第25章

Whereas，forthereasonsassignedinmyproclamationofthenineteenthinstant，ablockadeoftheportsoftheStatesofSouthCarolina，Georgia，Florida，Alabama，Louisiana，Mississippi，andTexaswasorderedtobeestablished：

Andwhereas，sincethatdate，publicpropertyoftheUnitedStateshasbeenseized，thecollectionoftherevenueobstructed，anddulycommissionedofficersoftheUnitedStates，whileengagedinexecutingtheordersoftheirsuperiors，havebeenarrestedandheldincustodyasprisoners，orhavebeenimpededinthedischargeoftheirofficialduties，withoutduelegalprocess，bypersonsclaimingtoactunderauthoritiesoftheStatesofVirginiaandNorthCarolina：

AnefficientblockadeoftheportsofthoseStateswillalsobeestablishedInwitnesswhereofIhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。

DoneatthecityofWashington，thistwentyseventhdayofApril，intheyearofourLordonethousandeighthundredandsixty—one，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—fifth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

REMARKSTOAMILITARYCOMPANY，WASHINGTON，APRIL27，1861

Ihavedesiredassincerelyasanyman，andIsometimesthinkmorethananyotherman，thatourpresentdifficultiesmightbesettledwithoutthesheddingofblood。Iwillnotsaythatallhopehasyetgone；butifthealternativeispresentedwhethertheUnionistobebrokeninfragmentsandthelibertiesofthepeoplelost，orbloodbeshed，youwillprobablymakethechoicewithwhichIshallnotbedissatisfied。

LOCALIZEDREPEALOFWRITOFHABEASCORPUS

TOGENERALSCOTT。

TOTHECOMMANDINGGENERAL，ARMYOFTHEUNITEDSTATES。

YouareengagedinsuppressinganinsurrectionagainstthelawsoftheUnitedStates。IfatanypointonorinthevicinityofanymilitarylinewhichisnoworwhichshallbeusedbetweentheCityofPhiladelphiaandthecityofWashingtonyoufindresistancewhichrendersitnecessarytosuspendthewritofhabeascorpusforthepublicsafety，youpersonally，orthroughtheofficerincommandatthepointatwhichresistanceoccurs，areauthorizedtosuspendthatwrit。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

WASHINGTON，April17，1861

MILITARYENROLLMENTOFST。LOUISCITIZENS

FROMTHESECRETARYOFWAR

WARDEPARTMENT，April30，1861

TOCAPTAINNATHANIELLYON。

CAPT。NATHANIELLYON，CommandingDepartmentoftheWest。

SIR：——ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesdirectsthatyouenrollinthemilitaryserviceoftheUnitedStatestheloyalcitizensofSaintLouisandvicinity，notexceeding，withthoseheretoforeenlisted，tenthousandinnumber，forthepurposeofmaintainingtheauthorityoftheUnitedStates；fortheprotectionofthepeacefulinhabitantsofMissouri；andyouwill，ifdeemednecessaryforthatpurposebyyourself，byMessrs。OliverF。Ferny，JohnHow，JamesO。Broadhead，SamuelT。Glover，J。Wilzie，FrancisP。Blair，Jr。，proclaimmartiallawinthecityofSaintLouis。

Theadditionalforceherebyauthorizedshallbedischargedinpartorinwhole，ifenlisted。AssoonasitappearstoyouandthegentlemenabovementionedthatthereisnodangerofanattemptonthepartoftheenemiesoftheGovernmenttotakemilitarypossessionofthecityofSaintLouis，orputthecityincontrolofthecombinationagainsttheGovernmentoftheUnitedStates；andwhilstsuchadditionalforceremainsintheservicethesameshallbegovernedbytheRulesandArticlesofWar，andsuchspecialregulationsasyoumayprescribe。Ishallliketheforcehereafterdirectedtobeenrolledtobeunderyourcommand。

