Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-23
THE PRESIDENTS fRoCLAMA.
TON.
WASHINGTON, May l9

By tbs President Of the United STATES,
Proclamation
Whereas, There appears in the public
prints what purports TO be a proclamation
Of Major General Hunter in the words and
figures following, to wit:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF The SOUTH, I
HILroS HEAD, ;. e., May 8, lse2. :
GENERAL ORDERS No 1.-THE three States OF
Georgia, Florida aud south Carolina, eomprisins
the Military Department Of the South, having de-
hberately declared themselves no longer under the
protection Of the United States Of America, and
having taken up arms against the said United
States. it became military necessity TO dec are
them under martial law. This was accordingly
done on the 25;h day OF April, 1862. Slavery and
martial law in a free untTy are altogether in-
compatible. The persons in these three States,
Georgia, florida snd South Carolina, heretofore
held as slaves therefore declared forever free
IOmcial.I DAyID HuxIER,
Major General Commanding.
Ed. W. sNnn, Assist. Adjt Gen.
And Whereas. 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 or belief Of an intention
on the Part Of Gen. Hunter to issue snch a
PROCLAMATION, nor has it any authentic IT,
formation that the document rs genuine /:
and further that neither Gen. Hunter nor
any other commander, 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 sup
| posed proclamation now in question whetb-
er genuine or false, Is altogether void 50 far
IS respects such declaration.
| further make known that. whether it be
competent for me, as Commanier-in-chief OF
the Army and Navy, 10 declare the slaves Of
any State or States Tree. and whether at any
time OF 10 any case it shall have become a
necessity Indispensable to the maintenance
OF the Government to exercise such supposed
power, are questions which, under my re-
spopsibility, reserve 10 myself. and which
cannot feel justified in leaving to tie decision
of commanders in the field. Ihes are totally
different questions from those of police reg
uatIons in armies aud camps.
On the 9th day Of March last, hy special
message, recommended to Congress tho
adoption Of joint resolution 10 be substsn
italy as follows
Fsso'r,d, That the United States ought to CO.
operate with any state which may adopt gradu
al sbolishment Of Slavery, giving TO such State e
cuniary aid to be used By such state IN it, d-cre
ticn to compensate the incopveniences, Tuoli'
and private, produced by such change Of system.
The resolution in the language above USED
was adopted hy large majorities 10 both
branches OF Congress, and now stands an au-
thentlc, tCfnite, and solemn proposal Of thC
nation t. the States and people most imme
dately interested in the subject matter. IL
the people OF these States | now earnestly
appeal. do not argue-l besacch You /
make the arguments for yourselves You
cannot, II you would, be blind 10 the sign.
OF the times. | beg Of you a calm and en-
larged consideration Of them, ranging, If II
may be, far db5yc personal and paitizlu pol
icits. THIS proposal makes common cause
for a common subject, casting no repr9lche.
upon any. 1t acts not the Ph.r.s-e. The
change 1t c0ntemplates would come gently d,
the Jews Ut Heaven, not rehding or wfeckiug
anytOing. VIII you not embrace NJ :
much good has not been done by org sfilrt
in all past time as, in the providence Of G ID
it Is now your high privilege t. do. My
the vast future not have 10 lament that yot
have neglected IT,
In witness whereof Daye hereuuto set NY
hand and caused the seal II the Uuitei State:
/ to be affixed
Done AZ the city OF Washington. tbi. l9ih
day OF May. IN the year of our Llrl, one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-;wo. and
of the ind penl.ncs Of the United States tht
eighty-Sxth.
| (SIgned) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
/ By the President,
WV. II. SEWARD. Secretary of State