Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 12.djvu/1311

 APPENDIX. 1259 to commit agsaults on the lives, vessels, and property of good citizens of the country lawfully engaged m commerce on the hiwh seas, and in waters of the United States: ° And whereas an Executive Ifroclamation has been already issued, requiriuv the persons engaged m these dxsordarly proceedings to desist therefrom, calling out a. {militia. force for the purpose of repressing the same, and conveninrr Congress m extraordimwy session to deliberate and determine thereon: Now, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, Blockadc of ports with a, view to the same purposes before mentioned, and to the protection of the in °°’*°i¤ S*°*°° public peace, and the lives and property of quiet and orderly citizens pursuing d°°1”°d‘ their lawful occupations, until Congress shall have assembled and dclibsrated on the said unlawfultproceedings, or until the same shall have ceased, have further deemed it advisable to sci: on foot a blockade of the: ports within the States aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United States and of the law of nations in such case provided. For this purpose a competent force will be p0sted s0 as to prevent entrance and exit of vessels fiom the ports afbresaid. If} therefore, with a view to violate such blockade, a. vessel shall approach, or shall attempt to leave either of the said ports, she will be duly warned by the commander of one of tho blcckading vessels, who will indorse on her register the fact and date of such warning, and if the same vessel shall again attempt to enter or leave the blockadad port, she will be captured and sent be the nearest convenient port, for such proceedings against her and ber cargo as prize, as may be deemed advisable. And I hereby proclaim and declare that if any person, under the pretended authority of the said States, or under any other pretence, shall moles!} a vessel of the United States, or the persons or cargo on board of her, such person will be held amenable to the laws of the United States for the prevention and punisb— ment of piracy. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this nineteenth day of April, in the year [1.. s.] of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the In— dependence of the United States the eighty-fifth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: `NILLIAM H. Smwmm, Secretary of State. No. 5. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: April 27, 1861. A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, for the reasons assigned in my Proclamation of the nineteenth Preamble. instant, a blockade of the ports of the States of South Carolina, Gcorga, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas was ordered to be established: And whereas, since that date, public property of the United States has been Blockadc exscizcd, the collection of the revenue obstructed, and duly commissioned offiycrs fg26S *;%**8 °f of the United States, while engaged in executing the orders of thetr superiors, ° "S ' have been arrested and held in custody as prisoners, or have been impeded m the discharge of their oihuial duties without dug legal process, bg persons c1mm— ing to act under authorities of the States of Virginia gud North amtma: An cfHcicnt, blockade of the ports of those States will also be established. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, aud caused the seal of the United States to be aflixcd.   Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-seventh da.y of Apu], m the [L. s.] year of our Lord one-zéhousgngi eightJ1unjl;ed 3% sxxty-one, and of the u e ndence of the nite `taws the cw is - c .    P   AéRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: W11.1.1Am H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. VOL. x11. APP.--161