Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-05-21
DAVID HUNTER.
Major General Commauding
(Signed)
EDWARD W. SMITH,
Acting Assistant Adju,ant General.


Acting Assistant Adjatant General
dad eChereds, The same is producing some
excitement and misunderstanding therefore,
], Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States, proclaim and declare that the Gov
ernment of the United States had no knowl-
edge, information or belief of an intention,
on the part of Gen. Hunter. to issue such a
proclamation, nor has it yet any authentic
information that the document is genuine,
and further, that neither Gen. Hunter or any
other commander or person has been author
lied 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 gen,
uine or false, is altogether void so far as res
poets 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, in any case, it shall have become a ne
cessity indispensable to the maintenance of the
Government, the exercise of such supposed
powers are questions which under my respon
sibility | reserve to myself and which | cam
not feel justified in leaving to the decision oi
commanders in the field. These are totally
different questions from those of police rela
tions in armies and camps.
On the sixth day of March last, by special
message, recommended to Congress the adop
ton Of joint resolution to be substantially
as follows:
Rcsogrei That the United States ought 10 cooperate
with any State which may adopt gradual abolish
ment Of slavery giving to such state pecunary aid 70
be used by such State its discretion com pensae
for the inconVenences of public and private losses
produced by such change Of system.
The resolution in the language above quo.
ted was adopted by large n,ajorities in both
branches Of Congress and now stands an au
thentic, definite and solemn proposal Of the
Nation to the State and people most immedi
ately interested in the subject mltter. T.
the people Of those States Row earnestly ap
peal l do not argue. | besecch you to make
the argument for yourselves you cannot il
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 partizan politics. This propnSa.
makes common cause for common object.
casting no reproaches upon any. 1t acts not
the phaTisee. The change it contempiates
would come gently as the dews Of Heaven
not reRding OF wrecking anything. Win you
not embrace it? So much good has not been
done by one effort in all past time, or in the
pFONluehCe Oh ppu, II Is now your Dl5h PRIV
ilege to do. May the vast future not have tc
lament that you have neglected it.
In witness whereof have hercunto set my
hand and caused the seal Of the United State:
to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washingtonthis nineteenth
day Of May, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty six, and
of the independence Of the United States
the eighty sixth
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President.
WILLIAM Ii. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.