ThearmsandothermilitarystoresintheSaintLouisArsenalnotneededfortheforcesoftheUnitedStatesinMissourimustberemovedtoSpringfield，orsomeothersafeplaceofdepositintheStateofIllinois，asspeedilyaspracticable，bytheordnanceofficersinchargeatSaintLouis。

(Indorsement。)

Itisrevolutionarytimes，andthereforeIdonotobjecttotheirregularityofthis。W。S。

Approved，April30，1861。A。LINCOLN。

ColonelThomaswillmakethisorder。

SIMONCAMERON，SecretaryofWar。

CONDOLENCEOVERFAILUREOFFT。SUMTERRELIEF

TOGUSTAVUSV。FOX。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，May1，1861

CAPTAING。V。Fox。

MYDEARSIR：——IsincerelyregretthatthefailureofthelateattempttoprovisionFortSumtershouldbethesourceofanyannoyancetoyou。

Thepracticabilityofyourplanwasnot，infact，broughttoatest。

Byreasonofagale，wellknowninadvancetobepossibleandnotimprobable，thetugs，anessentialpartoftheplan，neverreachedtheground；while，byanaccidentforwhichyouwereinnowiseresponsible，andpossiblyItosomeextentwas，youweredeprivedofawarvessel，withhermen，whichyoudeemedofgreatimportancetotheenterprise。

Imostcheerfullyandtrulydeclarethatthefailureoftheundertakinghasnotloweredyouaparticle，whilethequalitiesyoudevelopedintheefforthavegreatlyheightenedyouinmyestimation。

Foradaringanddangerousenterpriseofasimilarcharacteryouwouldto—daybethemanofallmyacquaintanceswhomIwouldselect。

YouandIbothanticipatedthatthecauseofthecountrywouldbeadvancedbymakingtheattempttoprovisionFortSumter，evenifitshouldfail；anditisnosmallconsolationnowtofeelthatouranticipationisjustifiedbytheresult。

Verytrulyyourfriend，A。LINCOLN。

PROCLAMATIONCALLINGFOR42，034VOLUNTEERS，MAY3，1861

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES。

AProclamation……

WhereasexistingexigenciesdemandimmediateandadequatemeasuresfortheprotectionoftheNationalConstitutionandthepreservationoftheNationalUnionbythesuppressionoftheinsurrectionarycombinationsnowexistinginseveralStatesforopposingthelawsoftheUnionandobstructingtheexecutionthereof，towhichendamilitaryforceinadditiontothatcalledforthbymyproclamationofthe15thdayofAprilinthepresentyearappearstobeindispensablynecessary：

Now，therefore，I，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStatesandCommanderinChiefoftheArmyandNavythereofandofthemilitiaoftheseveralStateswhencalledintoactualservice，doherebycallintotheserviceoftheUnitedStates42，034volunteerstoservefortheperiodofthreeyears，unlesssoonerdischarged，andtobemusteredintoserviceasinfantryandcavalry。TheproportionsofeacharmandthedetailsofenrollmentandorganizationwillbemadeknownthroughtheDepartmentofWar。

AndIalsodirectthattheRegularArmyoftheUnitedStatesbeincreasedbytheadditionofeightregimentsofinfantry，oneregimentofcavalry，andoneregimentofartillery，makingaltogetheramaximumaggregateincreaseof22，714officersandenlistedmen，thedetailsofwhichincreasewillalsobemadeknownthroughtheDepartmentofWar。

AndIfurtherdirecttheenlistmentfornotlessthanoneormorethanthreeyearsof18，000seamen，inadditiontothepresentforce，forthenavalserviceoftheUnitedStates。ThedetailsoftheenlistmentandorganizationwillbemadeknownthroughtheDepartmentoftheNavy。

ThecallforvolunteersherebymadeandthedirectionfortheincreaseoftheRegularArmyandfortheenlistmentofseamenherebygiven，togetherwiththeplanoforganizationadoptedforthevolunteerandfortheregularforcesherebyauthorized，willbesubmittedtoCongressassoonasassembled。

