Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-12
A Proclamation by the President
i'm Regard to. Trade With South
eFEn VBOu.rs ..... ... ........... d. ...ft. "...

| WASHINGTON, April 1.-the Proclama-
tion in reference to closing the Southern
ports is in accordance with a law passed
as early as 1861. 1t was then understood,
| however, that while foreign powers would
respect effective blockade of these ports, a
claim to exercise legal authority over them
as over other ports Of the United States
would not be respected. 1t is believed that
the time has come, however, when the
| United States Government can claim to ex-
ercise that legal authority over all its ports,
whether blockaded or not, which belongs
| to every Independent sovereign power. A
sufficient number of Southern ports are left
open forlegitimate trade, and those now pro-
claimed closed will, tits presumed, be REQ
| pened after time. Meanwhile blockade run
| ming is likely effectively ended. The issuing
| off proclamation is understood to have been
| the business on which Secretary Seward
was about to visit City Point to confer with
the President last week. Another impor-
tant proclamation is issued to-day as fol-
lows: '.......l..'
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE U. s. OF AMERICA
"A PROCLAMATION. ... ....... ...
WHEREAS, For some time past vessels of
war of the United States have been refused
in certain ports privileges and immu-
mites to which they were entitled by
treaty, public law or the comfy of ma
tions, at the same time that vessels of war
of the comfy which in the said privileges
and immunities have been withheld, have
enjoyed them fully and uninterruptedly in
the ports of the United States, which con-
dition of things has not always been forci-
bly, resisted by the United States, although,
on the other hand, they have not at times
failed to protest against and declare their
dissatisfaction with the same to enemies of
the United States, no condition any longer
which can be claimed to justify the denial
to them by any one of said nations of the
customary naval rights which, as has here
tofore been so unnecessarily persisted in.
Now, therefore, |, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, do hereby
make known that If, after a reasonable time
shall have elapsed for the intelligence of
this Proclamation to have reached any
foreign country in whose ports the said
privileges and immunities shall have been
refused as aforesaid, they shall continue to
be so refused, then and thenceforth the
same privileges and immunities shall be re-
fused to the vessels of war of the country
in the ports of the United States
or this refusal shall continue until the war
vessels of the United States shall have been
placed upon an entire equality in the for
eign ports aforesaid, with similar vessels of
other countries. The United States, what
ever claim or pretense may have existed
heretofore, are now, at least, entitled to
claims, and concede an entire and friendly
equality of rights and hospitalities with all
maritime nations. s.. rN
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 eleventh day of April,
A. d. 1865, and of the independence of the
United States of America the S9th.
| [Signedl 5E r. A. LINCOLN.
By the President:
VIM. III. SEWARD, Secretary of State.