The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-26
Proposal to Issue Letters. Of Nj argue
and Reprisal.

Proclamation by the President of the
Confederate States Of America:
Whereas, Abraham Lincoln, President
of the United States, has, by proclaim ton,
announced intention of invading the Con.
federacy with an armed force, for the pur.
pose of capturing its fortresses, and thereby
subverting its independence, and subiecting
the people thereof to the dominion of for.
eign Power and whereas it has thus be.
come the duty of this Government to repel
the threatened invasion, and defend the
rights and liberties of the people by all
the means which the laws OF nations and
usages of civilized warfare place at it's dispo.
sal. Now, therefore, 1 Jefferson Davis Pres.
ident of the Confederate States of Ameri.
ca, do issue this, my proclamation, inviting
all those who may desire by service in pri.
vate arme1 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 further notify
all persons applying for letters of marque
to make statement in writing. giving the
name and suitable description of the char
acter, 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 state,
ment, and deliver the same to the Secretary
of State or Collector of the port of entry Of
these Confederate States, to be by him
transmitted to the Secretary of State, and
I do further notify all applicants aforesaid
before any commission or letters of maruue
are issued to any vessel, or the owners thereof,
and the commander for the time being, they
will be required to give bond to the Con-
federate States, with at least two RESPONSE
BILE sureties not interested in such vessel, in
the penal sum of $4,000, or if such vessel
be provided with more than one hundred
and fifty men, then in the penal sum of $lO.-
900, with the condition that the owners. Of.
ficers and crew who shall be employed on
board of such vessel, shall observe the laws of
these Confederate States, and the instructions
given them for the regulation oftheir conduct,
that shall satisfy all damages done contrary
to the tenor thereof by such vessels during
her commission, and deliver up the same
when revoked by the President of the Con>
federate States. And do further especial
ly enjoin on all persons holding Offices, civil
and military, under the authority of the
Confederate States, that they be vigilant
and Jealous in the discharge of the duties
incident thereto; and 1 do moreover exhort
the good people of the 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 enmity is more impracticable because
unprovoked, they exert themselves in pre-.
serving order, in promoting concord, in
maintaining the authority and efficiency Of
the laws, and in supporting, invigorating all
the measures which may be adopted for a
common defence, and by which, under the
blessing of Divine Providence, we may hope
for speedy, just and honorable peace.
In witness whereof have set My hand,
and have caused the seal of the Con federate
States of America to be attached, this 18th
day of April, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and s.xty-one.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
ROBERT TooMBS. Secretary.