A Documentary History of the American Civil War Era: Volume 1, Legislative Achievements

Proclamations on Blockade and Marque

proclAmAtions on blockAde And mArque President Abraham Lincoln Proclamation of Blockade, April 19, 1861 Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers university Press, 1953), 4:339–40. on April 19, 1861, in Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia , president of the united States Abraham lincoln and president of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis issued related proclamations . With the recent attack upon Fort Sumter and its surrender and lincoln’s April 15 proclamation calling up the militia to put down the southern insurrection, and calling the federal Congress into session on July 4, 1861, both leaders used their war powers to advance their oppositional causes. Davis authorized the issuing of letters of marque—privateers with authority to carry out retaliations on federal naval vessels and merchant ships—and called on his followers to “be vigilant and zealous in discharging the duties incident thereto” and to be prepared for the war yet to come. That same day, lincoln issued his order to the united States Navy to blockade southern ports as part of his efforts to put down the domestic insurrection. on the same day, pursuing different methods, both leaders positioned their sections for not only a land war but also a war at sea and in the coastal waters. By the President of the united States of America: A Proclamation. 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: Documentary History of the American Civil War era 42 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 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 endorse 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 the said States, or under any other pretense, 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. 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 of our lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the united States the eighty-fifth. [l.S.] Abraham lincoln. By the President: William H. Seward, Secretary of State. legislative Achievements 43 President Jefferson Davis Proclamation of...