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extent of my ability； repel force by force。 In case it proves true
that Fort Sumter has been assaulted； as is reported； I shall perhaps
cause the United States mails to be withdrawn from all the States
which claim to have seceded； believing that the commencement of
actual war against the Government justifies and possibly demands
this。
I scarcely need to say that I consider the military posts and
property situated within the States which claim to have seceded as
yet belonging to the Government of the United States as much as they
did before the supposed secession。
Whatever else I may do for the purpose； I shall not attempt to
collect the duties and imposts by any armed invasion of any part of
the country； not meaning by this； however； that I may not land a
force deemed necessary to relieve a fort upon a border of the
country。
》From the fact that I have quoted a part of the inaugural address； it
must not be inferred that I repudiate any other part； the whole of
which I reaffirm； except so far as what I now say of the mails may be
regarded as a modification。
PROCLAMATION CALLING FOR 75；000 MILITIA； AND CONVENING CONGRESS IN
EXTRA SESSION； APRIL 15； 1861。
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA：
A Proclamation。
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 bylaw：
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 therefore 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 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 fifteenth 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。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
By the President：
WILLIAM H。 SEWARD；
Secretary of State。
PROCLAMATION OF BLOCKADE； APRIL 19； 1861
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：
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 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 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。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
By the President：
WILLIAM H。 SEWARD；
Secretary of State。
TO GOVERNOR HICKS AND MAYOR BROWN。
WASHINGTON； April 20； 1861
GOVERNOR HICKS AND MAYOR BROWN。
GENTLEMEN：Your letter by Messrs。 Bond； Dobbin； and Brune is
received。 I tender you both my sincere thanks for your efforts to
keep the peace in the trying situation in which you are placed。
For the future troops must be brought here； but I make no point of
bringing them through Baltimore。 Without any military knowledge
myself； of course I must leave details to General Scott。 He hastily
said this morning in the presence of these gentlemen； 〃March them
around Baltimore； and not through it。〃 I sincerely hope the General；
on fuller reflection； will consider this practical and proper； and
that you will not object to it。 By this a collision of the people of
Baltimore with the troops will be avoided； unless they go out of
their way to seek it。 I hope you will exert your influence to
prevent this。