The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-22
Important Proclamation

Important Proclamation.
The President on Gen. Hunter.-He
appeals to the People Of the Border
,SlaUe States.
WAsHINGToN, May l9.-The Presi-
dent has to-day issued the followimg:-
By the President of tile United States.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, There appears in the pub
lie prints, what parports t" be prOcla-
nation of Maj. General Hunter; and
whereas, the same is producing some
excitement and Misunderstanding;
Therefore, l, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, pro
claim 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 a proclaim
alton, nor has it yet any authentic in
formation that the document is genuine;
and farther, that neither Gen. Hunter,
nor any other Commander or person,
has been authorized by the Govern
ment of the United States to make
proclamation 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 be competent for me as Commander
in Chief of the Army and Navy, to de-
clare the slaves of any State or States
free, and whether at any time or in any
case it shall become a necessity indiS-
pensible to the maintenance of the
Government to exercise such supposed
power, are questions which under my
responsibility reserve to myself, and
which / cannot feel justified in leaving
to the decision of commanders in the
field. These are totally different ques
lions from those of police regulations
in armies and camps.
On the 9th day of March last, 10y a
special message, recommended to
Congress the adoption of q joint reso-
luton, to be substantially as follows:
Rssolo-d, That the United States ought TO coop
crate with any State which may adopt gradual
abolition of slavery, giving aid to such States in
public and private, produced BY such change of
system.
The resolution on the language above
quoted was adopted by large majorities
in both branches of Congress and now
stands an authentic, definite and SOL
emn proposal of the nation to the
States and people most interested in
the subject matter. To the people OF
these States, now l earnestly appeal.
do not argue, l beseech you to make
the arguments for yourselves. You
cannot, if you would, be blind to the
of the times. beg of you calm and
enlarged consideration of them, rang
ing, if it may be, far above personal
and party politics. This proposal
makes common cause for common
object. Casting no reproaches upon
any, it acts not the Pharisee. The
change it contemplates would come
gently as the dews of Heaven, not rend.
ing or wrecking anything. Will You
not embrace it. Somuch 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 1t.
| In witness whereof, / have hereunto
set my hand 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, and of the independence
of the United States, the eighty-sixth.
(Signed, ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
Nv The President: WM H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.