Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 12.djvu/1317

 APPENDIX. 1265 on the 25th day of April, 1862. Slavery and martial law in a free country are altogether incompatible; the persons in these three States--Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina-—heretofore held as slaves, are therefore declared forever free. (Ownal) Davzo Hunrnn, _ Major General Commanding. ED. W. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjutant Gen’L And whereas the same is producing some excitement and misunderstanding, therefore, I, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States, proclaim and Proclamation declare, that the Government of the United States had no knowledge, informa- void in part. tion, or belief, of an intention on the part of General Hunter to issue such a proclamation; nor has it yet any authentic infomation that the document is genuine. And further, that neither General Hunter, nor any other commander, or person, has been authorized by the Government of the United States to make proclamations 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 Commanderin-Chief of the Army and Navy, to declare the slaves of any State or States free, and whether, at any time, in any case, it shall have become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of the Government, to exercise such sup osed power, are questions which, under my responsibility, I reserve to mysefi, and which I cannot feel justified in leaving to the decision of commanders in the field. These are totally diiferent questions from those of police regulations in armies and camps. On the sixth day of March last, by a special message, I recommended to Con- Appeal for the gz-ess the adoption of a joint resolution to be substantially as follows: Sm ml ¤b°l¤¤h· ment of slavery. Resolved, That the United States ought to cooperate with any State which may adopt a gradual abolishment of slavery, giving to such State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State 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, de nite, and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people most immediately interested m the subject matter. To the people of those States I now earnestly appeal-]; do not argue -I beseech you to make the arguments for yourselves- ou 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 partisan politics. This proposal makes common cause for a common. object, casting no reproaches upon any. It acts not the Pharisee. 'ljhe change itcontemplates would come gently as the dews of heaven, not rending or wrecking anything. YVill you not embrace it? So much good has not been done, by one e ort, m all past time, as, in the providence of God, it is now your high privilege to do. May the vast future nohhave 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 atlixed. _ _ Done at the City of Washington, this nineteenth day of May, in the [SEAL.] year of our Lord one lghoppanddegght huxidred gpc} singly-two, and of the Inde endence of the nite `tates the ew -six. P ABRZHQM LINCOLN. By the President: Wrnmam H. Snwsnn, Secretary of State. von. x11. Pun. - 81