Mr. F. W. Seward to Mr. Adams
No. 1350.]
Department of State
Washington,
April 12, 1865.
Sir: I transmit herewith a printed copy of
three proclamations of the 11th instant, made by the President of the
United States—one relating to the closing of certain ports of entry,
another supplementary thereunto and relating to the port of Key West, in
Florida, and a third relating to reciprocal hospitalities to the vessels
of foreign navies in the ports of the United States, and to vessels of
the navy of the United States in foreign ports. You will perceive by
these proclamations that it is believed that the time has arrived when
the United States (whatever claim or pretence may have existed
heretofore to the contrary) are now entitled to claim the same friendly
rights and hospitalities for their naval vessels which they are willing
to concede to those of all maritime nations.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
F. W. SEWARD, Acting
Secretary
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Page 310]
[Untitled]
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, by my proclamations of the nineteenth and twenty-seventh
days of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, the ports
of the United States in the States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
and Texas, were declared to be subject to blockade; but whereas the
said blockade has, in consequence of actual military occupation by
this government, since been conditionally set aside or relaxed in
respect to the ports of Norfolk and Alexandria, in the State of
Virginia; Beaufort, in the State of North Carolina; Port Royal, in
the State of South Carolina; Pensacola and Fernandina, in the State
of Florida, and New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana;
And whereas, by the fourth section of the act of Congress, approved
on the thirteenth of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, entitled
“An act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports
and for other purposes,” the President, for the reasons therein set
forth, is authorized to close certain ports of entry:
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, do hereby proclaim that the ports of Richmond,
Tappahannock, Cherrystone, Yorktown, and Petersburg, in Virginia; of
Camden, (Elizabeth City,) Edenton, Plymouth, Washington, Newbern,
Ocracoke, and Wilmington, in North Carolina; of Charleston,
Georgetown, and Beaufort, in South Carolina; of Savannah, St.
Mary’s, and Brunswick, (Darien, ) in Georgia; of Mobile, in Alabama;
of Pearl river, (Shieldsborough,) Natchez, and Vicksburg, in
Mississippi; of St. Augustine, Key West, St. Mark’s, (Port Leon,)
St. John’s, (Jacksonville,) and Appalachicola, in Florida; of Teche,
(Franklin,) in Louisiana; of Galveston, La Salle, Brazos de
Santiago, (Point Isabel, ) and Brownsville, in Texas are hereby
closed, and all right of importation, warehousing, and other
privileges, shall, in respect to the ports aforesaid, cease until
they shall have again been opened by order of the President; and if,
while said ports are so closed, any ship or vessel from beyond the
United States, or having on board any articles subject to duties,
shall attempt to enter any such port, the same, together with its
tackle, apparel, furniture, and cargo shall be forfeited to the
United States.
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
eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the independence of the
United States of America the eighty-ninth.[L.S]
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President: William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, by my proclamation of this date, the port of Key West, in
the State of Florida, was inadvertently included among those which
are not open to commerce:
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, do hereby declare and make known that the said port
of Key West is and shall remain open to foreign and domestic
commerce upon the same conditions by which that commerce has there
hitherto been governed.
In testimony 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
eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the independence of the
United States of America the eighty-ninth,[L.S]
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President: William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
[Untitled]
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas, for some time past, vessels-of-war of the United States have
been refused, in certain foreign ports, privileges and immunities to
which they were entitled by treaty, public law, or the comity of
nations, at the same time that vessels-of-war of the country wherein
the said privileges and immunities have been withheld have enjoyed
them fully and uninterruptedly
[Page 311]
in ports of the United States, which condition
of things has not always been forcibly resisted by the United
States, although, on the other hand, they have not at any time
failed to protest against and declare their dissatisfaction with the
same; [and whereas] in the view of the United States, no condition
any longer exists which can be claimed to justify the denial to
them, by any one of such nations, of customary naval rights, as has
heretofore been so unnecessarily persisted in:
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States,
do hereby make known, that if, after a reasonable time shall have
elapsed for intelligence of this proclamation to have reached any
foreign country in whose ports the said privileges and immunities
shall have been refused, as aforesaid, they shall continue to be so
refused, then and thenceforth the same privileges and immunities
shall be refused to the vessels-of-war of that country in the ports
of the United States, and this refusal shall continue until war
vessels of the United States shall have been placed upon an entire
equality in the foreign ports aforesaid with similar vessels of
other countries. The United States, whatever claim or pretence may
have existed heretofore, are now, at least, entitled to claim and
concede an entire and friendly equality of rights and hospitalities
with all maritime nations.
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
eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five, and of the independence of the
United States of America the eighty-ninth.[L.S]
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President: William H. Seward,
Secretary of State,
