The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-02-19
by the President oftke United States of America
PROCLAMATION

By the President of TIE United States of America
PROCLAMATION.
| Whereas indications exist that public
tranquility and the supremacy Of law in the
Territory of Kansas are endangered by the
reprehensible acts OF purposes Of persons,
both within and without the same, who pro-
pose to direct and control its political or
ganization by force: 1t appearing that COM
binatilns have been formed therein to resist
the execution of the territorial laws, and
thus, in effect, subvert by violence all pres
ent constitutional and legal authority: 1t
also appearing that persons residing without
the Territory, but near its borders, contem-
plate armed Intervention in the affairs there
of: 1t also appearing that other persons,
inhabitants of remote States, are collecting
money, engaging men, and providing arms
for the same purpose: And it further ap-
pearing that combinations within the Ter
ritory are endeavoring, by the agency of
| emissaries and otherwise, to induce indivi-
dual States of the Union to intervene in the
affairs thereof, in violation of the constitu-
| ton of the United States:
And Whereas all such plans for the de-
termination of the future institutions of the
Territory, if carried into action from within
the same, will constitute the fact of insur-
rection, and from without that of invasive
aggression, and will, in either case, justify
: and require the forcible interposition of the
whole power of the general government, as
well to maintain the laws of the Territory as
those of the Union:
Now, therefore, /, Franklin Pierce, Pre-
sident of the United States, do issue this,
my proclamation to command all persons
engaged in unlawful combinations against
the constituted authority of the Territory
of Kansas or of the United States to dis
perse and retire peaceably to their respec-
tive abodes, and to warn all such persons
that any attempted insurreotion in said Ter
ritory or aggressive intrusion into the same
will be resisted not only by the employment
of the local militia, but also by that of any
available forces of the United States to
the end of assuring immunity from violence |
and full protection to the persons, property,
and civil rights of all peaceful ana law
abiding inhabitants of the Territory.
If, in any part of the Union, the fury of !
faction or fanaticism, infamed into disre-
gard of the great principles of popular SOW
ereignty which, under the constitution, are
fundamental in the whole structure of our
institutions, is to bring on the country the
dire calamity of an arbitrament of arms in
that Territory, it shall be between lawless
violence on the one side and conservative
force on the other, welded by legal author
ty of the general government
l call on the citizens, both of adjoining
md of distant States, to abstain from un-
intermeddling in the local cons
,erns of the Territory, admonishing them
hat its organic law is to be executed with
impartial justice that all individual acts of
Illegal interference will incur oondign pun
shment; and that any endeavor to inter-
'ene by organized force will be firmly with
stood.
] invoke all good citizens to promote Or
Ter by rendering obedience to the law: to
eek remedy for temporary evils by peace
I'll means; to discountenanoe and repulse
he counsels and the instigations of agitators
nd of disorganiEerS; and to testify their
ttachment to their country, their pride in
IS greatness, their appreciation of the bless
ngs they enjoy, and their determination !
hat republican institutions shall not fail in
heir hands, by cooperating to uphold the
majesty of the laws and to vindicate the
anctity of the constitution.
In testimony whereof, have horeunto
ct my hand, and caused the seal of the
'nited States to be affixed to these pres
nts.
Done at the city of Washington, the elevr
enth day of February, in the year fl
of our Lord one thousand eight L
SEAL hundred and fifty six, and of the @
independence of the United States s.
the eightieth.
FRANKLIN PIERCE, s,
By the President: It
W. L. MARCY, Scc'y of State, F
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