The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-27

discovered the enemy sui In posse SSlOn
Of Fort Pillow, but their force Is known
to be small, ard it is believed that they
Will either evacuate or surrender. No
rebel gunboats were in sight. II is re-.
ported that they have gone below to stay
the progress of Commodore Farragut's
fleet.
DR.. McDougall, Medical director of
Gen. Halleck's army, it is report ted, has
refused TO allow any Of the States to bring
away their own sick and wounded, until
after the impending battle; provisions
having been made on the field for all who
need medical attendance.
Gov. Yates was compelled to return
with the Illinois hospital boat, City of
Alton, without accomplishing his miss
ion in consequence Of this order
BALTIMORE, May 23.-The boat from
Old Point has arrived. The Americaa's
special correspondent states, that the
steamer from White House, this P. NJ,
brings number Of passengers from the
head quarters of Gen. Nc Clellan S army,
which was in close proximity to Bottom
Bridge, over which portion of the army
has already passed the second division
having crossed the Chickahominy at
New Bridge, about seven miles farther
up, and within eight miles of Richmond.
1t was rumored that a proposition for
an armistice of ten days had been made
by the Rebels, but of course, no such
idea could be entertained.
The Advance Of our army was under
stood to be within five miles of the CITY,
TO which point the enemy has fallen back
with but slight effort to check our on
ward movement. The advance, by the
way of New Bridge, enters the City, on
the North side.
WASHINGTON, May 19.-The President
has to-day issued the following -
by the President of tile United States.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS, There appears in the public
prints, what purports to be a proclama-
ton of Maj. Gen. Hunter; and whereas,
the same is producing some excitement
and Misunderstanding
Therefore, |, Abraham Lincoln, Pres.
ident of the United States, proclaim and
declare that the Government of the Uni
ted States had no knowledge or belief of
an intention on the part of Gen. Hunter
to issue such proclamation, nor has ii
yet any authentic information that The
document is genuine and farther, that
neither Gen. Hunter, nor any other Com
mander 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 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 declare
the slaves of any State or States free, and
whether at any time or in any case it
shall become necessity indispensable to
the maintenance Of the Government to
exercise such supposed power. are ques-
tons which under my responsibility |
reserve to myself, and which | cannot
feel justified in leaving to the decision of
commanders in the field. These are to-
tally different questions from those of po-
lice regulations in armies and camps.
On the 9th day of March last, by a
special message, recommended to Con-
gress 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 abolition of slavery,
giving aid to such States in its dscre.
ton, to compensate for the inconveni-
ences, public and private, produced by
such change Of system.
The resolution in the language above
quoted IVES 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
matter. To the people Of these States
now earnestly appeal. | do not argue,
beseech 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 considera-
ton Of them, ranging, if it may be, far
above personal and party politics. This
proposal makes common cause for a
common object. Casting no reproaches
upon any, it acts Lot the Pharisee. The
change ii contemplates would come gent
ly as the dews Of Heaven, not rending or
wrecking anything. Will you not en-
brace it? So much good has not been
done by one effori in all past time as in
the Providence of God il is now your
high privilege TO do. May the vast fu-
lure not have to lament that you have
neglected it,
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
18Th 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.
BY the President: WIN. II. SEWARD.
Secretary of State
RoLLA, Mo, May 2O.-A train of
seventeen wagons, laden with govern.
ment stores, which left here Monday,
was oyertaken to-day, when about IL