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The Abbeville vol. ir. J President Issues Proclamation. ) To Serve Two Years and To Be Apportioned Among the Sev eral States As Far As Practicable. Tho president Saturday called upon the people of the United States for the first time in thirty years to manifest their material strength, this time the call being upon a united people to go forward to battle with a foreign foe. The secretary of war created a new army corps. The president’s proclamation calling for 125,000 troops to serve two years is as follows: BY THE PRESIDENT OP THE UNITED STATES. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, By a joint resolution of congress approved on the 20th day of April, 1898, entitled, “Joint resolu tion for the recognition of the inde pendence of the people of Cuba, de manding that the government of Spain relinquish its authority and govern ment in the island of Cuba, to with draw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the president of the United States to use the laud and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolu tions into effect, and, Whereas, by an ect of congress enti tled “An act for temporarily increas ing the military establishment of the United States in time of war and Kn ottier purposes,” approved April 22, 1898, the president is authorized in order to raise a volunteer army to is sue his proclamation calling for vol unteers to serve in the army of the United States. Now, therefore, I, William McKin ley, president of the United States, by virtue of the power invested in me by the constitution and laws, and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call for, and hereby do call for, volunteers to the aggregate number of 125,000 in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said res olution; they to he apportioned as far as practicable among the several states and territories and the District of Co lumbia according to population, and to serve for two years unless sooner dis charged. The details of this object will be immediately communicated to the proper authorities throughout the war department. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this 23d day of April, A. D., 1898,and the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-second. (Signed) William McKinley. By the President State. John Sherman, Secretary of While it is the purpose of the war department to secure only National Guardsmen as far as possible under the first call for volunteers, yet in states where there are no National Guard, or where the number falls be low the quota fixed in the call, the states will he expected to supply the volunteers regardless of their lock of organization. In fact, this must be done under the law. On the basis of the call for 125,000 men the southern states will be called upon 1 1 supply the following number of volunteers: Alabama.. ..2,500 Mississippi. . .2,257 Arkansas... .2,025 N. Carolina. ..2,584 Florida 750 S. Carolina... 747 Georgia 3,174 Tennessee.. .3,060 Kentucky.. .3,407 Texas.... .4,229 Louisiana.. .1,940 Virginia.....2,913 Maryland ...1,942 W. Virginia. .1,389 SPANIARDS OPEN FIRE. Guns of Moro Castle Take a Shot at Our Fleet. Moro castle opened fire on the fight ing squadron of the United States at 11 o’clock Saturday night. About ten shots were sent in the direction of our ships, hut not one of them took effect and no shots were fired in return. The Spaniards had apparently Been the lights of the New York while the latter was signaling to a ship of the squadron. excitement hoard There was no on the flagship during Moro castle’s futile attempt at gunnery. The discipline w as really splendid. ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY APRIL 28. 1898. PRESIDENT M’KINLEY SO NOTIFIES FOREIGN NATIONS. ARTICLES OF CONTRABAND GIVEN. All Ships Flying the Spanish Flag Will Do Expected to Adhere to the Itule. There were two further important steps in Washington Friday toward ac tual hostilities, not to mention the overt act involved in the seizure of the vessel Buena Ventura off Key West. The first was the issue by the presi dent of his proclamation announcing to the world a blockade of a number of Cuban perts and the second was the signing by him of tho bill providing for the utilization of the volunteer forces in war. Following the up the formalities begin ing with blockade proclamation the state department Friday afternoon addressed a note to all of the repre sentatives of foreign nations accredit ed to Washington notifying them of the policy to be pursued by this gov ernment in the matter of privateering and neutrality. This was followed by the sending of cable messages to all American embassies and legations abroad containing the same informa tion for presentation to governments to which they are accredited. In brief, it declares that our gov ernment will not resort to privateer ing; that the enemy’s goods in neutral bottoms, save contraband, are exempt from seizure; that neutral goods not contraband under the enemy’s flag are safe from seizure and that blockades to be binding must be effective. In substance these are the principles laid down in the agreement of Paris of 1856. The officials are not disturbed at the semi-official notice from Madrid that Spain will refuse to be bound by the same principles and forbid priva teering, for they are satisfied that the great commercial powers will not tol erate the practice of privateering under the Spanish flag. Inasmuch as there exists a great amount of misapprehension, not only among foreign countries, but also among American shippers as to the character of merchandise that is con traband and liable to seizure during the progress of war, the following un official but authentic statement lias been obtained from a high official of the government: Contraband of War. In determining, according to the law of nations, whether merchandise is contraband of war it is classified: 1. Absolute contraband. 