva-
ding this Confederacy with an armed force,
for the purpose Of capturing its fortresses
and thereby subverting its independence,
and subjecting the free people thereof to
The dominion of foreign power; and whcer-
as it has thus become the duty Of this Gov.
eminent to repel the threatened invasion
and to defend the rights and liberties Of
the people by all the means which the laws
of nations and the usages Of civilized war
fare place at its disposal.
Now, therefore, !, Jefferson Davis, Presi-
dent Of the Confederate States of America,
do issue this my proclamation, inviting all
those who may desire by service in private
armed vessels on the high seas to aid this
Government in resisting SO wanton and
wicked an aggression, to make application
for commissions or letters Of marque and
reprisal, to be issued under the seal Of these
Confederate States. And do notify all
persons applying for letters of marque, to
make a statement in writing, giving the
nome and suitable description Of the
character, tonnage and force of the vessel,
and the name and place of residence Of each
owner concerned therein, and the intended
number of the crew, and TO sign said state
ment 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 notify all applicants afore-
said, that before any commission or letter Of
,mar4ue 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 responsible sureties, not interes-
ted in such vessel, in the penal sum Of FIVE
thousand dollars or if such vessel be pro-
vided with more than one hundred and hf-
ty men, then in the penal sum Of ten thou
sand dollars; with condition that the own
ers, officers and crew who shall be employ
ed on boafd such com missioned vessel, shall
observe the laws of these Confederate States
and the instructions given to them for the
regulation ofetbeir conduct; that they
shall satisfy ah-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 Confede-
rate 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 jealous in discharging the duties Incl
dent thereto. And do, moreover, solemn.
ly exhort the good people Of these Confede
rate States, as they love their country, as
they prize the blessings Of free Government
as they feel the wrongs Of the past and
the sepow threatened in an aggravated form,
by those whose enm;ty is more implacab'e,
because unprovoked, that they exert them.
selves in preserving order, in promoting
concord, in maintaining the authority and
efficiency of the lave, and in supporting
and invigorating all the measures which
may be adopted for the common defence,
and by which, under the blessing Of Divine
Providence, we may hope for speedy. just
ard honorable peace.
In testimony whereof, have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
Confederate States to be affixed, this seven.
teenth day ofApril, 1861.
Blythe President
(signedJ JEFFERSON DAVIS.
r. TooMBs, Secretary Of State.
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