InthemeantimeIearnestlyinvoketheco—operationofallgoodcitizensinthemeasuresherebyadoptedfortheeffectualsuppressionofunlawfulviolence，fortheimpartialenforcementofconstitutionallaws，andforthespeediestpossiblerestorationofpeaceandorder，andwiththeseofhappinessandprosperity，throughoutourcountry。

IntestimonywhereofIhavehereuntosetmybandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed……

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

COMMUNICATIONWITHVICE—PRESIDENT

TOVICE—PRESIDENTHAMLIN。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，May6，1861

HON。H。HAMLIN，NewYork。

MYDEARSIR：—Pleaseadvisemeatthecloseofeachdaywhattroopsleftduringtheday，wheregoing，andbywhatroute；whatremainingatNewYork，andwhatexpectedinthenextday。Givethenumbers，asnearasconvenient，andwhatcorpstheyare。Thisinformation，reachingusdaily，willbeveryusefulaswellassatisfactory。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

ORDERTOCOLONELANDERSON，MAY7，1861

TOALLWHOSHALLSEETHESEPRESENTS，GREETING：

Knowyethat，reposingspecialtrustandconfidenceinthepatriotism，valor，fidelity，andabilityofColonelRobertAnderson，U。S。Army，Ihaveempoweredhim，anddoherebyempowerhim，toreceiveintothearmyoftheUnitedStatesasmanyregimentsofvolunteertroopsfromtheStateofKentuckyandfromthewesternpartoftheStateofVirginiaasshallbewillingtoengageintheServiceoftheUnitedStatesforthetermofthreeyears，uponthetermsandaccordingtotheplanproposedbytheproclamationofMay3，1861，andGeneralOrdersNo。15，fromtheWarDepartment，ofMay4，1861。

Thetroopswhomhereceivesshallbeonthesamefootingineveryrespectasthoseofthelikekindcalledforintheproclamationabovecited，exceptthattheofficersshallbecommissionedbytheUnitedStates。Heisthereforecarefullyanddiligentlytodischargethedutyherebydevolveduponhimbydoingandperformingallmannerofthingsthereuntobelonging。

Givenundermyhand，atthecityofWashington，this7thdayofMay，A。D。1861，andintheeighty—fifthyearoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStates。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

SIMONCAMERON，SecretaryofWar，PROCLAMATIONSUSPENDINGTHEWRITOFHABEAS

CORPUSINFLORIDA，MAY10，1861。

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOPAMERICA：

AProclamation。

WhereasaninsurrectionexistsintheStateofFlorida，bywhichthelives，liberty，andpropertyofloyalcitizensoftheUnitedStatesareendangered：

AndwhereasitisdeemedproperthatallneedfulmeasuresshouldbetakenfortheprotectionofsuchcitizensandallofficersoftheUnitedStatesinthedischargeoftheirpublicdutiesintheStateaforesaid：

Now，therefore，beitknownthatI，AbrahamLINCOLN，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，doherebydirectthecommanderoftheforcesoftheUnitedStatesontheFloridacoasttopermitnopersontoexerciseanyofficeorauthorityupontheislandsofKeyWest，theTortugas，andSantaRosa，whichmaybeinconsistentwiththelawsandConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，authorizinghimatthesametime，ifheshallfinditnecessary，tosuspendtherethewritofhabeascorpus，andtoremovefromthevicinityoftheUnitedStatesfortressesalldangerousorsuspectedpersons。

Inwitnesswhereof，IhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed……

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

TOSECRETARYWELLES。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，May11，1861

TOTHESECRETARYOFTHENAVY。

SIR：—Lieut。D。D。PorterwasplacedincommandofthesteamerPowhatan，andCaptainSamuelMercerwasdetachedtherefrom，bymyspecialorder，andneitherofthemisresponsibleforanyapparentorrealirregularityontheirpartorinconnectionwiththatvessel。

HereafterCaptainPorterisrelievedfromthatspecialserviceandplacedunderthedirectionoftheNavyDepartment，fromwhichhewillreceiveinstructionsandtowhichhewillreport。

