Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-05-23
UANID IIINIEHi
Major-General Commanding.
Ed. w. SIXTH,
Acting Asst Adjhtent General.

Acting Asst Adjhtsnt General.
And whereas the same is producing some
excitement and misunderstanding therefore
|. Abraham lincoln, President ofthe United
States, proclaim and declare, that the Gov
eminent Of the U. States had no knowledge, m
formation, or belief Of an intention on the
part of General Hunter to issue such pro-
clamation; nor has it yet any authentic IN
formation that the document is genuine. And
further that neither General Hunter, nor any
other commander, or person, has been autho-
rized by the Government OF the United States
to make proclamations declaring the slaves OF
any State free and that the supposed procla-
matioa, 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-Chie 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 ne
cessity indispensable to the maintenance Of
the Government, to exercise such supposed
power, are questions which, under my respon-
sibility, reserve to myself, and which eau
not feel justified in leaving to the decision of
commanders in the field. These are totally
different questions from those OF police regu-
lations in armies and camps.
On the sixth day of March last, by q spe-
cial message recommended to Congress the
adoption Of joint resolution to be substan-
TALLY as follows:
Resolpea, That the United States ought TO
cooperate with any State which may adopt a
gradual adjustment of slavery, giving. tosuch
State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State
in its discretion to compensate for the incon-
veniences, public and private, produced by
such change Of SYSTEM
The resolution, in the language above quot
ed, was adopted by large majorities in both
branches of Congress, and now stands an au-
thentic, definite, and solemn proposal of the
nation to the States and people most intimate
ly interested in the subject-matter. To the
people Of those States now earnestly appeal
| do not argue. I beseech you TO make the
arguments for yourselves. You cannot ifyou
would, be blind to the signs Of the times
beg OF you calm and enlarged consideration
of them, ranging, lift may be, far above Per-
sonal aud partizan politics. This proposal
makes common cause for a common object,
casting no reproaches upon any. 1t acts net
the Pharisee. The change it contemplates
would come gently as the dews of heaven, not
rending or wrecking any thing. Will you not
embrace ito So much good has not been
done, by one effort, in all past time, as, in the
providence OF God, 1t Is now your high priyi-
lege TO do. May the vast future not have to
lament that you have neglected it.
In witness whereof have hereunto set nv
hand and caused the seal Of the United States
to beallixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this nine
tenth 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 ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President
WIN. II. SEWARD, Secretary of State.