The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-05-01

The following is the Proclamation Of Presi-
dent Davis declaring the purpose Of the Ccnfed-
crate Government to issue letters Of Marque.
PRocL AMAZON BIZ rHE rREsIDssI on THE cozsEp-
ERArE STATES or AMERICA, A a go
Whereas, Abraham Lineoln, the President Of
The United States, has, by proclamation, an
nounced the intention Of invading this Confed-
eracy with an arped force for the purpose Of
capturing its fortrcsses, and thereby subvertng
its Independence and subjugating the free people
thereof 10 the dominion Of . foreign power =
And ekereas Il has thus become the duty OF
TINS government to repel the Threatened invasion
and to defend the rights and liberties Of thePeo-
ple by all the means which the law Of nations
and the 'usages Of civilized warfare place at its
disposal; now, therefore, !, Jefferson Davis,
President of the Confederate States Of America,
do issue this my proclamation, inviting all those
who may desire, by service in private armed YES,
sells on the high seas, 20 aid this government In
resisting so wanton and wicked an aggression, 70
make applcation for commissions or letters Of
marq,lc 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 q statement In
writing. giving tho name and Suitable descrip-
ton Of the character, tonnage and force Of the
vessel, and the name and place Of residence Of
number of the crew, and 10 sign said statement
and deliver the same to the Secretary Of State
or to the collector of any port Of entry Of those
Confederate States, to be by him transmitted 70
the Secretary of State. And do further notify
aii applicants aforesaid, that before any commits
sion or letter of marque is issued to any vessel,
the owner or owners thereof aud the command
or for the time being, will be required TO give
bond to the Confederate States, with at least
two responsible sureties not interested in such
vessel in tho penal sum Of $4,000; or II such
vessel be provided with more than one hundred
and fifty men, then in the penal sum OF $lO,.
900, with condition that the owners, officers and
crew WHO shall be employed on board such com
missioned vessel, shall obey the laws Of these
| Confederate States, and the instructions t' them
for the regulation Of their conduct, that they
shall satisfy all damages done contrary TO the
tenor thereof by such vessel during her com
mission, and deliver up the same when revoket
by the President Of the Confederate States
| And do further specially enjoin on all persons
| holding Office, civil and military, under the au
thority Of the Confederate States, that they b,
yigilant and jealous in discharging the dutiel
/ incident thereto. And do, moreover, solemn
Iy cxhort the good people OF these Confederat
States. as they love their country, as they priz
tho blessings Of free government, as they fec
the wrongs Of the past and those now threaten
ed in aggravated form by those whose enmit.
is more implapel4e, because unprovoked tina
thew exert themselves in preserving order, i
promoting concord, in maintaining the authorit,
and efficiency of the laws, and in supportia
and inyigorating all the measures which may ,
adopted for the common defence, and by which
under the blessing Of Divine Providence, VIC ma
hope for speedy, just and honor~ble peace,
In testimony whereof, l'have her'
unto set my hand aud caused the se'
H. 81 of the Confederate States to be IKE
this nth day Of April, A. D., cightce
hundred and sixtycne
s-- -.--- JEFFERSoN DAVIS
r, TooMBs, secretary of State. as4 ala