By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation. [proclamation title] Circular No. 36. Department of State, Washington, 9th May, 1863 [letter of transmittal title].

Washington D.C.: Department of State, 8–9 May 1863. 4to (330 x 212 mm). 2 conjoined ff., each printed on one side only, including Seward’s letter of transmittal, followed by the proclamation.

Lincoln’s Proclamation stipulating the terms of military conscription for non-naturalized immigrants during the Civil War and ahead of the first federal draft in America.

Neither the Union or Confederacy depended on the draft to populate their armies at the outset of the Civil War due to high volumes of volunteers acting under the belief that the war would be over within months. Yet as the war continued to rage, both sides were compelled to use conscription to provide their armies with fresh troops. The first federal military drafts in American history were thus instituted during the War. Lincoln’s Proclamation of May 8th 1863, offered here, came on the heels of his promulgation of The Enrollment Act on March 3rd, passed by Congress and calling for the enrollment of all able-bodied male citizens and immigrants who had already applied for U.S. citizenship between the ages of 21–45. Quotas of troops expected from each state of the North were subsequently determined by the War Dept. The Union’s federal draft followed in the summer of 1863 and encountered substantial resistance, especially in New York City.

The present proclamation begins by citing the duty of the Government to suppress insurrection and rebellion against the Union; to guarantee each State a republican form of government; and to preserve the public tranquility. For these urgent purposes, Lincoln declares, a military force is necessary. Addressing immigrants currently living in America, Lincoln further stipulates the terms of the draft for non-citizen immigrants:

no plea of alienage will be received or allowed to exempt, from the obligations imposed by the aforesaid act of Congress, any person of foreign birth who shall have declared on oath his intention to become a citizen of the United States under the laws thereof, and who shall be found within the United States at any time during the continuance of the present insurrection and rebellion, at or after the expiration of the period of sixty-five days from the date of this proclamation. Nor shall any such plea of alienage be allowed in favor of any such person who has so aforesaid declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and shall have exercised at any time the right of suffrage or any other political franchise within the United States under the laws thereof, or under the laws of any of the several States.

Rare. No copies recorded in OCLC.

REFERENCES: Muchowski, Keith. Conscription (Civil War) at encyclopediaofarkansas.net

CONDITION: Very good; lower fore-corners trimmed, date in pencil at top of proclamation.