The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-02-20
Blythe President of the United States
A Proclamation.


Whereas indications exist that public
tranquility and The supremacy of law IN
the Territory of Kansas are endangered
by the reprehensible acts or purposes,
both within and without the same, who
propose to direct and control its politi-
cal organization by force: 1t appear.
ing that combinations have been formed
therein to resist the execution of the
territorial laws, and thus, IN effect,
subvert by violence all present constitu-
tional and legal authority 1t also ap-
pearine that persons residing without
the Territory, but near its borders, con-
template armed Intervention in the af-
fairs thereof: 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 appearing that
com binations within the Territory are
~endeavoring, by the agency of emissa-
ries and otherwise, to induce individual
States of the Union to intervene in the
affairs thereof, in violation of the consti-
tuition of the United States:
And whereas all such plans for the
determination of the future institutions
of the Territory, il carried into action
from within the same, will constitute
the fact of insurrection, and, if from
without, that of invasive aggression,
and will, in either case, justify and re-
quire the forcible interposition of the
whole power of the general government,
as we'll to maintain the avs of the Ter
ritory as those of the Union:
Now, therefore, I, Franklin Pierce,
President of the United States, do issue
this my proclamation to command all
persons engaged in unlawful combina-
tons against the constituted authority
of the Territory of Kansas or of the
United States to ~disperse and retire
peaceably to their respective abodes,
and to warn all such persons that any
insurrection in said Territory
or aggressive intrusion into the same
will be resisted not only by the employ
of the local militia, but also by
of any available forces of the United
to the end of assuring immunity
from violence and full protection to the
persons, property, and civil rights of all
peaceful and ~law-abiding inhabitants of
the Territory.
If, in any part of the Union, the fury
Of faction or fanaticism, inhamed into
disregard of the great principles of pop
llar sovereignty which, under the con.
;titution, are fundamental in the whole
of our institutions, is to bring
IN the country the dire calamity of an
Lrbitrament of arms in that Territory,
t shall be between lawless violence ON
he one side and conservative force on ;
he other, welded by legal authority of
he general government !
l call Oh the citizens, both of adjoin-
ng aud distant States, to abstain from
intermeddling in the local
Oncerns of the Territory, ~admonishing ,
hem that its organic law is to be exc
uted with impartial justice; that all t
Individual acts of illegal interference
will incur condign punishment; and
hat any endeavor to intervene by organ
zed force will be firmly withstood.
l invoke all good citizens to promote
rider by rendering obedience to the
aw to seek remedy for tempory evils
y peaceful means; to discountenance
repulse the couusels and the iusti-
ations of agitators aud of disorgani-
ers; and to testify their attachment to !
heir country, their pride in its great
ess, their appreciation of the blessings s
hey enjoy, and their determination that !
.publican institutions shall not fail in i
heir hands, by cooperating to uphold
he majesty of the laws and 10 vindicate
ne %sauctity of the constitution.
In testimony whereof, l have hereun- S
} set my hand, and caused the seal of
he United States to be affixed to these
resents. t
Done at the city of Washinton, the :.
eleventh Day of February, in the F
year of our Lord one thousand Il
SEAL eight hundred and ffty-six, and n
of the independence of the Uni 5
ted States the eightieth. =
FRANKLIN PIERCE q