April 15, 1861.-PROCLAMATION CALLING 75,000 MILITIA, AND BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 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 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 15th day of April, in [L. S.] the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtyone, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-fifth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. April 19, 1861.-PROCLAMATION OF BLOCKADE. 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. [L. S.] Done at the city of Washington, this nineteenth day April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hund and sixty-one, and of the independence of the United St the eighty-fifth. ABRAHAM LINCOL By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. April 20, 1861.- REPLY TO GOVERNOR HICKS AND MAYOR BRO WASHINGTON, April 20, 1861 GOVERNOR HICKS AND MAYOR BROWN. Gentlemen: Your letter by Messrs. Bond, Dobbin, and Brune received. I tender you both my sincere thanks for your efforts keep the peace in the trying situation in which you are placed. For the future troops must be brought here, but I make no po of bringing them through Baltimore. Without any military kno ledge myself, of course I must leave details to General Scott. hastily said this morning in the presence of these gentleme "March them around Baltimore, and not through it." I sincere hope the general, on fuller reflection, will consider this practical a proper, and that you will not object to it. By this a collision the people of Baltimore with the troops will be avoided, unle they go out of their way to seek it. I hope you will exert you influence to prevent this. Now and ever I shall do all in my power for peace consistent with the maintenance of the government. Your obedient servant, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. April 20, 1861.- TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR HICKS. GOVERNOR HICKS: WASHINGTON, April 20, 1861. I desire to consult with you and the mayor of Baltimore relativ to preserving the peace of Maryland. Please come immediately by special train, which you can take at Baltimore; or, if necessary one can be sent from here. Answer forthwith. LINCOLN. April 22, 1861.-LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, April 22, 1861. HIS EXCELLENCY THOMAS H. HICKS, Governor of Maryland. Sir: I have the honor to receive your communication of this morning, in which you inform me that you had felt it to be your duty to advise the President of the United States to order elsewhere the troops then off Annapolis, and also that no more may be sent through Maryland; and that you have further suggested that Lord Lyons be requested to act as mediator between the contending parties in our country, to prevent the effusion of blood. The President directs me to acknowledge the receipt of that communication, and to assure you that he has weighed the counsels it contains with the respect which he habitually cherishes for the chief magistrates of the several States, and especially for yourself. He regrets, as deeply as any magistrate or citizen of this country can, that demonstrations against the safety of the United States, with very extensive preparations for the effusion of blood, have made it his duty to call out the forces to which you allude. The force now sought to be brought through Maryland is intended for nothing but the defense of the capital. The President has necessarily confided the choice of the national highway which that force shall take in coming to this city to the lieutenant-general commanding the army of the United States, who, like his only predecessor, is not less distinguished for his humanity than for his loyalty, patriotism, and distinguished public services. The President instructs me to add that the national highway thus selected by the lieutenant-general has been chosen by him, upon consultation with prominent magistrates and citizens of Maryland, as the one which, while a route is absolutely necessary, is farthest removed from the populous cities of the State, and with the expectation that it would therefore be the least objectionable one. He cannot but remember that there has been a time in the history of our country when a general of the American Union, with forces designed for the defense of its capital, was not unwelcome anywhere in the State of Maryland, and certainly not at Annapolis, then, as now, the capital of that patriotic State, and then also one of the capitals of the Union. If eighty years could have obliterated all the other noble sentiments of that age in Maryland, the President would be hopeful, nevertheless, that there is one that would forever remain there and everywhere. That sentiment is, that no domestic contention whatever that may arise among the parties of this republic ought in any case to be referred to any foreign arbitrament, least of all to the I have the honor to be, with distinguished consideration, your Excellency's most obedient servant, WILLIAM H. SEWARD. April 24, 1861.-LETTER TO REVERDY JOHNSON. HON. REVERDY JOHNSON. (Confidential.) EXECUTIVE MANSION, April 24, 1861. My dear Sir: Your note of this morning is just received. I forbore to answer yours of the 22d because of my aversion (which I thought you understood) to getting on paper and furnishing new grounds for misunderstanding. I do say the sole purpose of bringing troops here is to defend this capital. I do say I have no purpose to invade Virginia with them or any other troops, as I understand the word invasion. But, suppose Virginia sends her troops, or admits others through her borders, to assail this capital, am I not to repel them even to the crossing of the Potomac, if Í can? Suppose Virginia erects, or permits to be erected, batteries on the opposite shore to bombard the city, are we to stand still and see it done? In a word, if Virginia strikes us, are we not to strike back, and as effectively as we can? Again, are we not to hold Fort Monroe (for instance) if we can? I have no objection to declare a thousand times that I have no purpose to invade Virginia or any other State, but I do not mean to let them invade us without striking back. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN. April 25, 1861.-ORDER TO GENERAL SCOTT. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SCOTT. WASHINGTON, April 25, 1861. My dear Sir: The Maryland legislature assembles to-morrow at Annapolis, and not improbably will take action to arm the people of that State against the United States. The question has been submitted to and considered by me, whether it would not be justifiable, upon the ground of necessary defense, for you, as general-inchief of the United States army, to arrest or disperse the members of that body. I think it would not be justifiable nor efficient for the desired object. First, they have a clearly legal right to assemble; and we cannot know in advance that their action will not be lawful and peaceful. And if we wait until they shall have acted, their arrest or dispersion will not lessen the effect of their action. If we Secondly, we cannot permanently prevent their action. arrest them, we cannot long hold them as prisoners; and, when liberated, they will immediately reassemble and take their action; and precisely the same if we simply disperse them- they will immediately reassemble in some other place. I therefore conclude that it is only left to the commanding general to watch and await their action, which, if it shall be to arm their people against the United States, he is to adopt the most prompt and efficient means to counteract, even, if necessary, to the bombardment of their cities, and, in the extremest necessity, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Your obedient servant, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. April 27, 1861.-PROCLAMATION OF BLOCKADE. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A Proclamation. Whereas, for the reasons assigned in my proclamation of the nineteenth instant, a blockade of the ports of the States of South |