, 1840-11-28
MESSAGE.
Feflo~ Citizens Of the Senate, and
House of Representatives.:

House OF Representatives,:
1t affords me much pleasure TO congratu
late you upon the happy prospects unde
which you have assembled; although a Dor
ton of our citizens have in some measure Ia
bored under temporary embarrassments an,
in some portions of the State during las
years from the failure of their crops; We
through the interpoSition of an overrulinc
Providence the labors of the h~usbandmar
during the present season. have been crown
ed with unusual success. Our mechanics find
profitable employment, and all classes of oul
citizens are enjoying that degree of happi
ness which flows from peace, health and gen.
eral abundance. Our unceasing and devouI
gratitude is due to 4 kind and benefcienl
Providence for his manifold blessings and fol-
his experimenting care and protection.
regret to inform You that since vour
last session the harmony of our relations
with 4 neighhoring government has been dis.
turbed so seriously rs 10 induce a resort TO
military interference.
10 pursuance of the provision Of a law
passed at Your last session. the Sheriff of
Clark County proceeded 10 collect the reve-
nue. from 4 certain district of country attach
ed to that county.
In the peaceable exercise of his official du-
ties under the laws OF this State, he was met
by the threats and opposition of some of
the inhabitants of the district of land imme-
diately I'D iacent TO our Northern line, and
he was warned To desist from the further
prosecution of his duties under Il penalty
consequent upon a violation of the laws of
the Territory of Iowa to which it was pre-
tended this district Of right belonged. lnfor-
nation having been at the same time Cummun
Gated to the Governor OF the Territory of
Iowa. he thereupon issued a Proclamation.
denying the title Of this State To the "rru
pancv and dominion of that portion of Is
rightfui dominion. clI'nlng the same '"r t'l-
Territory ainreSaIi. l,:rlpriSin. iHe .rTc>l
and trIai before the ludIcltl Ir;'tun = .: l,TI
of all persons who shall N!IrIn III sid dis
Irict attempt to exercise lny OH = : Junction
not granted nor secured nv the laws "i the
Territory, and cai!ing up N all the cItlzen- al
lowe TO be vIgilant 10 the detection and AZ
rest of all such alleged offenders. To this il
was replied By the Executive Of Missouri.
that the jurisdiction winch WIS claimed by
the Territory WAS IA warranted. that the
exercise OF the duties bv The o%ificcr, OF Clark
County was in conformity not only TO the
laws Of Missouri enacted after i d~IlIIgent ex-
animation of lis title. and with Il tall knowl-
edge Of the Territorial authorities. but WIS
in perfect accordance with the constitutional
and ceded limits of the State. ~lnstruc-
tions were also issued to the civil officers of
the counties adjoining our Northern boundary
to proceed in the discharge OF their duties,
and in case Of any interruption by persons
claiming not to be citizens Of this State and
denying its jurisdiction, that they call to their
aid the power of their county and act in 9th
er respects in accordance with the law OF
this State in relation to riots and unlawful
assemblies. While such instructions were
given, the officers of this State were also ex-
pressly cautioned and directed so to execute
their respective functions as to create no IN
necessary excitement and to use their utmost
efforts, consistently with law, to suppress
any needless collision, to maintain an AMIGA
pie feeling with the citizens of this State and
of the Territory Of Iowa and in all respects
to conform strictly and literally to the laws
of this State.
While proceeding under these directions,
and in the peaceable exercise of his legal
functions, the Sheriff Of the County of Clark
was resisted and preparations were made for
his arrest; he however retreated and called
upon the militia for support.
Information of these proceedings were
convened 10 the Executive Of this State BY
the Major General of that division, who was d.
rccted to furnish a sufficient force to the
Sheriff of Clark county to enable him to
proceed in the discharge Of his duties, and
to take into custody any person or persons
found within the limits of this State in open
resistance to its laws. Under the influence
Of a strong desire that the rights of our
State should be maintained; firmly, yet mildly