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 Duke University Libraries 
 
 Proclamation. 
 
 Conf Pam q#126 
 
 011031500* 
 
PROCLAMATION 
 By the President of the Confederate States or America. 
 
 Wiikrkas, Abraham Lincoln, the President ol the 
 Doited States, has by Proclamation announced the 
 intention of invading this Confederacy with an 
 armed force, for the purpose of capturing its fort- 
 resses, and thereby subverting its Independence, 
 ami subjecting the free people thereof to the do- 
 minion of a foreign power, 
 
 And, whereas, it has thus become the duty of this 
 
 ' rnment to repel the threatened invasion, and to 
 
 I the rights and libert'us 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 DA VIS, President 
 of the Con led. rite States ol Aim ilea, do issue this my 
 Proclamation, inviting all those who maj desire, by 
 in pi irate armed veeei I< on the high seas, to 
 aid tins (iuvei iiiiient, in resisting so wanton and 
 wieked an aggression, to make applicaliou for Cora- 
 missions or letters of Marque and Reprisal to be is- 
 sued under the Seal of these Confederate States. 
 An I 1 do further notify all persons applying for 
 of Marque to make a statement in writing, 
 giving the name and a suitable description of the 
 eh ii uter, tonnage and force of the vessel, and the 
 name and plaoe of residence of each owner con- 
 i i. r in, and the intended numberof the crew, 
 and to sign snld statement and deliver the same to 
 i v ill Sine, or to the Collector of any 
 
 port of entry of these Confederate Slates, to be by 
 him transmitted to the Secretary ol State. And I 
 do further notify all applicants aforesaid, that In lure 
 an} Commission or letter of Marque is issued to any 
 I, the owner, or owners thereof, and the Com- 
 r for the lime being, will be required to give 
 bond to the Confederate States with at least two re- 
 sponsible sureties not intere ted in such vessel, in 
 the penal sum ol Five Thousand Dollars; or, if snob 
 I lie provided with more than one liui.drt d and 
 
 .ii, then in the penal sum of Ten Thousand 
 i , with condition that the owners, officers and 
 
 -Hall be employed on boaid such com- 
 I vessel, shall observe the laws of these 
 Confederate States, and the instructions given to 
 lur the regulation of their conduct. That 
 they shall satisfy all damages done contrary to the 
 tenor thereof by such vessel during her Com mis- 
 sion, and deliver np the same when revoked by the 
 1' -i. lent of the Confederate Slates. 
 
 And I do further specially enjoin on all persons 
 ulliees, Civil and Military, under the authori- 
 ty of the Confederate States, that they be vigilant 
 and zealous in discharging the duties incident there- 
 to. 
 
 An. I I do moreover solemnly exhort the good 
 of these Confederate States, as they love 
 their country, as they prize the blessings of free 
 government, as they feel the wrongs oftli. 
 and those now threatened in aggravated form, by 
 tbose.whose enmity is more implacable because un- 
 provoked, that they exert themselves in preserving 
 order, ill promoting concord, in maintaining the au- 
 thority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting 
 tod Invigorating all the measures which may be 
 adopted for tbfl coramo.l defence, and by which, 
 under the bles-ings of Divine Providence, we may 
 hope for a speedy, just and honorable peace. 
 
 uiony whereof, I have hereunto let my hand, 
 ( *-~ * ~~* I at dol the Confederate 
 
 ils. S. [-States to be affixed, this seventeenth 
 
 ( , J day of April, A. D, 1861. 
 
 [oed.) JBFJTBRSON DAVIS. 
 
 Ity the President: 
 11. Toombs, Secretary of State. 
 
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