Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-04-20
PROCLAMATION
By THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATE
OF AMERICA

he STATES
OF AMERICA
WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln. the President
| OF the United States, has, By Proclamation,
announced the intention of invading this
Confederaey with an armed force, for the pur-
pose of capturing its fortresses, and thereby
| subverting its independence, aud snbjecting
the free people thereof to the dominion of a
foreign power; and. whereas, it has thus be-
| come 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 dis
posal:
Now, therefore, /, Jefferson Davis, Presi-
dent of the Confederate States of America,
do issue this, my 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 wick
| ed an aggression. to make application for
commissions, or letters of maruue and re-
prisal, to be issued under che seal of the Con-
federate States. And 1 do further notify all
persons applying for letters of marque to
make stetement in writing, giving the name
and suitable description of the character of
vessel, and the name and place of residence
OF each owner concerned therein, and the in
tended number of the crew, and to sign said
etatement. and to deliver the same to the Sec
rotary of State, or to the Collector of any
| port of entry of the Confederate States, to be
by him transmitted to the Secretary of State.
And do further notify all applicants afore-
said, that before any commission or letter of
| marque is issued to any vessel the owner or
| owners thereof and the commanders for the
time being, will be required to give bond to
the Confederate States, with at least two re-
sponsible securities, not in any way interest
| ed in sach vessel, in the penal sum of at least
"a
provided with more than one hundred and
fifty men, then in the penal sum of ten thou
sand dollars with condition that the owners,
officers and crew who shall be employed on
| board such commissioned vessels shall OBJ
serve the laws of these Confederate States
| and the instructions given to them for the reg
ulation of their conduct, that they shall salts
fy all damages done contrary TO the tenor
thereof, by such vessel, during her commits
! sion, and deliver up the same when revoked
by the President of the Confederate States
And L do further specially eDjoin on all
persons holding Offices, civil and military,
under the authority of the Confederate
States, that they be vigilant and jealous in
discharging the duties incident Thereto
And | do moreover solemnly exhort the
good people of these Confederate States as
they love their country, as they prize the
blessings of one government, as they feel the
wrongs of the past, and those now threatened
in aggravated form, by those whose enmity
is more implacable, because unprovoked,
that they exert themselves in preserving Or
der, in promoting concord, in maintaining
the authority and efficacy of the laws; and
in supporting and invigoTating all the
measures which may be adopted for the COM
mon defence, and by which, under the bless
ings 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 Confede-
rate States to be affixed. this 18th day of
April, A. d., 1861. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the President:
R. ToONBS, Secretary of State.