The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-23
BY THE PRESIDENT
OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

Whereas, Abraham Lincoln, the President of
the United States, has by proclamation announced
the intention of invading this Confederacy with
an armed force, for the purpose of capturing its
fortresses and thereby subverting its independence
and subjecting the free people thereof to the
dominion of foreign power; and whereas 1t 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 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
nv proclamation, inviting all those who may desire
by service in private armed vessels on the high
seas to aid this Government in resisting SO wanton
and wicked an aggression, to make application Tor
commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, to
be issued under the seal of these Confederate
States And I do notify all persons applying for
letters of marque, make statement In writing,
giving the name and suitable description OF the
character tonnage and force of the vessel, and the
name and place of residence of each owner con-
cerned therein, and the Intended number of the
crew, and to sign said statement and deliver the
same to the Secretary of State, or to the Collector
of any port of entry Of 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 OF marque Is
issued to any vessel, the owner or owners thereof,
and the commander for the time being, will be
required TO give bond to the Confederate States,
with at least two responsible suretes, not interest
ed in such vessel in the penal sum of five thou
sand dollars; or if such vessel be provided with
more than one hundred and fifty men, then IN the
penal sum of ten thousand dollars with condition
that the owners, officers and crew who shall be
employed on board such commissioned vessel,
shall observe the laws of these Confederate States,
and the instructions given to them for the regula
ton of their conduct; that they shall satisfy all
damages done contrary to the tenor thereof by
the same when revoked by the President of the
Confederate States. And | do further specially
enioin on all persons holding Offices, civil and mill
tary, under the authority of the Confederate
States, that they be vigant and Jealous in dis
charging the duties incident thereto And do,
moreover, soemnly exhort the good people Of
these Confederate States, as they love their coun-
try, as they prize the blessings Of free Government
as they feel the wrongs of the past and these now
threatened in an aggravated form, by those whose
enmity is more implacable, because unprovoked,
that they exert themselves in preserving ORDER IN
promoting concord, in maintaining the authority
and efficiency of the laws, and in supporting and
nvigorating all the measures which may be adopted
for the common defence, and by which, under the
blessing of Divine Providence, we may hope for a
speedy, just and honorable peace.
In testimony whereof, | have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal of the Confederate States
to be affixed this seventeenth day of April, 1861.
BY the President.
ISignedl JEFFERSON DAVIS.
r. TOoMBs, Secretary of State.