Show A PROCLA proclamation MATIO matlo i by the president of the confederate states of america whereas 11 abraham lincoln president 0 or the uni ed states has by proclamation announced his hta intention of invading the confederacy with an am armed force for the purpose of capturing its fortresses ant ani thereby subverting in its independence arld alid subjecting the free people thereof to the dominion of a foreign p power ower and whereas it has thus become the duty of this government to repel the threatened invasion and defend the rights and liberties of the people b by all tae the t ie means which the laws of nations and ugal ugar usages es of civilia civilized e d warfare place at its disposal N w the thet tore fore ore cre 1 I jeffi jefferson r on davis dent of the confederate states of america do issue this my proclamation inviting all those who may desire by service in private armed vessels on the high seas to aid this government in resisting so wanton and aia wicked ed an aggression to make an application for commissions or letters of marque and reprisal to be issued under the seal of the confederate states and I 1 do further notify all persons applying idy for letters of marque to make a state slate mentin writing giving the name and suitable description of the character tonnage and force of the he vessel name of the place of residence of each owner concerned therein and the intended number of cre crerand wand to sign each statement and antl deliver the same to the secretary of state slate or collector of the port of entry lof of these confederate states to be by him transmitted to the secretary of state and I 1 t do furmer further notify all applicants aforesaid before any commission conin ision islon or letter of marque is is issued to any vessel or the owners thereof arid and the commander for the time being they will be requited ed to give bond to the era erae e states with at least two responsible sureties not interested in such vessels in the penal sum of five thousand dollars or if such essel vessel be provided with more than one hundred huni I 1 and arld fifty men then in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars with the condition that the owners officers and crew who shall be employed on hoard board such commissioned vessel shall observe the laws of these concede confederate rate states and arld the instructions given them for tiie tile regi regulation dation of their cor conduct duct that shall satisfy all damages done contrad contrary y to the tenor thereof by such vessel during her commission arid and deliver dellver d liver up tip the same when wilen revoked by the president of if tie tle confederate State sand I 1 10 lo do further furt furl lier sp specially bially enjoin oil on all pers ns holdim holding atri office ces civil and military under the authority of the confederate states that they be vigil vigilant allt alit arid and zealous in if the d discharge of flip du dil ie les ies incident tit thereto and I 1 do moreover exhort the good people of the carife confider der 1 ate ale state as they love their country as they arze the bless biess blessings i ng 4 of free govern government ment althey as they tel tei feel reel the wrongs of the past and those now threatened in an arl aggravated agg rava ted form forin by those whose enmity is more implacable because unprovoked they exert themselves in preserving in P order in promoting concord in maintaining irl ill the ahe atit authority hority and eili eill efficacy icaco of the law la sand Asand in r supporting arting ill liy igo all the measures which may be adopted for a common defense and arld by which vilich under the bl blessing e s 8 in of divi divine ne providence we may hope for spee speedy dy just and arld honorable pe ce in wi witness tress whereof I 1 have hereunto set my hand and arld have caused the seal of the confederate stat stats states s of america to be attached this seventeenth day f april in the year of our lord one th thousand usan d eight hundred and sixty on one e JEFFERSON DAVIS robert toombs secretary of state |