Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-22
President Lincola and Gen. Hunters
Proclamation.

President lincoln Rnd Gen. Hunters
Proclamation.
ny THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, There appears mt the public
prints what purports to be a proclamation
Of Major Gen. Hunter, in the words and fig
ure following, { wit:
Head Quarters Dep'mt of the South,
Hilton Head, S. c., May 8, 1862.
GENERAL ORDER NO. IL.
The three States OF Georgia, Florida and
South Carolina, comprising the Military De-
partment of the South, having deliberately
declared themselves no longer under the pro
lection of the United States of America, and
having taken up arms against the said United
States, il becomes military necessity to de-
clare them under martial law. This was ac-
cordingiy done on the 25th day of April,
1862. Slavery and martial law in free
country are altogether Incompatible, The
pei in these three States, Georgia, Flor
ida and South Carolina, heretofore held as
slaves are therefore declared forever free.
(Oficial,) DAVID HUNTER,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.
ED. w. Smith,
Acting Asst Adj't Gen.
And whereas, the same is producing some
excitement and misunderstanding, There.
fore, |, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, proclaim and declare, tb at
the Government of the United States had no
knowledge or belief OF an intention on the
part of Gen. Hunter to issue such procla-
hos - authant,, &C
that the document is genuine; and further,
that neither Gen. Hunter nor any other CON-
mander or person has been authorized by the
Government of the United States to make
proclamation declaring the slaves of any
State free, and that the supposed proclama-
ton now in question, whether genuine or
false, is altogether void so far as respects
such declaration. | 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 wtetner at any time or in any case
it shall have become a necessity indispen-
sable to the maintenance Of the movement
to exercise such supposed power, are ques-
tons which, under my responsibility, | re
serve to myself, and which | cannot feel JUS
tilted in leaving to the decision OF command
ers in the field. These are totally different
questions of police regulations in armies and
camps.
On the 9Th day of March last, by special
message, | recommended to Congress the
adoption OF joint resolution to be substan-
tally as follows:
Resolved, That the United States ought
to cooperate with any State which may
adopt gradual adjustment of slavery, Civ
ing to such State in its discretion to eompen-
safe for the Inconvenience, public and pri-
vate, produced by such change OF 81 stem.
The resolution, in the language above
quoted, was adopted by large msjorities in
both branches of Congress, and now stands
an authentic, definite and solemn proposal of
the Nation to the States and people most
Immediately interested in the srbject. To
the people of these States | now earnestly
appeal, do not argue. / beseech you to
make the arguments for yourselves. You
cannot, ifyou would, be blind to the signs OF
the times. beg of you calm and enlarged
consideration of them-rangng, ii 1t may
be, far above personal and partIzan policies
This proposal makes common cause for
common subject, casting no reproaches upon
any. 1t acts not the Pharsee. The change
it contemplates would come gently as the
dews of heaven, not rending or wrecking any
thing Will you not embrace ii ? SO much
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 do. May the
vast future not have to taunt 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
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and
of the independence of the United States
the eigh y sixth.
ABRAHAM LINCoN.
By the President
VIM. Fl. SEWARD,