Proclamation of President Lincoln.
Seventy-five thousand troops called out.
extra session of Congress.
Washington, April 14.
--The President will to-morrow morning issue the following:
By the President of the United States:
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 by law.
Now, therefore, I,
Abraham Lincoln,
President of the
United States, in virtue of the powers in me vested by the
Constitution and the laws, have thought at to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several States of the
Union, to the aggregate number of 75,000, 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 and 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 peaceably to their respective abodes within twenty days from this 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 4th day of July next, then and there, 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 15th 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 85th.
