Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-23
9onruaG ann Atatrsmram
Friday Morning, May 23. 1852.
Hunter's Proclamation Repudi-
ated by the President.


The Presidet has issued proclamation
renudiating the alleged proclamation OF
Gen. Hunter, as unauthorized, and of no
yalidity and effect, and reserving to him.
self alone the right to determine whether
he can consttutionally adopt such policy
irthe contingencies of the war eventually
make it necessary.
The following is the proclamation by
ibe President of the United States OF
America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, There appears in the public
prints what purports to be proclamation
of Major General Hunter, in the words
and figures following, to wit:
Headquarters Of The Dept cfMe lSoath, !
Hilton Head, s. O., May 8, 1862.
General Orders, No. IL. The three
States of Georgia, Florida, and South
Carolina, comprising the military depart
ment of the South, having deliberately
declared themselves no long under the
protection of the United States of Ameri.
ca and having taken up arms against the
said United States, it became military
necessity to declare them under martial
law This was accordingly done on the
95th day of April, 1862.
Slavery and martial law in free coun-
try are altogether Incompatible. The
persons in these three States-Georgia
Florida aud South Carolina-heretolorq
held as slaves are, therefore, declared for
ever free.
DAVID HUNTER,
Major General Commanding.
EDw W. SMITH, Acting Asst Adi't Gen
And wLereaS, The same is producing
some excitement and misunderstanding
therefore,
!, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the
United States proclaim and declare that
the Government of the United States had
no knowledge, information, or belief of an
intention on the part of General Hunter
10 Issue such a proclamation, nor has il
vet any authentic information that the
document is genuine and, further, that
neither General Hunter nor any other
commander or person has been authorized
by the Government of the United States
to make u proclamation declaring the
slaves of any State free, and that the sup
posed proclamation now in question,
whether genuine or false, is altogether
void, 50 far us respects such declaration.
further make it known that, whether
it he 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, in any case, it shall
have become necessity indispensable to
the maintenance of the Governmen to eX-
erciSe such supposed power, are ques-
llons which, under my responsibility,
reserve to myself, and which cannot feel
justified in leaving to the decision of com
manders in the field. These are totally
different questions from those of police
regulations In the armies and camps.
On the 9th day of March last, by II
special message, | recommended to Con-
gress the adoption of Il joint resolution,
10 be substantially as follows
" ResoiVed, That the United States
ought to cooperate with any State which
may adopt a gradual abolishment of sla-
very, giving to such State pecuniary aid,
to be used by such State, in its discretion
to compensate for the Inconvenience,
public and private, produced by such n
change of SYSTEM
The resolution in the language above
quoted, was adopted by large maioritie.
in both branches of Congress, and now
stands an authentic, definite, aud solemn
proposal of the nation to the States and
people most Immediately interested in the
subject matter.
To the people of those States now
earnestly appeal. do not argue; | be
seech you to make the arguments for your
selves. You cannot, if you would, bt
blind to the signs Of the times. beg o
You calm and enlarged consideration o
them, ranging, if it may be, far aboy'
personal and partisan politics.
This proposal makes common cause to
common object, casting no reproache
upon any, 1t acts not the Pharisee. Th
change it contemplates would come gentl
as the dews of heayen-not rending o
wrecking anything. Will you not EN-
brace itY So much good has not bee
done by one effort in all past time, us, il
the providence of God, it is now you
high privilege to do. May the vast futm
not have to lament that you have neg
lected it
In witness Whereof have hereunto sc
my hand and caused the seal Of the Unite
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this tn
nineteenth day of May, in the year {
our Lord one thousand eight hundre
and sixty-two, and of the Independent
of the United States the eighty-sixth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President,
WIN. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
Important from North Carolina.