2. Occasional or conditional contra band. 3. Goods not contraband. The first-class includes all goods of a warlike character. The second-class includes provis ions, naval stores, coal, horses, certain kinds of machinery, certain forms of steel, iron, etc., which are subservient to warlike use and which are destined for the use of the enemy. They are contraband or not according to occa sions and conditions as to their char acter, shipment and destined use. Every such case depends on its own facts. The third class includes articles not suited to warlike use—such as church service and musical instruments, household wares and goods, and other such like articles. AVAR DECLARED BY BLANCO. Captain General of Cuba Proclaims Exist ence of Hostilities. A special from Havana says: Cap tain General Blanco has published a decree confirming his previous decrees and declaring the island to be in a state of war. He also annuls his former similar decrees granting pardon to insurgents and places under martial law all those who are guilty, of treason, espionage, crimes against peace or against the in dependence of the nation, seditious revolts, attacks against the form of government or against the authorities and against those who disturb public order, though only by means of print ed matter. OVATION TO BRYAN At Convention of League of Bimetallic Clnbs at Indianapolis. An audience of between five and six thousand people greeted AVilliam J. Bryan at Tomlinson hall, indianapolis, Thursday,when the second convention of the League of Bimetallic Clubs of the Ohio Valley ended. Mr. Bryan was tendered an ovation. He spoke for an hour and a half, mainly on the currency question. He touched casually on the Cuban ques tion. “While we are talking about freeing Cuba,” said he, “let us not forget that we have a work to do in freeing Amer ica.” J1 President Sends in Message Asks Congress to Pass a Bill Declaring That War Now Exists. HOUSE ACTS PROMPTLY! The following bill reported by the foreign affairs committee in the lower house of congress Monday, was passed immediately and without division: “A bill declaring that war exists be tween the United States of America and the Kingdom Spain. “Be it enacted, etc., “First—That war be and the same is hereby declared to exist and that war has existed since the 21st day of April A. D., 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain. “Second—That the president of the United States be, and he hereby is directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several states, to such extent ns may he necessary to carry this act into effect.” A Washington special says: The president Monday sent congress the following message recommending a declaration of war against Spain: The senate and house of represen tatives of the United States of Amer ica—I transmit to the congress for its consideration and approval copies of correspondence recently had with tlio representatives of Spain in the United States with the United States Minister at Madrid and through the latter with the government of Spain, showing the action taken under joint resolution ap proved April 20th, 1898, “for the rec ognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that tlio government of Sjiain relinquish its au thority and government in the island df Cuba and to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters and directing the president of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect.” Upon communicating to the Spanish minister in Washington the demand which it became the duly of the exec utive to address to the government of Spain in obedience to said resolution, the minister asked for his passports and withdrew. The United States minister at Madrid was in turn notified by the Spanish minister for foreign affairs that the withdrawal of the Spanish representative from tho United States had terminated diplomatic rela tions between the two countries and Hint all official communications between their respective representatives ceased therewith. I recommend to your especial atten tion the note addressed to the United States minister at Madrid by the Span ish minister for foreign nffairs on the 21st inst., whereby the foregoing no tification was conveyed. It will he perceived therefrom that the govern ment of Spain, having recognizance of tho joint resolution of the United States congress, and in view of Hie things which the president is thereby required and authorized to do, re sponds by treating the demands of this government as measures of hos tility, following at that instant imme diate and complete severance of rela tions by its nations, which, by the usages of nations, accompanies an ex istent state of war between sovereign powers. The position of Spain being thus made known and the demands of the United States being denied with a complete rupture of intercourse by the act of Spain, I am constrained in exer cise of the power and authority con ferred upon me by the joint resolution aforesaid to proclaim under date of April 22, 1898, a blockade of certain ports of the north coast of Cuba lying between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and of the port of Oienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba; and, further, in exercise of my constitutional powers and using’ the authority conferred upon mo by the net of congress ap proved April 22. 