The Charleston Mercury
April 24, 1861
Wrong is always prolific. One usurpation produces another. When the President of the United States, under the authority of a mere Riot Act, usurped the power to call out seventy five thousand men to make war upon, and to conquer the people of seven sovereign States, it was clear that he intended to be controlled by no constitutional restraints, in the prosecution of his flagitious policy. He now follows up this usurpation with another. He undertakes, without any law of Congress authorizing it, to blockade all the Southern ports. We publish his Proclamation below. To blockade the ports of a country is an expedient of war. It is used to embarrass or to subdue an enemy. Thus the Abolition Government in Washington, in defiance of the Constitution, inaugurates war, raises an army to carry it on, and establishes it at sea. Of course, the Congress of the Confederate States will be compelled, as soon as it assembles, to authorize the issuing of Letters of Marque and Reprisal. If the Constitution of the United States was not long since dead and buried, on the meeting of Congress this truculent usurper would be impeached and executed. But there is no Constitution in the United States. There is nothing but a fierce, unscrupulous and bloody despotism enthroned at Washington. The Capitol and the President’s mansion are filled with soldiery. The miserable miscreant and fanatic who is at the head of the Government, is determined to signalize his administration by the ruin and miseries he may produce. By the blessing of God, we have escaped from his bloody tyranny. We have him at arms length—opibusque parati. The worse anticipations of those of our public men who warned the South of her danger in the ascendancy of Black Republicanism, have been fully realized. All honor to their wisdom, patriotism and energy.
ALL THE SOUTHERN PORTS TO BE BLOCKADED!
The National Intelligencer of Saturday, publishes the following:
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 posed 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 any of the said ports, she will be duly warned by the commander of one of the blockading vessels, who will endorse 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 pretence, shall molest a vessel of the United States, or the persons or cargo on board her, such persons 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 cause 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.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.