Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Proclamation by the President of the United States

WASHINGTON, May 19.

WHEREAS, There appears in the public prints what purports to be a proclamation of Maj. Gen. Hunter; and whereas, the same is producing some excitement and misunderstanding, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, Prest. Of the U. S., proclaim and declare that the Government of the United States had no knowledge or belief of an intention on the part of Gen. Hunter to issue such a proclamation, nor has it yet any authentic information that the document is genuine; and further, that Gen. Hunter, nor any other commander or person, has been authorized by the Government of the United States to make proclamation declaring the slaves of any State free; and that the supposed proclamation now in question, whether genuine or false, is altogether void, so far as respects such declaration. – I further make known that whether it be competent for me, as commander-in-chief of the army and navy, to declare the slaves of any State or States free, and whether at any time or in any case, it shall have been a necessity, indispensable to the maintainance [sic] of the Government to excise such supposed power, are questions which, under my responsibility, I reserve to myself, and which I cannot feel justified in leaving to the decision of commanders in the field. – There are not only different questions from these of police regulations in armies and camps.

On the 6th day of March last, by a special message, I recommended to Congress the adoption of a joint resolution to be substantially as follows:

Resolved, That the United States ought to co-operate with any State which may adopt a gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such States in its discretion, to compensate for the inconveniences, public and private, produced by such change of system.

The resolution, in the language above quoted, was adopted by large majorities in both branches of Congress, and now stands an authentic, definite and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people most interested in the subject matter.  To the people of these States now, I earnestly appeal.  I do not argue.  I beseech you to make the arguments for yourselves.  You cannot, if 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 party politics.  This proposal makes common cause for all, and common object, casting no reproaches upon any.  It acts not like the Pharisee.  The changes it contemplates would come gently as the dews of heaven – not rending or wrecking anything.  Will you not embrace this opportunity.  So much good has not been done by one effort 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, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be annexed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 19th day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the independence of the United States, the eighty-sixth.

(Signed)
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
WM. H. SEWARD, Sec’y of State.

Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 21, 1862, p. 2

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