1898, to issue my proclamation dated April 23, 18S18, milling for volunteers in order to carry into effect the said resolution of April 20, 1898. Copies of these proclamations are hereunto appended: In view of the measures so taken and and with view to the adoption of such other measure as may he neces snry to enable me to carry out the ex pressed will of the congress of the United States in the premises, I will recommend to your honorable consid eration tho adoption of a joint resolu tion declaring that a state of war ex ists between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, a d I urge speedy action thereon to tho end that tho definition of tho na tional status of tho United States as a belligerent power may he known, and the assertion of all its fights and the maintenance of all its duties in the conduct of a jinblie war may he as sured. (Signed) William McKinley. Executive Mansion, Washington, April 25, 1898. POINTS OF RENDEZVOUS Designated For Mustering Troops of Vol unteer Army. The rendezvous for the troops to be mustered in the service of the volun teer army in tho southern states ha* been designated by Secretary Algor as follows: Alabama—Mobile. Arkansas—Little Rock. Florida—Tamps. Georgia—Atlanta. Kentucky—Louisville. Louisiana—New Orleans. Maryland—Baltimore. Mississippi—Jackson. North Carolina—Raleigh. South Carolina—Charleston. Tennessee—Nashville. Texas—Houston. Virginia—Richmond. AVest Virginia—Martinshurg. For the purpose of recruiting for tho volunteer as well as for the regular army the department will designate in each state several cities where recruit ing under the direction of army offi cers will he carried on. The Hull hill provides for the in crease of the regular army on a war footing to about 60,000 men. In ad dition to those recruiting stations it is expected the war department will des ignate hoards of nrmy officers will go from place to place in tho state en gaged in recruiting duty. TO RETURN TO CURA. Virginian Will Accept Any Commission President Tenderg Him. A Richmond dispatch states that it is understood that General Leo will anquestionahly he made a major gen eral in the United States volunteer army and will lead a division or corps in Cuba. AV’heu asked if the Virginia troops would be attached to his command, he stated unhesitatingly they would he.. It has leaked out that lie.wired to Secretary Alger Friday suggesting that the troops destined for Cuba he uniformed in the lightest possible clothing. SEAMEN REVOLTED. Engineer# of Spanish Boats Disabled the Machinery. The British steamer Astouu arrived at Galveston, Texas, Friday morning from Las Palmas, Grand Canary, one one of the Canary island group. The commander of the vessel is Cuptaiu P. H. Barnet. The machinery of the several torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers was purposely disabled by the engineers of the various craft. Captain Barnet says he received this information from an absolutely reliable source. A plot was entered into by the several engineers to do the work, and successfully it was done. CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS I# Signed By President McKinley Along With tlio Army Bill. A AVasliington special says: Tho volunteer army hill was signed by tho president Friday afternoon and a call for 1 00,000 volunteers was signed at the same time. In many respects the call follows the outlines of the first made by Pres ident Lincoln on April 15, when he asked for 75,000 men. Necessarily there are a number of changes because of the different pur poses for which volunteers arc asked. RAISING WAR FUNDS. Chairman IMngley Introduce. Revenue Measure In the House. Chairman Dingley, of the ways and means committee, Saturday afternoon introduced in the house the war rev enue measure which the tepuhlienn members of the ways and means com mittee have prepared. will it isprobable that this program meet with opposition from the demo crats, who have not been consulted in its preparation. already decided Tho democrats have to offer an income tax amendment. Chairman Dingley estimates that the measure as framed will raise between 890,000,000 and SI 00.000.000. HANDS IN HIS RESIGNATION AT A CAHINET MEETING. DAY APPOINTED TO SOCCEED HIM. Cuuse of the Resignation Attributed to ltad Health and Advanced Age Of tho Retiring: Secretary. Another resignation from the cabi net occurred at Washington Monday, when the venerable secretary of state, Mr. John Sherman, banded bis resig nation to the president at a special meeting called together at 10 a.m. The resignation took effect at noon, and with it Mr. Sherman retires from public life after a service of over forty years, embracing the bouse of repre sentatives, the United States senate, the secretaryship of the treasury and the secretaryship of state. The reason for the resignation is tho condition of the secretary’s health, which is now impaired as the result of years of de votion to the public service and the arduous labors of a lifetime, added to age,the venerable secretary being now within a few days of seventy-five years of age. The secretary’s resignation was ten dered in a simple note tendering to the president the portfolio entrusted to him upon the inauguration of Presi dent McKinley, and asking that it take effect from the close of the day. The session of the cabinet at which Mr. Sliermnn’s resignation was ten dered was called early Monday morn ing for tho purpose of reviewing the message the president transmitted to congress. After the resignation had been ac cepted the president appointed Wil liam It. Day, of Ohio, the assistant secretary of state, to succeed Mr. Sherman. Judge Day’s place will be filled by John I!. Moore, of New York, an ac knowledged nutliority on international law. The selection of Mr. Moore was warmly welcomed by all of the state department employes. He was ap pointed from Delaware in the state department by Mr. Bayard when the latter was secretary, and served under several administrations without regard to political changes. Mr. Moore is an authority on certain branches of inter national law and his selection will do much to strengthen the state depart ment in the present emergency. SPANIARDS PLEDGE SUPPORT. All Faction# Swear to LoaylJy Uphold the Kingdom. Advices from