Veryrespectfully，ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

PRESIDENTLINCOLN’SCORRECTIONSOFADIPLOMATICDESPATCHWRITTENBY

THESECRETARYOFSTATETOMINISTERADAMS

NO。10。

DEPARTMENTOFSTATE。

WASHINGTON，May21，1861

SIR：———Mr。Dallas，inabriefdespatchofMay2d(No。333)，tellsusthatLordJohnRussellrecentlyrequestedaninterviewwithhimonaccountofthesolicitudewhichhislordshipfeltconcerningtheeffectofcertainmeasuresrepresentedaslikelytobeadoptedbythePresident。InthatconversationtheBritishsecretarytoldMr。

DallasthatthethreerepresentativesoftheSouthernConfederacyweretheninLondon，thatLordJohnRussellhadnotyetseenthem，butthathewasnotunwillingtoseethemunofficially。HefurtherinformedMr。DallasthatanunderstandingexistsbetweentheBritishandFrenchgovernmentswhichwouldleadbothtotakeoneandthesamecourseastorecognition。HislordshipthenreferredtotherumorofameditatedblockadebyusofSouthernports，andadiscontinuanceofthemasportsofentry。Mr。Dallasansweredthatheknewnothingonthosetopics，andtherefore(ThePresident’scorrections，bothinnotesandtext，areincaps。Allmatterbetweenbracketswastobemarkedout。)

couldsaynothing。Headdedthatyouwereexpectedtoarriveintwoweeks。UponthisstatementLordJohnRussellacquiescedintheexpediencyofwaitingforthefullknowledgeyouwereexpectedtobring。

Mr。DallastransmittedtoussomenewspaperreportsofministerialexplanationsmadeinParliament。

Youwillbasenoproceedingsonparliamentarydebatesfurtherthantoseekexplanationswhennecessaryandcommunicatethemtothisdepartment。[WeintendtohaveaclearandsimplerecordofwhateverissuemayarisebetweenusandGreatBritain。]

ThePresident[issurprisedandgrieved]regretsthatMr。DallasdidnotprotestagainsttheproposedunofficialintercoursebetweentheBritishGovernmentandthemissionariesoftheinsurgents[aswellasagainstthedemandforexplanationsmadebytheBritishGovernment]。

Itisdue，however，toMr。Dallastosaythatourinstructionshadbeengivenonlytoyouandnottohim，andthathisloyaltyandfidelity，toorareinthesetimes[amongourlaterepresentativesabroad，areconfessedand]areappreciated。

Intercourseofanykindwiththeso—calledcommissionersisliabletobeconstruedasarecognitionoftheauthoritywhichappointedthem。

Suchintercoursewouldbenonetheless[wrongful]hurtfultousforbeingcalledunofficial，anditmightbeevenmoreinjurious，becauseweshouldhavenomeansofknowingwhatpointsmightberesolvedbyit。Moreover，unofficialintercourseisuselessandmeaninglessifitisnotexpectedtoripenintoofficialintercourseanddirectrecognition。Itisleftdoubtfulherewhethertheproposedunofficialintercoursehasyetactuallybegun。Yourown[present]

antecedentinstructionsaredeemedexplicitenough，anditishopedthatyouhavenotmisunderstoodthem。Youwillinanyeventdesistfromallintercoursewhatever，unofficialaswellasofficial，withtheBritishGovernment，solongasitshallcontinueintercourseofeitherkindwiththedomesticenemiesofthiscountry[confiningyourselftoadeliveryofacopyofthispapertotheSecretaryofState。Afterdoingthis。]Whenintercourseshallhavebeenarrestedforthiscause，youwillcommunicatewiththisdepartmentandreceivefurtherdirections。

