overnment.

_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
efficiently 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 already been 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 laws of nations in such cases 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 any of the said ports, she shall be duly warned by
the commander of one of the blockading vessels, who shall 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 procla