Jeff Davis' Proclamation.
At Montgomery, on Wednesday, Jeff Davis issued the following counter proclamation:
A proclamation by the president of the confederate states of American-- Whereas
Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States, has by proclamation announced
his intention of invading this confederacy with an armed force, for the purpose
of capturing its fortress and thereby subverting its independence and subjecting
the free people thereof to the dominion of a foreign power; and whereas it has
thus become the duty of this government to repel the threatened invasion, and
defend the rights and liberties of the people by all the means which the laws
of nations and the usages of civilized warfare place at its disposal, now therefore,
I, Jefferson Davis, president of the confederate states of America, do issue
this my proclamation inviting all those who may desire, by armed service in
private armed vessels on the high seas, to aid this government in resisting
so wanton and wicked aggression, to make application for commissions or letters
of marque and reprisal to be issued under the seal of these confederate states.
And I do further notify all persons applying for letters of marque, to make
a statement in writing, giving the name and a suitable description of the character,
tunnage and force of the vessel, name of the place of residence of each owner
concerned therein, and the intended number of crew, and to sign each statement
and deliver the same to the secretary of state or collector of the port of entry
of these confederate states, to be by him transmitted to the secretary of state.
And I do further notify all applicants aforesaid, before any commission or letter
of marque is issued to any vessel or the owner or the owners thereof, and the
commander for the time being, they will be required to give bonds to the confederate
states, with at least two responsible sureties not interested in such vessel,
in the penal sum of $5,000, or if such vessel be provided with more than 150
men, then in the penal sum of $10,000, with the condition that the owners, officers,
and crew who shall be employed on board such commissioned vessel, shall observe
the laws of these confederate states, and the instructions given them for regulation
of their conduct, that shall satisfy all damages done, contrary to the tenor
thereof by such vessel during her commission, and deliver up the same when revoked
by the president of the confederate states. And I do further specially enjoin
on all persons, holding offices, civil or military, under the authority of the
confederate states, that they be vigilant and zealous in discharge of the duties
incident thereto; I do moreover solemnly exhort all good people of these confederate
states, as they love their country, as they prize the blessings of free government,
as they feel the wrongs of the past and those now threatened, in an aggravated
form, by those whose enmity is more implacable because unprovoked, that they
exert themselves in preserving order, in upholding all concern in maintaining
the authority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting and invigorating all
the measures which may be adopted for the common defense, and by which, under
the blessing of Divine Providence, we may hope for a speedy, just; and honorable
peace. In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal, this seventeenth day
of April.
(signed) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
By the president-- ROBERT TOOMBS, Secretary of State. |
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