Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-04-20
LETTERS OF MARQuE.
PROCLAMATION FROM PREsT.
DENT DAVIS.

By The President Of The Confederate States OF american
WHEREAs, Abraham Lincoln the President of the
United States has, by Proclamation, announced the
intention of invading this Confederacy with an
ed FORCE for the purpose of capturing its fortresses
and thereby subverting its independence, and sub
Jecting the free people thereof to the ,mnion of
foreign power-and whereas, it has thus become
the duty of this Government to repe the tn eaten
ed INVASION and to defend the rights and liberties
of the people by all the means which the laws of ma
tons and the usages of civilized warfare place at its
disposal
Now therefore l. jefferson Davis, President of
the Confederate States of America, do issue this
my proclamation, inviting all those who may desire
by service in private armed vessels the high seas
to aid this Government in resisting wanting and
wicked an aggression to make applications for COM
missions or letters of marque and reprisa to be
sued under the seal of the Confederate States: and
do further notify all persons applying for letters
of marque to make a statement in writing.
giving the name and suitable description Of
the character, tonnage, and a force of the
vessel, and the name and place of residence
of each owner concerned therein, and the in
tended number of the crew, and to sign said state~
ment and deliver the to the Secretary of State
to the Collector of any port of entry of the Con-
federate States to be by him transmitted TO the Sec
rotary of State. And do further notify all appli>
cants aforesaid that before any commission or let
ter of marque is issued to any vessel the or
owners thereof, and the commander for the time be-
States with at least two responsible surities
not interested In such vessel, 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 SUN of ten thousand
dollars with condition that the owners, officers and
crew who shall be employed on board such commits
stoned vessel, shall observe the laws of these Con-
federate States and the instructions given to them
for the regulation of their conduct that they shall
satisfy all damages done contrary to the tenor there
of, by such vessel during her commission. and de-
liver up the when revoked by the President of
the Confederate States.
And do further specially enjoin on all persons
holding Offices civil and military, under the author
ity of the Confederate States that they be vglant
and jealous in discharging the duties incidentthere
to.
And do moreover solemnly exhort the good peo-
pie of these Confederate States as they love their
country-as they prize the blessings of free Gov
ernment- they feel the wrongs of the past--and
those now threatened in aggravated form. by those
whose enmity is more implacable because unpro-
vokcd, that they exert themselves in preserving
order in promoting concord, in maintaining the au
thorty and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting
and invigorating all the measures which may be
adopted for the common defence, and by which,
under the blessings of Divine Providence, may
hope for speedy, just, and honorable peace.
In testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my
hand and caused The seal of the Confederate States
to be affixed, this 18th day of April, A. d. 1861.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the President,
r. TooMBs Secretary of State