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Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872 [A proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln concerning the effects of insurrection on maritime commerce]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00674 Author/Creator: Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Printed document Date: 19 April 1861 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 25.7 cm, Width: 20.5 cm Order a Copy

Secretarially signed for William Seward, Secretary of State; signed in type by Lincoln. Pertains to the ports of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Lincoln states that insurrection in these states has prevented the uniform collection of revenue. Declares "I, Abraham Lincoln ... 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 ... For this purpose a competent force will be posted so as to prevent entrance and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid." States that those who interfere with the welfare of United States vessels will be punished for piracy.

Seward, William H. (William Henry), 1801-1872
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

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