Madrid state thatSenor Castelar, the republican leader, ap peared Monday in the chamber for tlio first time since 1888 and took the oath of the monarchist, kneeling with his head on the gospel. The other members of the mon archists gave their pledges while stand ing with the band pressed upon tho heart. Senor Romero Robledo, leader of the Weylerite faction, asked tho government whether there was a cabi net crisis, whether it was intended to suspend constitutional rights in the peninsula anil whether the government would close the cortes after the budget has been voted. Henor Sagasta, the premier, answer ing these questions in the negative in a highly patriotic speech that, was loudly applauded by all parties in the chamber, declared that the govern ment, responding to public patriotism, upproved the conduct of the war, a toute outrance as a reply to insults and aggressions from America. The carlists, republicans and other factions pledged their support to the government “in all measures lequired to defend the honor and lights of Spain.” Several deputies protested in the name of the ntfvy against the “yankee who invented the calumnies respect ing the explosion of tho Maine.” The Official Gazette published the instructions of the Spanish govern ment respecting the right of search of neutral vessels. In brief they set forth that warships may detain merchant men in any non-neutral waters for tho purpose of verifying the authenticity of tho flag and for examining the car go, if the vessel is bound for a hostile port. BRITAIN IS NOTIFIED Of Our Proclamation In Regard To Neutral . VeHMeJ#. The British foreign office at London was officially notified Monday of the proclamation of the president of tho United States in regard to neutral ves sels and neutral grounds and the blockade of the island of Cuba by tho United States fleet. AVitli reference to Spain’s declara tion on tho subject of privateering issued from Madrid, the British for eign officials point out that the reso lotions announced by the United States on the subject were taken with out reference to a policy which Spain might adopt. NO. 15. Our Guard Cuba. ) ) Sampson’s Vessels are Lined Up Off Shores of Cuba and Can Be Plainly Seen From the Island. Tlio following proclamation an nouncing a blockade of Cuban ports was issued at Washington Friday: BY THE I'RESTDENT OF THE UNITED states: A PBOCLAMATION. AV’hereas, by a joint resolution pass ed by tho congress and approved April 20, 1898, and communicated to the government of Spain, it was demanded that said government at once relin quish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuban waters; and the president of the United States is directed and empow ered to use the entire laud and naval forces of the United States, and to call into actual service of tho United States the militia of the several states to such extent as might he necessary to carry said resolution into effect; and AVhereas, in carrying into effect said resolution, the president of the United States deems it necessary to set on foot and maintain a blockade of the north coast of Cuba, including all ports on said coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and the port of Cienfugos on the south coast of Cuba. .Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, president of the United States, in order to enforce the said resolution, do hereby declare and proclaim that the United States of America have instituted, and will maintain a blockade of the north coast of Cuba, including ports on said coast between Cardenas and Baliia Honda, and the port of Oienfuegos, on the south coast of Cuba, aforesaid, in pursuance of the laws of the United States and tho law of nations applica ble to such cases. An efficient force will he posted so as to prevent the en trance and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid. Aliy neutral vessels approaching any of said ports, or at tempting to -leave the same, without notice or knowledge of the establish ment of such blockade, will he duly warned by tho commander of the the blockading forces who will endorse on her register the fact, and the date of such warning, where such endorse ment was made; and if the same vessel shall again attempt to enter any block aded port, she will he captured and sent to the nearest convenient port for such proceedings against her and her cargo as prize, as muy he deemed ad visable. Neutral vessels lying in any of said ports at Hie time of the establishment of such blockade will he allowed thirty days to issue therefrom. in witness whereof, \ have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to ho affixed. Done in the city of Washington this 22d day of April, A. D., 1898, and of the independence of the United States, the one hundred and twenty-second. William McKinley. By the President. John Sherman, Secretary of State. Acting under this proclamation the entire fleet of the North Atlantic squadron is lined up off the Cuban coost and the blockade is on in earnest. Tlio ships of the fleet can easily he seen by people on the Cuban shore. SPANISH SHIP CAPTURED. Gunboat Nashville Fires First Shot and Takes a Prize. The first Hpunish prize to he captur ed by one of our ships w as the steamer Buena Ventura from Pascagoula,Miss., for Rotterdam, with lumber. The Nashville fired a blank shot, which the Spaniard ignored. This was followed by a shot from a six pounder. Buena A 7 ontnrn then surrendered with her crew of twenty men. The Nashville towed her prize into the harbor at Key AVest and a prize placed on hoard. The news of the capture of the set the people of Key AVest frantic with enthusiasm. The Bouna Ventura is a tramp steamer bailing from Bilboa, Spain. She belonged to the Snrrinaga line. On March 29 she arrived at Pasca Miss., from Havana, and was on the way to Pensacola, Fla., to load for Holland when captured.