The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-05-24
Proclamation by the President of the
United States.

Whereas, There appears IN the public
prints, what purports to be a proclamation
of Major General Hunter; and whereas
the same is producing some excitement
and misunderstanding, therefore /, Abrsr
ham Lincoln, President of the United
States, proclaim and declare that the &c.
vernment of the United States had no
knowledge or belief OF an intention on the
I part of General Hunter to issue such q
proclamation, nor has it yet any authentic
information that the document is genuine;
and further, that Gen. Hunter, nor any
other commander or person, has been
authorized BY the Government of the
United States TO make proclamation de-
c!aring the slaves of any State free and
that the supposed proclamation now in
| question, whether genuine or false, il
| altogether void so far as resi- ects such
| declaration
further make known that whether II
| be competent for me as Commander-in.
! Chief Of the army and navy to declare the
| slaves free of any State or States Free and
whether at any time or in any ccse, it
| shall have become necessity, indispen.
sable to the maintenance of the Govern.
ernment, to exercise such supposed power,
are questions which, under my responsi.
bility, reserve to myself, and which I
cannot feel justified in leaving to the
decision of commanders in the field
These are totally different questions from
those of police regulations in armies and
| camps.
On the 9th day Of March last by .
special message, recommended to Con.
gress the adoption OF joint resolution, to
be substantially as follows:
Iesolrsd, That the United States ought
n - IL.
! adopt a gradual adjustment of slavery,
giving aid to such States, in its discretion,
| TO compensate for the incenveniencies,
pubic and private, produced by such
change OF system" ... - .-
The resolution IN the language above
quoted was adopted by large majorities
IN both branches Of Congress, and now
stands an authentic, definite, and solemn
proposal OF the nation to the States and
people most interested in the subject mat
ter. To the people of these States now,
earnestly appeal. | do not argue-I be-
secch you to make the arguments for
yourselves. You cannot, if you would, be
blind to the signs of the times | beg of
you calm and enlarged consideration of
them ranging, if it may be, far above per-
sonal and party politics This proposal
makes common cause for common
OBJECT Casting no repoaches upon any, il
acts not the Pharisee. The change it
contemplates would come gently as the
dews OF heaven, not rending or wrecking
anything. Will you not embrace it? So
much good has not been done by any Of.
fort in all past time as. in the providence
of..God, il is now your high privilege to do.
May the vast future not have to lament
thst you have neglected it.
In witness whereof have hereunto set
my hand and cause 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 hun.
dred and six.y,two and of the Indepcnd-
ence of the United States the eighty-sixth..
(SigneD ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WM. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.