Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-04-18
THE LATEST NEWS.
TEL EG B A HIC.
Proclamation Of the President Of the Ssuth-
ern CopfederacY.


MONTGOMERY, A pril l. The following procla-
nation has been just issued by Preside nt Davis :
w hereas, Abraham Lincoln, President Of the
United States, has, bv proclamation, announced
MS intention OF invading the Confeoeracy with
an armed force for the purpose of capturing its
fortresses, and thereby subjugating Us indepen-
dence, and suhjecting the free people thereof to
the dominion OF a foreign Power; and
w hereas, 1t has thus become the duty of this
Government to repel the threatened In vasion and
defend the hts and liberties of the peopl. by all
the means which the laws of nations and usage
OF civilized warfare place at its disposal:
Now, therefore, |, Jefferson Davis President Of
the Confederate States Of America, do issue this
my proclamation, inviting all those who NAV
desire, by service in private armed vessels on the
high seas TO aid this Government In resisting 40
wanton and wicked aggression TO make applics
uon Tor commissions or letters Of marQue and
reprisal to be issued under seal Of these Confed-
crate Estates
And do further notify all persons spplying for
giving the name and suitable description Of char
acter, tunnage, and force Of vessel, and place of
residence of each owner concerned therein and
the intended number Of crew. and to sign such
statement and deliver the same 20 the Secretary OF
STATE or Collector Of the Port of entry Of these
Confederated States, 10 be by him transmitted TO
the Secretary of State.
And do further notify all applicants aforesaid,
That before any commission letter Of inarque is
issued 10 any vessel, the owner or owners thereof
and the commander for the time being be re-
CURED 10 give bond to the Confederate States
at least two responsible sureties not interested in
such vessel, In the penal sum Of FIVE thousand dol
lars, or II such vessel be provided with more than
$50 nen, then In the penal sum of three thousand
dollars, with the condition that the owners OH
GERS and crew who shall be mployed on board of
such commissioned vessel shall observe the laws
OF these Confederate States and Instructions given
them for the regulation Of their conduct that shall
satisfy all damages done contrary TO the tenor
thereof by such vessel during her commission
and delivery up Of the same ben REQ uired by the
President of the Confederate States
And do further specially enjoin OIL all persons
holding office, civil and military, md or authority
or the Confederate States, that they be yigilant
ana Jealous In the discharge of the duties Incl
dent thereto
And do. moreover, solemnly exhort the good
people Of these Confederate States, as they love
their country, as they prize the blessing OF free
government, as they feel the wrongs Of the past
and those now threatened in an aggravated form
by those whose enmitv is the more i'm placable be.
cause unprovoked, that they exert themselves in
preserving order, in permitting concord, in main
taining the authority and efficiency Of the laws
and in supporting and invigorating all the meas.
ures which may be adopted for the common de-
fence, and by which, under the blessings of Di.
vine Providence, We may hope for speedy, Just
and honorable peace.
In testimony whereof | have hereunto aft xed
the seal Of the Confederacy, this seventeenth day
of April, 1861.
(Signedl JEFFERSON DAVIS
ROBERT TooMBS, Secretary Of State.