Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-02-27
Official Proclamation by thc Presi.
dent.

Whereas indications exist that public tran
guilty and the supremacy of the law in the
Territory of Kansas are endangered 10y the re.
prehensible acts or purposes OF persons, both
within and without the same, who propose to
direct and control its political organization by
force: II appearing that combinations have
been formed therein TO resist the execution OF
the territorial laws, and thus, in effect subVert
by violence all present constitutional and legal
authority: 1t also appearing that persons re-
siding without the Territory, but near its borders,
contemplate armed intervention in the affairs
therof: 1t also appearing that other persons,
Inhabitants OF remote States, are collecting mo-
ney, engaging men, and providing arms for the
same purpose: And il further appearing that
combinations within the Territory arc cndcavor-
ing by the agency Of emissares and otherwise,
to induce individual States of the Union to in
tervene in the affairs thereof, in violation OF the
Constitution of the United States And where
as all such plans for the determination OF the
future institutions of the Territory ii carried in
to action from within the same, will constitute
the fact of insurrecton, and, II from without,
hat of invasive aggression, and will, in either
case Justify and require the iorcihlc interposi-
ton OF the whole power of the general govern
mcnt, as we'll MS TO maintain the laws of the
Territory as those of the Union:
Now, therefore, l. Franklin Pierce, President
Of the United States, do issue this my proc!ama.
ton to command all persons engaged in unlaw-
full combinations against the constituted authori-
" of the Territory of Kansas or of the United
States to dspcrsc aud retire peaceably to their
respective abodes. and to warn all such persons
that any attempted Instruction in said Territory
or aggressive intrusion into the same will be re-
sisted not only by the employment of the local
militia, but also by that Ut any available forces
49, NJ. f,.s, tlx .r.r
immunity from violence and full protection to
the persons property, and civil rights of all
peaceful and law abiding inhabitants Of the Ter
ritory
If, in any part of the Union, the fury of fac
ton or tanaticism, ntamed into disregard of the
great principles of popular sovereignty which,
under the Constitution, are fundamental IN the
whole structure of our institutions, is TO bring
on the country the dire calamity of an arbtra
ment of arms in that Territory, it shall be be-
tween lawless violence on the one side and con
sentative force on the other welded by legal
authority OF the General Government,
! call on the citizens, both OF adjoining and
distant States, to abstain from unauthorized III
termeddlng IN the local concerns OF the Terri
tory, atmonishiug them that its organic law i
to be executed with impartial justice; that all IN
dividaal acts of Illegal interference will eonte
condign punishment; and that any endeavor u
intervene by organized force will be firmly with
stood,
invoke all good citizens to promote order b.
rendering obedience 10 the law; 10 seek remcd,
fortcpperary evils by peaceful means; 10 dts
coant ,nauce and repulsc the ,ounscls and the in
s,iga,ions OF egitators aud of disorganizers; am
to testify their at,achmcntto tieir country, ,hci
pride in its greatness, their appreciation OF tn
blessings they enjoy, and their determna,io
that republican institutions shall not fail ~ thei
hands by cooperating to uphold the majesty O
the laws aaG to sindicatc the saneuty OF tn
Constitution.
lntcstimouy whereof have hereunto set m
hand aud caused the seal OF the United ) at
TO he affixed to these presents
Done at the city OF WASHINGTON, the lit
day of February, in the year of on
SEAL. Lord ono thousand eight hundred an
hhy,six, and of the independence q
the tnited States the eighuclh.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
BY the President;
w. l.. MARCY, Secretary of State.