Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-05-22
Proclamation by the President.

Proclamation by the President.
By the President of the United Stotes-a
Proclamation:
WAsHrsGToN, May Whereas there
appears in the public prints what purports
to be a proclamation of Major General
Hunter, and whereas the same is produc.
ing some excitement and misunderstand-
ing, therefore /. Abraham Lincoln. Presi-
dent 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 is
sue such proclamation. Nor has it yet
any authentic information that the docu-
ment is genuine. and further, that neither
Gen. Hunter or any other commander or
person has been authorized by the Gov
eminent Of the United States to make proc
lamation declaring the slaves Of any State
free. and that the supposed proclamation
now in question whether genuine or false,
is altogether void, so far as respects such
declaration.
! further make known that whether it
is competent for me as Comm ander-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. indispensable to
the maintenance of the Government, to
exercise such supposed power. are ques-
tons which under my responsibility. re-
serve 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 armies and in camps On
the 9th of March last, by a special message
recommended 10 congress the adoption
of Joint resolution to be substantially
as follows:
"Resolved. That the United States ought
to cooperate with any State which may,
adopt gradual adjustment of Slavery,
giving to such State in its discretion. to
compensate for the Inconvenience. public
and private. produced by such change of
system" The resolution in the language
above quoted, WAS adopted by large Ma
Iiorites in both branches of Congress, and
now stands an authentic, definite and solid
proposal of the nation to the States and
people most interested in the subject mat
ter To the people of these States now L
earnestly appeal; donot argue, beseeeh
you to make the argument for yourselves.
You cannot. If you would. be blind to the
signs of the times. | beg Of you a calm
and enlarged consideration of them, rang
ing. if it may be. far above personal and
party politics. The proposal makes COM
mon cause for common object. casting
no reproaches upon any. 1t acts not the
phaiisee. The change it contempla,es
xonld come gently the dew of heaven.
not renling or wrecking anything. Will
You not embrace it? 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 lament that you
have neglected il.
In witness whereof. | have hereunto set
my han1, and caused the seal of the
United States to be annexed. Done at
the City of Washington. this 10Th day
of May, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
aud OF the independence of the United
States the eighty-sixth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.