The national Republican., 1861-04-18
BY TELEGRAPH.
Proclamation of President Davis.

Proclamation Of President Davis.
Montgomery, April IL" The President Of
the Confederate States Of America has Issued
the following:
"' PROCLAMATION.
Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the President OF
the United States Of America, has, by procla-
nation, announced the intention Of inva.
ding this Conf.deracy with an armed force, for
the purpose of capturing it's tort fications, and
thereby subverting It's independence and sub.
jecting the free people thereof to the dominion
of foreign Power and whereas it has thus
become the duty OF this Government to repel
the threatened invasion, and to defend the
rights and liberties Of the people, by all the
means which the laws Of nations aud the usa.
yes Of civilized warfare place ut its disposal !;
now, therefore.
/, jefferson Davis, President Of the Confed.
crate States of merica, do issue this, my proc.
| iamation, inviting all those who may desire,
| by service IN private armed vessels on the high
| seas, TO aid this Government III resisting 80
| wanton and wicked All aggression, to make ap.
pl,cation for COIN missions or letters OF marque
and reprsaI, to be issued under the seal OF these
| CJhfederste states.
Aud / do further notify all persons applying
| Tor letters OF marque, to make statement, III
writing, giving the name aud a suitable de-.
| scrptiOn OF the character, tonnage, and force,
| OF the vessel, and the name aud place OF resi-.
dence OF each Own,r concerned therein, and
the intended number Of the crew, aud to sign
said statement, and deliver the same to the
| secretary Of State, or to the collector Of any
port Of entry VI these Confederate States, to be
by him transmitted to the Secretary Of STATE.
And do further notify all applicants aforesaid,
that, before any commission or letter Uf maj que
| "a IN tha
thereof, and the comma, der for the time being
will be required to give boz to the Coniede
rate States, with at least two r-spunsibs sure.
ties not interested In such vessel, in the peua
sum Oi five thousand dollars or If such vesse
be provided with more than one hundred auc
fifty men, then in the penal sum Vi ten thou
sand dollars, with condition that the owners
officers, and crew, who shall b" employ ed Oh
board such commissioned vessel, shall observe
the laws Of these Confederate States, and the
instructions given 10 them for the regulation o
their conducI, that shall satisfy all damages
done contrary to the tenor thereof by such yes
Sci during her commission, aud deliver uI
the Same when revoked by the President OF the
Confederate States.
And ] do further especially enjoin on al
persons no dlng offices, c,vIl aud military, un
der the authority Vi ihe Confederate states, tina
tney Dt VlRlldit anu ztalOuS III ulschhiBlllk
the duties incident thereto. Aud do more
over sulemnly exhort the good people Vi thes'
Confederate Stutes-as they love their country
as they pr ze the blessings OF free Govern
ment, as they feel the wrongs Of the past, an'
those now threatened, in an aggravated torn
by those whose enmity is more implacable be
, cause unprovoked-that they exert themselve
in preserving order, in promoting concord, u
, maintaining the authority aud efficacy OF ih
laws, and IN supporting aud invigoratinx al
the measures which may be adopted for lh
common defence, aid bv which, under h
, blessing Of Divine Providence, we may hop
for speedy, just, aud honorable peace.
In testimony whereof l have hereunto Sc
my hand, and caused the seal of III
Confederate States to be affixed, TIL
seventeenth day Of April, A. y. eigh:ee
hundred and sixty one.
JEFFERssS DAVIS.
By the President:
4. TooMBs,
Y Secretary of State.