The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-02-21
A Proclamation.
By Ge Prc:;aeat Of tas Uai!ed Staiss OF


America.
Whereas indications exist that public
tranquility and the supremacy uf law in the
Territory of Kansas are endangered by the
reprehensible acts or purposes of persons,
both within and without the same, who pro.
pose to direct and control its political organ
ization by force: 1t appearing that combina-
tioDa 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 esdng without the
Territory, but near its borders, contemplate
srmed Intervention in the affairs thereof: 1t
also appearing that other persons, inhabit-
ants OF remote States, are collecting money,
engaging men, and providing arms for the
same purpose: And it further appearing that
conbinations within the Territory are en-
deavoring, by the agency Of emissaries and
otherwise, to individual States of the Union
to intervene in the affairs thereof, in VIOLA
tion of the Constitution Of the United
States:
And whereas all such plans for the deter
mination of tho future institutions of the
Territory, If carried into action from within
the same; will constitute the fact Of insHr-
rection, and i from without, that of aggres-
sion, and in either case justify and require
the interposition of the whole power of the
General Government as we'll to maintain
the laws of the Territory as those of the
Union. --...
Now therefore, I, Franklin Pierce, Pres
ident of the United States, do issue this my
proclamation to command all persons enga-
ged in unlawful combinations against the
constituted authority of the Terrty of Kan
sas or OF the United States to disperse and
retire peaceably to their respective abodes,
ard to warn all such persons that any at
tempted insurrection in said Territory or ag-
gressive intrusion into the same, will be
resisted not only by the employment Of the
local militia but also bv that of any availa-
BILE forces of the United States: to the end
OF assuring immunity from violence and full
protection to the persons, property, and civ
II rights of all peaceful and law abiding in
habitants ofthe Territory
II, in any part of the Union, the fury of
faction or fanaticism. inhamed into disre-
gard Of the great principles of popular SOW
ereignty which. under the Constitution, ore
fundamental in the whole structure of our
institutions, is to bring on the country the
dire calamaity 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 authori-
ty of the General Government.
call on the citizens both of adjoining and
ofdistant States, 10 abstain from unauthori
zed intermeddling in the local concerns o
the Territory admonishing them that its or
Uanic law ia TO he executed with i'm partia
justice; that all individual acts of illegal in.
reference will incur condign punishment
and that any endeavor to intervene by organ
lied force will be firmly withstood. -
invoke oil good. citizens to promote or
der by rendering obedience to the law; tc
seek remedy for temporary evils by peaceful
means; to discountenace and repulse thu
counsels and the instigations of agitator:
and of disorganizers; and to testify their at
tachment to their country. their pride in its
greatness, their appreciation Of the blessings
they enjoy, and their determination that re-
publican institutions shell not fail in then
hands, by cooperating to uphold the majesty
of the laws and to vindicate the sanctity o
the Constitution.
In testimony whereof, have hereubto Sc
my hand; and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed to these presents.
Done at the City of Washington, the
eleventh day OF February, in The
q lyear of our Lord one thousand
Height hundred and fiity.sx. and o
/the Independence Of the Unite,
States the eightieth.
BY the Prest : FRANKLIN PIERCE.
w. L. MARCY, Secretary Of State.