Mr. Hunter to Mr.
Adams
No. 1404.]
Department of State,
Washington,
May 16, 1865.
Sir: The military court convened to commence
proceedings for the trial of the assassins and their accomplices on the
9th instant. Newspapers containing a report of the testimony have been
forwarded to you by this mail.
The report comes to us in a credible form that the rebel General Taylor
surrendered with his command to Major General Canby, on substantially
the same terms accepted by Lee.
It appears that Johnston, on surrendering, turned over to the national
forces one hundred and fifty cannons and nine thousand stand of
arms.
On the 12th instant, Major General Wilson announced by telegraph the
capture at Irwinsville, in Georgia, of the fugitive rebel chief,
Jefferson Davis, who was surprised in camp by the 4th Michigan cavalry,
under the immediate command of Lieutenant Colonel Pritchard.
I enclose for your information and guidance two copies of the President’s
proclamation of the 10th instant, in regard to insurgent cruisers, one
copy of which you will communicate to the government to which you are
accredited.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
W. HUNTER, Acting
Secretary,
Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c., &c., &c.
[Relative to insurgent cruisers,
May 10,
1865.]
[Untitled]
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas the President of the United States, by his proclamation of
the nineteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-one, did declare certain States therein mentioned in
insurrection against the government of the United States; and
whereas armed resistance to the authority of this government in the
said insurrectionary States may be regarded as virtually at an end,
and the persons by whom that resistance, as well as the operations
of insurgent cruisers, was directed, are fugitives or captives; and
whereas it is understood that some of those cruisers are still
infesting the high seas, and others are preparing to capture, burn,
and destroy vessels of the United States:
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the
United States, hereby enjoin all naval, military, and civil officers
of the United States, diligently to endeavor, by all lawful means,
to arrest the said cruisers, and to bring them into a port of the
United States, in order that they may be prevented from committing
further depredations on commerce, and that the persons on board of
them may no longer enjoy impunity for their crimes.
And I do further proclaim and declare, that if, after a reasonable
time shall have elapsed for this proclamation to become known in the
ports of nations claiming to have been neutrals, the said insurgent
cruisers and the persons on board of them shall continue to receive
hospitality in the said ports, this government will deem itself
justified in refusing hospitality to the public vessels of such
nations in ports of the United States, and in adopting such other
measures as may be deemed advisable towards vindicating the national
sovereignty.
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 tenth day of May, 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.
[seal.]
ANDREW JOHNSON.
By the President:
W. Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State.
