LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). By the President of the United States. A Proclamation. Washington, D.C.: Department of State, 9 May 1863.

13 x 8 1/2 in. printed broadside proclamation; accompanied with an unused partly engraved transmittal document ("Circular No. 36") issued with proclamation, also 13 x 8 1/2 in. (Light soiling, spotting, some tape repairs and remnants on verso, marginal losses not affecting text.)

A PRELUDE TO THE NEW YORK CITY DRAFT RIOTS.

In the early months of the Civil War, neither the Union nor the Confederacy had any difficulty recruiting volunteers to fight for their respective causes, with each side believing that this conflict would be little more than a war. As the fighting continued and casualties mounted, desperate measures were needed to keep the military well-stocked with soldiers. In response to this, Congress passed the Enrollment Act in March 1863 - the first conscription law in United States history, requiring that all male citizens and immigrants who had filed for American citizenship between the ages of 20 and 45 register for the draft.

Wishing to make it clear that this applied to anyone wishing to enjoy the advantages of American citizenship, Lincoln closed the present proclamation by stating that "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."

This conscription law ultimately led to the New York City draft riots of 13-16 July 1863, which saw Irish Americans violently attack African Americans, resulting in 120 deaths. It remains the largest civil disturbance in American history.

This lot is located in Chicago.

LINCOLN, Abraham (1809-1865). By the President of the United States. A Proclamation. Washington, D.C.: Department of State, 9 May 1863.