The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-05-23
the President, to take this course in order to
maintain the Government.
BY the President or the UsIsed stases-A
PrecIn mallsn.

BY the President or the Usised ssases-A
PreciamatDss.
Whereas. there appears In the public
prints what purports TO DO a proclamation OF
Major General Hunter, In the words and fg-
ures following, TO Wit:
"lIEApoUARIKRs DEpAKr. or TIE Sourn,
Huron HEAD, 8. O., May 0, 1862.
General Orders No. IL. The thrce States
oil Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. CON-
prising the Military Department OF the South,
having deliberately declared themselves no
longer under the protection Of the United
States oil America. and having taken uparms
against the said United States, it becomes
military necessity to declare them under mar
tial law. This was accordingly done on tho
2jth day of April, 1862. Slavery and mar.
tial law in free country are altogether in
compatible The persons in these three States,
Georgia, Florida and South Carolina, hereto
fore held us slaves arc therefore declared for
ever free. .
(Onicial) DAVID HUNTER,
Major General Commanding.
Ed. W. SIXTH, Acting Asst. Adj. Gen."
And whereas the same is producing some
excitement and misunderstanding, therefore
I, Abraham Lincoln, President OF the United
Statcs, proclaim and declare that the Govern
ment Of the United States had no knowledge
or belief of an intention on the part Of Gen.
Hunter to issue such proclamation. nor has
it yet any authentic information that tho
document Is genuine and further, that neith-
er Generel Hunter nor any other commander
or person has been authorized by the Gov
eminent Of the United States to make proc
lamation declaring the slaves OF any State
free, and that the supposed proclamation now
in question, whether genuine or false, is alto
gether void 80 far rs respects such declara-
ton. further make known that whether
IL be competent for INC rs COMMANDMENT.
Chief of the army and navy to declare tho
slaves of any State or States free. and wheth-
err at any time or in any case II shall have
become necessity indispensable to the main
tenance OF the Government TO exercise such
supposed power, are questions which, under
my responsibility, l reserve to myself, and
which / cannot feel justified IN leaving TO the
decisions OF commanders in the field. These
are totally different questions from those Of
police regulations in armies and camps.
On the 9th dry Of March last, by special
message. recommended To Congress the
adoption of joint resolution to DO substan-
italy as follows:
Resolred, That the United States ought to
cooperate with any State which may adopt
a gradual adjustment OF slavery, giving to
such State, in its discretion, compensation
for the Inconvenience, public and priuate,
produced by such change Of system.
TIE resolution, in the language above quo.
ted, was adopted by large majoritics In both
branches of Congress, aud now stands an au-
thentic, definite and solemn proposal OF tho
nation to the States and people most inter-
ested in the subject matter. To the people
of these States now earnestly appeal. lido
not arguc-l beseech you TO make the argu-
ment for yourselves. You cannot, IL you
would, be blind to the signs Of the times
leg Of you calm and enlarged considera-
ton of them. ranging, II II may be, far
above personal and partisan politics. This
proposal makes common cause for common
object. casting no repraches upon any. 1t
acts not tho Pharisee. The change 1t con-
templates would come gently rs the dews Of
heaven, not rcnding or wrecking any thing.
viii you not embrace itr So much good
has not been done by one effort In oil past
time rs, in the providence Of God, II Is your
high privilege to Do. May the vast future
not have to lament that you have neglected
il.
In witness whereof, have set my hand
and caused tho 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 1862,
and of the independence of the United States
the cighty.sixth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BY the President.
VIZ. II. SEWARD, Secretary Of State.