PROCLAMATION OF THE PRESIDENT, DECLARING A BLOCKADE. (_Page 109._) _By
the President of the United States of America._
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 efficiently
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:
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 laws of nations
in such cases 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 any 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 any person, under the
pretended authority of said States, or under any other pretence, shall
molest 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 punishment of piracy.