Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-18
TELEGRAMS-
IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION OF PRESIDENT DA.
XIS-I ErrERS OF MARnIrE ANn REpRIsAI

| lhfOhfANI PROCLAMATION OF PRESIDENT DA-
yIS-IErrERS OF MARQUE AND REPRISAL.
MONeOsERT, April l7.-"whereas Abraham Lincoln,
President Of tie United States has By proclamation an
nouneed his intention Of invading the Confederacy with
armed force TO- the purpose of capturing the fortress
and thereby subverng sindependence and subjec,ing
the free people thereof the dominic Of foreign pow
er And whereas has thus become d duty this Gov
eminent TO reFe the threatened invasion aud defend the
hts and liberties Of the people by M the means that
tie law Of nations, aud the usage5 of civilized
wsrare place at its disposal: Now, therefore, / JEFF
ferson Davis President Of the CoufedeIats States of
America, DO issue this my Proclamation inviting all thoe
lt may desire to seri,e ia prvated armed vessels
the high seas 10 aid this Government in resisting
Wanton and wicked an aggression, to make application
for commissions or letters Of msrqus aud r5pra to re
Issued under the Seal Of these Confederate States and
do further notify all persons applying for letters of
mlrque to make staten in writing giving the name
and suitable description of the character tonnage
and force Of Tie vessel the name aud residence Of the
owner concerned therein aud the intended number of
the crew. and 70 sign such statement and deliver the
same 20 the Secretary of State or the collector of some
port Of entry Of these Confederate States to be by him
transmitted to the Secretary of State and do further
ion or letter of msrque is issued, to any YES
s., owner or owners thereof ard the commander
for the time being, that they will be required to give
bond TO the Confederate States with least, two
pOnsoe uretes not interested in such vessel in the pen
al sum five thousand dollars if such vessel be pro-
vided with more than hundred and fifty men, then
in the petal sum Of ten thousand dollars with condition
that the owners, officers and crew. who shall be employ
ed on board Euch commissioned vessel shall observe the
Avs Of these Confederate States and the instructions
given them for the regulation of their conduct that they
shall satisfy all damages done contrary the tenor there
OF by such vessel during her commission and deliver up
the same when required by the Confederate States and
do further specially erOn all persons, holding Cities
civil and military under the authority OF the Confederate
States that they be dgen in and about the discharge
Of the duties incident thereto. Aud do moreover,
s1lemny eIhort the good people Of these Confederate
Safes that those who love the country, they prize the
blessings Of free government and feel the wrongs of the
past and those threatened in an aggravated form
b. those whose enmy is implacable because IN
provoked tia. they exert themselves in preserving order
in promoting concord, in maintaining the author
and efficiency of the laws and in supporting aud il
MIGRATING all The that 1a7 Hs adopted for The
common defence, AID by which, uni lie blessings of
divine providence, may hope fer l--dy, jlst and
honorable peace.
In testimony whereof have herer set my hand
and caused Isl the seal Of the Confederate States to be
affixed.
Done at the city of Montgomery, this 18th day Of
April in the year Of Lord thousand eight hun
bred and sixty-one JEFF. DAVIS.
By the President.
ROBERT TocNns Secretary Of State.