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Edward Bates, Attorney-General, advises against the project, preferring that South Carolina have the odium before the world of beginning a conflict which would inevitably degenerate into a servile war of unspeakable horrors. Besides, in such a contest, Charleston was comparatively insignificant; "the real struggle will be at the Mississippi, for it is not politically possible for any foreign power to hold the mouth of that river against the people of the middle and upper valley."

In a MESSAGE TO THE SENATE, sent March 26, 1861, the President refuses the request of that body, made March 25, 1861, that he submit to it the DESPATCHES Of MAJOR ANDERSON from Fort Sumter to the War Department. "At the present moment," he says, "the publication would be inexpedient.”

On March 29, 1861, President Lincoln called a Cabinet meeting to determine the question of sending an EXPEDITION TO RELIEVE FORT SUMTER. The Secretary of War and the Postmaster-General failed to render an opinion. Of those submitted, that of Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, was alone in the negative. As a result Captain Fox's proposition (see page 171, present volume) was accepted. By April 1 the President had sent the proper orders for fitting out the expedition.

Proclamation Calling 75,000 Militia, and Convening Congress in Extra Session.

APRIL 15, 1861.

Whereas the laws of the United States have been for some time past and now are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by law:

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, in virtue of the power

in me vested by the Constitution and the laws,* have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth the militia of the several States of the Union, to the aggregate number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.

The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the State authorities through the War Department.

I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government; and to redress wrongs already long enough endured.

I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places, and property which have been seized from the Union; and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country.

And I hereby command the persons composing the combinations aforesaid to disperse and retire peacefully to their respective abodes within twenty days from date.

Deeming that the present condition of public affairs presents an extraordinary occasion, I do hereby, in virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress. Senators and Representatives are there

*The Act of 1795, which authorized the use of the militia only "until the expiration of thirty days after the commencement of the then next session of Congress."

fore summoned to assemble at their respective chambers at twelve o'clock noon, on Thursday, the fourth day of July next, then and there to consider and determine such measures as, in their wisdom, the public safety and interest may seem to demand.

In witness, etc.

By the President:

Abraham Lincoln.

William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

Proclamation of Blockade in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida,

Louisiana, and Texas.

APRIL 19, 1861.

Mississippi,

Whereas an insurrection against the government of the United States has broken out in the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, and the laws of the United States for the collection of the revenue cannot be effectually executed therein conformably to that provision of the Constitution which requires duties to be uniform throughout the United States:

And whereas a combination of persons engaged in such insurrection have threatened to grant pretended letters of marque to authorize the bearers thereof to commit assaults on the lives, vessels, and property of good citizens of the country lawfully engaged in commerce on the high seas, and in waters of the United States:*

* On April 17, 1861, Jefferson Davis had issued a proclamation inviting application for letters of marque and reprisal, permitting

And whereas an executive proclamation has been already issued requiring the persons engaged in these disorderly proceedings to desist therefrom, calling out a militia force for the purpose of repressing the same, and convening Congress in extraordinary session to deliberate and determine thereon:

Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, with a view to the same purposes before mentioned, and to the protection of the public peace, and the lives and property of quiet and orderly citizens pursuing their lawful occupations, until Congress shall have assembled and deliberated on the said unlawful proceedings, or until the same shall have ceased, have further deemed it advisable to set 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 posted so as to prevent entrance and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid. 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 the blockading 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 blockaded port, she will be captured and sent to the nearest convenient port, for such proceedings against her and her cargo, as prize, as may be deemed advisable.

And I hereby proclaim and declare that if depredations on commerce of the United States "under the seal of these Confederate States."

any person, under the pretended authority of the said States, or under any other pretense, shall molest a vessel of the United States, cr 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 punishment of piracy.

In witness, etc.

By the President:

Abraham Lincoln.

William H. Seward, Secretary of State.

On April 27, 1861, President Lincoln made a supplementary proclamation_extending the blockade to the ports of VIRGINIA and NORTH CAROLINA, Virginia having passed an ordinance of secession on April 17, 1861, and Governor Ellis of North Carolina having on April 22, 1861, seized Fayetteville arsenal, and, on April 24, 1861, placed his military force at the disposal of the Confederacy.

The blockade was raised by proclamation at Beaufort, N. C., Port Royal, S. C., and New Orleans, La., May 12, 1862; at Alexandria, Va., September 24, 1863; at Brownsville, Texas, February 18, 1864; at Norfolk, Va., Fernandina and Pensacola, Fla., November 19, 1864. It was reimposed on Brownsville, Texas, April 11, 1865.

Proclamation Calling for 42,034 Volunteers, and an Increase in Regular Army and Navy Forces.

MAY 3, 1861.

Whereas existing exigencies demand immediate and adequate measures for the protection of the National Constitution and the preservation of the National Union by the suppression of the insurrectionary combinations now existing in several States for opposing the laws of

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