Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-20
AN EXECUTIVE PROCLAMATION.
GEN. HUNTERS ORDER CANCELLED.
The President Appeals to the Slave
States to Favor Emancipation.

Whereas, there appears in the public prints
what purports to be proclamation of Major
General Hunter, in the words and figures fol-
lowing, to wit :-''HEADQUARrER DEPART
MENr OF THE South, HLToN HEAD, S. c.,
May 8, lS62.-The three states of Georgia.
Florida, and South Carolina comprising the
military department of the south, having de-
llberately declared themselves no longer I'M
der the protection of the United States of
America, and having taken up arms against
SAID United States, it becomes military ne
cessity to declare them under martial law.
Tins was accordingly done on the 25th day of
April 1862. Slavery and martial law in a
free cauntry are altogether incompatible. The
persons in these three states-Georgia, Flori-
da, and South Carolina heretofore held as
slaves are therefore declared forever free.
DAVID HUNTER, Maj. Gen. commanding"
And whereas the same is prod ucing some
excitement and misunderstanding, therefore
l. Abraham Lincoln president of the United
States, proclaim and declare that the govern
ment OF the United States had no knowledge
or belief Of an intention of the part of Gen.
Hunter to issue such proclamation. nor has
1t any authentic information that the docu-
ment is genuine; and further, that neither
Gen. Hunter, nor any other commander or
person has been authorized by the govern
ment of the United States to make proclama-
ton declaring the slaves of any state free.
and that the proclamation now in question,
whether genuine or false, is altogether void so
Tar 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 free the slaves
OF any state or states, and whether at anv
time or in any case it shall have become a
necessity, indisp ensable to maintenance Of
the government to exercise such supposed
power, are questions which under my respon-
sibiEty reserve to myself, and which [ can |
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 the armies and camps. On the 9Th
day of March last by special message | rec
resolution to be substantially as follows:
''Resolved, That the United States ought |
to cooperate with any state which NAV adoDt |
a gradual adjustment of slavery giving TO
such state in its discretion compensation for
the nconveniencies, public and private, pro-
duced by such change Of system"
This resolution, in the language above quo
ted, was adopted by large maiorties in both
houses Of congress, and now stands in anthem
tic, definite and solemn proposal of the ma
top, to the states and people most immediate
ly interested in the subject matter. To the
people of these states l now earnestly appeal
l do not argue. / beseech you to make the
arrangements for yourselves. You cannot. if
you would, be blind to the signs of the times.
l beg Of you calm and enlarged considera-
ton of them, ranging, if it may be, far above
personal and partizan politics. This proposal
makes common cause for common object,
casting no reproaches uponan ItactS not the
Phansee. The change it contcnpia1oS 'o0'
come gently as the dews of heaven not rend-
ing or wrecking. Will you not embrace it?
So much good has not been done by one eff
fort in all past time as in the providence of
God, it is now your high privilege to do
MAY the vast future 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 affixed. Done at the city Of Washing
ton, this the 18th day of May, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
sixtv-two, and of the independence Of the
United States the S6th.
A8RAHSI LINCOLN.
BY the president, Wan. II. SEWARD,
e