Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-05-19
Hsadqaartsrs Depastnl,at az the Soath. }

Ing, 10 VII:
Headquarters Department Of tAe Soath,
hilton Head. s. c, May 9, 1852.
General Orders No. IL the three states Of
Georgia, Florida and South Carolina compri a ng
the military department Of the south, having de
liberately declared themselves no longer under
the protection Of the United States OF America.
and having taken up arms against the said United
States, IL becomes military necessity to declare
them under martial law. This was accordingly
done on the 25th day Of april, 1861 Slavery and
patible; the persons in these three States-Geor.
gia, Florida and South Carolina-herstofore held
as slaves. are therefore declared forever free.
(Oficial) DAVID HUNTER,
Major General Commanding.
En-. w. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjntsnt 6enn.
And whereas the same is producing some er-
element and Misunderstanding, therefore,
], ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President Of the United
states, proclsim and declare, that the govern
ment of the United States had no knowledge,
Information, or belief, Of an intention on the part
OF General Hunter 10 issne such a proclama-
ton; nor has it yet any authentic information
that the document Is genuine. And further, that
neither General Hunter, nor any other COM
mander, or person, has been authorized by the
Government of the United States to make prcc-
lamatioEs declaring the slaves Of sny State free;
and that the supposed proclamation, now in
question, whether genuine or false, is altogether
void, so far az respects such declaration.
further make known that whether it be COM
petent for me, az Commander-in- Chief Of tie
Army and Navy, to declare the slaves Of any
State or States free, and whether at any time, in
any case, 1t shall have become a necessity indis-
pensable to the maintenance Of the Government,
to exercise such supposed power, are questions
which, under my responsibility, reserve to my
self, and which cannot feel justified in leaving
TO the decision of commanders in the field. There
totally different questions from those OF police
regulations in armies and camps
On the sixth day Of March last, by a special
message, I recommended to Congress the adop-
ton OF joint resolution to be substantially as
follows:
R:sOIred, That the United States ought to CO.
operate with any State which may adopt q
gradual adjustment OF slavery, giving TO such
State pecuniary aid, 10 be used by such State In
its discretion 20 compensate for the inconvenI-
ences, public and private, produced by such
change OF system.
The resolution, in the language above quoted,
was adopted by large msjoritIes in both branches
Of Congress, and now stands an authentic, def
mite, and solemn proposal Of the nation to the
States and people most Immediately 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, II you would, be blind to the signs
OF the times. I beg OF you a calm and enlarged
consideration Of them, ranging, If it may be,
far above personal and partizan politics.
This proposal makes common cause for a COM
mon object, casting no reproaches upon any. 1t
acts not the pharisee. The change it contem-
plates would come gently as the dews OF heaven,
not rending or wrecking anything. WIN you
not embrace IT. So much good has not been
done, by one effort, In all past time, IS, in
the providence Of God, II is now your high
privilege to do. May the vast future not have to
lament that you have neglected Ct.
In witness whereof have hereunto set my
hand and caused the seal Of the United States to
be affixed
Done at the city of Washington this nineteenth
day OF May, in the year OF orr Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty two, and of the indie
pendence of the United States the eIghty-sixth
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WI II SEWARD, Secretary OF State.
IT. .