The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-05-21
IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION.
THE PRESIDENT ON GEN. muNrEl
He Appeals TO the People Of the Bor-
der slave states.
\ PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, There appears IN the public
/ prints what purp1rts to be a proclamation d
Maj. Gen Hunter and whereas, the same i.
producing some excitement and misunler.
standing;
Therefore /, Abraham Lincoln, prc..
! iiont Of the United States proclaim and
declare that the government Of the United
| states had 40 knowledge or belief Of an in.
'eution On the part Of Gen. Hunter to ISSUE
such proclamation, nor has it vet any uu.
thcntlc Information that the document i zen.
ulne and, further that Gen. Hunter, nor
any other commander or person, has been M.
lhprl1ed by the government Of the
mtrd States to make proclamation
declaring the slaves of any state free:
and thu. the supposed proclamation now in
question, whether genuine or false, is aliUgcth.
cf void so far as respects such declarations
further make known that whether it be
competent for me. "a ommander.in-rhiefo of tho
army an! navy, to declare the slaves of any
state or states free and whether at any time,
or IN any case, It shall become necessity,
indispensable to the maintenance of the gOy-
ernment, to exercise such supposed power, are
questions which, under my responsibility,
reserve to myself, and which | cannot feel
justified III leaving to the decision Of comman.
ders in the field These are totally different
questions from those Of police regulations in
armies and camps
On the 9th day Of March last, by a special
message, ! recommended to congress the adop.
ton OF "A joint resolution, to be substantially
as follows:
"Reso'rc}, That the United States ought
to cooperate with any State which may adopt
gradual adjustment Of slavery, giving aid
to such States, III It's discretion, to compen.
safe for the inconyenicuces, public and mi.
va'e, produced by such change of systemh
The resolution in the language above Guo
ted wa. adopted by large majorities in both
branches Of congress, and now stands an au.
thcntlc, definite, and solemn proposal Of the
nation to the states and people most interested
IN the subject matter. To the people of these
states, now, earnestly appeal | do not ar.
cue-l bcscech you to make the arguments
Tor yourselves. You cannot, if you would. he
blind to the signs Of the times. | beg Of YOU
a calm and enlarged consideration Of them,
ranging, lift may be- far above personal and
party politics This proposal makes com.
mon cause tor common object. Casting no
r"proacheH upon any, 1t act, not the Pharisce.
he change 1t cpntemplatc- would come gen.
ty ~ the dews OF heaven, not rcnding or
wrecking any thing. VIII you not embrace
it? Snmuch good has not been done by one
effort in all past time as, in the providence Of
God, IT is now your high privilege to d.
May the vast future not have to lament that
You have neglected it.
In witness whereof have hereunto set NV
handan caused the sealof the United States |
to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this lqth |
day of May, in the year Of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and -ixtytwo. and
Of the Independence Of the United States
the eighty sixth.
lSIgncd) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President:
WV. II, SEWARD, Secretary Of State