LordJohnRussellhasinformedusofanunderstandingbetweentheBritishandFrenchgovernmentsthattheywillacttogetherinregardtoouraffairs。Thiscommunication，however，losessomethingofitsvaluefromthecircumstancethatthecommunicationwaswithhelduntilafterknowledgeofthefacthadbeenacquiredbyusfromothersources。Weknowalsoanotherfactthathasnotyetbeenofficiallycommunicatedtous——namely，thatotherEuropeanStatesareapprisedbyFranceandEnglandoftheiragreement，andareexpectedtoconcurwithorfollowtheminwhatevermeasurestheyadoptonthesubjectofrecognition。TheUnitedStateshavebeenimpartialandjustinalltheirconducttowardtheseveralnationsofEurope。Theywillnotcomplain，however，ofthecombinationnowannouncedbythetwoleadingpowers，althoughtheythinktheyhadarighttoexpectamoreindependent，ifnotamorefriendly，coursefromeachofthem。Youwilltakenonoticeofthatoranyotheralliance。WhenevertheEuropeangovernmentsshallseefittocommunicatedirectlywithus，weshallbe，asheretofore，frankandexplicitinourreply。

Astotheblockade，youwillsaythatby[the]ourownlaws[ofnature]andthelawsofnatureandthelawsofnations，thisGovernmenthasaclearrighttosuppressinsurrection。Anexclusionofcommercefromnationalportswhichhavebeenseizedbytheinsurgents，intheequitableformofblockade，isthepropermeanstothatend。Youwill[admit]notinsistthatourblockadeis[not]toberespectedifitbenotmaintainedbyacompetentforce；butpassingbythatquestionasnotnowapractical，oratleastanurgent，one，youwilladdthat[it]theblockadeisnow，anditwillcontinuetobesomaintained，andthereforeweexpectittoberespectedbyGreatBritain。YouwilladdthatwehavealreadyrevokedtheexequaturofaRussianconsulwhohadenlistedinthemilitaryserviceoftheinsurgents，andweshalldismissordemandtherecallofeveryforeignagent，consularordiplomatic，whoshalleitherdisobeytheFederallawsordisowntheFederalauthority。

Astotherecognitionoftheso—calledSouthernConfederacy，itisnottobemadeasubjectoftechnicaldefinition。Itis，ofcourse，[quasidirectrecognitiontopublishanacknowledgmentofthesovereigntyandindependenceofanewpower。Itis[quasi]directrecognitiontoreceiveitsambassadors，ministers，agents，orcommissionersofficially。Aconcessionofbelligerentrightsisliabletobeconstruedasarecognitionofthem。Nooneoftheseproceedingswill[beborne]pass[unnoticed]unquestionedbytheUnitedStatesinthiscase。

Hithertorecognitionhasbeenmovedonlyontheassumptionthattheso—calledConfederateStatesaredefactoaself—sustainingpower。

Now，afterlongforbearance，designedtosoothediscontentandaverttheneedofcivilwar，thelandandnavalforcesoftheUnitedStateshavebeenputinmotiontorepresstheinsurrection。ThetruecharacterofthepretendednewStateisatoncerevealed。Itisseentobeapowerexistinginpronunciamentoonly，Ithasneverwonafield。Ithasobtainednofortsthatwerenotvirtuallybetrayedintoitshandsorseizedinbreachoftrust。Itcommandsnotasingleportonthecoastnoranyhighwayoutfromitspretendedcapitalbyland。UnderthesecircumstancesGreatBritainiscalledupontointerveneandgiveitbodyandindependencebyresistingourmeasuresofsuppression。BritishrecognitionwouldbeBritishinterventiontocreatewithinourownterritoryahostilestatebyoverthrowingthisrepublicitself。[Whenthisactofinterventionisdistinctlyperformed，wefromthathourshallceasetobefriends，andbecomeoncemore，aswehavetwicebeforebeenforcedtobe，enemiesofGreatBritain。]

Astothetreatmentofprivateersintheinsurgentservice，youwillsaythatthisisaquestionexclusivelyourown。Wetreatthemaspirates。Theyareourowncitizens，orpersonsemployedbyourcitizens，preyingonthecommerceofourcountry。IfGreatBritainshallchoosetorecognizethemaslawfulbelligerents，andgivethemshelterfromourpursuitandpunishment，thelawsofnationsaffordanadequateandproperremedy[andweshallavailourselvesofit。

