The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1862-05-22
Proclamation by the President of the Uni.
tod States.


Whereas, There appears in the public
prints, what purports to be approximation
of Major General Hunter; and whereas
the same is producing some excitement
and misunderstanding, therefore |, Abra-
ham Lincoln, President of the United
States, proclaim and declare that the
Government of the United States had no
knowledge or belief Of an intention on
the part of Gen. Hunter TO issue such
proclamation, nor has it yet any authentic
information that the document is genu-
inc; and further, that Gen. Hunter, nor
any other commander or person, has been
authorized by the Government of the
United States to make proclamation de-
claring the slaves of any State free and
that the supposed proclamation in ques.
ton, whether genuine or false, is alto
gether void so far as respects such decla-
ration.
further make known that whether it
be competent for me as Commander In.
Chief of the army and navy to declare
the slaves of any State or States free, and
whether at any time or in any case, it
shall have become a necessity, indispens-
able to the maintenance of the Govern
mcnt, to exercise such supposed power,
are questions which, under my response.
bility, l reserve to myself, and which I
cannot feel justified in leaving to the de-
cisions Of the commanders 10 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 Con.
gress the adoption of joint resolution,
to DO substantially as follows:
"ResoIpea, That the United States
ought to cooperate with any State which
may adopt a gradual adjustment of sla-
very, giving aid to such States, in its
discretion, to compensate for the incon
veniencies, public and private, produced
BY such change of system
The resolution in the language above
quoted was adopted by large majorities
in both branches of Congress, and now
stands an authentic, definite, and solemn
proposal of the nation to the States and
people most interested in the subjec,
matter. To the people of these States
| earnestly appeal. DO not argue Il
beseech you to make the arguments fol
yourselves. You cannot, if you would
be blind to the 81 gns of the times. beg
of you calm and enlarged consideration
of them, ranging, if it may be. far above
personal and party politics This pro-
posal makes a common cause for CON-
mon object. Casting no reproaches up
on any, it acts not the Pharisce. The
change it contcmplates would come gent.
ly as the dews of heaven, not rendiug or
wrecking anything. Will you not en-
brace it So much good has not been
done by any effort in all past time as, in
the providence of God, it is now your
high privilege to do. May the vast fu.
ture not have to lament that you have
neglected it.
In witness whereof | have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. Done at the
city of Washington this 10Th day of
May, in the year of our Lord one thou
sand eight hundred and sixty two, and of
the Independence of the United States
the cighty-sixth.
lSignedl ABRAHAM LINCOLN
~ the President:
NM. ii. SEWARD, Secretary OF STATE.