Andwhileyouneednotsaythisinadvance，besurethatyousaynothinginconsistentwithit。]

Happily，however，herBritannicMajesty’sgovernmentcanavoidallthesedifficulties。Itinvitedusin1856toaccedetothedeclarationoftheCongressofParis，ofwhichbodyGreatBritainwasherselfamember，abolishingprivateeringeverywhereinallcasesandforever。Youalreadyhaveourauthoritytoproposetoherouraccessiontothatdeclaration。Ifsherefusetoreceiveit，itcanonlybebecausesheiswillingtobecomethepatronofprivateeringwhenaimedatourdevastation。

Thesepositionsarenotelaboratelydefendednow，becausetovindicatethemwouldimplyapossibilityofourwaivingthem。

1Wearenotinsensibleofthegraveimportanceof1(Dropallfromthislinetotheend，andinlieuofitwrite，"Thispaperisforyourownguidanceonly，andnot[sic]tobereadorshowntoanyone。)

(SecretarySeward，whenthedespatchwasreturnedtohim，addedanintroductoryparagraphstatingthatthedocumentwasstrictlyconfidential。Forthisreasontheselasttwoparagraphsremainedastheyarehereprinted。)

thisoccasion。Weseehow，upontheresultofthedebateinwhichweareengaged，awarmayensuebetweentheUnitedStatesandone，two，orevenmoreEuropeannations。WarinanycaseisasexceptionablefromthehabitsasitisrevoltingfromthesentimentsoftheAmericanpeople。Butifitcome，itwillbefullyseenthatitresultsfromtheactionofGreatBritain，notourown；thatGreatBritainwillhavedecidedtofraternizewithourdomesticenemy，eitherwithoutwaitingtohearfromyouourremonstrancesandourwarnings，orafterhavingheardthem。Warindefenseofnationallifeisnotimmoral，andwarindefenseofindependenceisaninevitablepartofthedisciplineofnations。

ThedisputewillbebetweentheEuropeanandtheAmericanbranchesoftheBritishrace。Allwhobelongtothatracewillespeciallydeprecateit，astheyought。Itmaywellbebelievedthatmenofeveryraceandkindredwilldeploreit。Awarnotunlikeitbetweenthesamepartiesoccurredatthecloseofthelastcentury。EuropeatonedbyfortyyearsofsufferingfortheerrorthatGreatBritaincommittedinprovokingthatcontest。Ifthatnationshallnowrepeatthesamegreaterror，thesocialconvulsionswhichwillfollowmaynotbesolong，buttheywillbemoregeneral。Whentheyshallhaveceased，itwill，wethink，beseen，whatevermayhavebeenthefortunesofothernations，thatitisnottheUnitedStatesthatwillhavecomeoutofthemwithitspreciousConstitutionalteredoritshonestlyobtaineddominioninanydegreeabridged。GreatBritainhasbuttowaitafewmonthsandallherpresentinconvenienceswillceasewithallourowntroubles。Ifshetakeadifferentcourse，shewillcalculateforherselftheultimateaswellastheimmediateconsequences，andwillconsiderwhatpositionshewillholdwhensheshallhaveforeverlostthesympathiesandtheaffectionsoftheonlynationonwhosesympathiesandaffectionsshehasanaturalclaim。

Inmakingthatcalculationshewilldowelltorememberthatinthecontroversysheproposestoopenweshallbeactuatedbyneitherpride，norpassion，norcupidity，norambition；butweshallstandsimplyontheprincipleofself—preservation，andthatourcausewillinvolvetheindependenceofnationsandtherightsofhumannature。

Iam，Sir，respectfullyyourobedientservant，W。H。S。

CHARLESFRANCISADAMS，Esq。，etc，TOTHESECRETARYOFWAR，EXECUTIVEMANSION，May21，1861。

HON。SECRETARYOFWAR。

MYDEARSIR：——WhycannotColonelSmall’sPhiladelphiaregimentber