Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-02-28
By Authority.
By tie President Of the United States OF
1mer1cu.
4 PROCIAMA ALTON


4 PROCLAMATION.
Whereas indications exist that public
tranquility and the supremacy of the law
in the Territory Of Kansas are endangered
by the reprehensible acts or purposes OF
persons, both within and without the same,
who propose to direct and control lis polit-
ical organization by force: 1t appearing
that combinations have been formed there
in to resist the execution of the territorial
laws, and thus. in effect, subvert by vio-
lence all present constitutional and legal
authority. 1t also appearing that persons
residing without the Territory, but near
its borders, contemplate armed Intervention
in the affairs thereof: 1t also appearing
that other persons, Inhabitants of remote
States, are collecting money, engaging men
and providing arms for the same purpose:
And 1t further appearing that combinations
within the Territory are endeavoring, by
the agency of emissaries and otherwise, To
in the affairs thereof. in violation of the
Constitution of the United States
And whereas all such pars for the de-
termination of the future institutions of the
Territory, if carried into action from with
in the same, will constitute the fact of in
surrection; and, if from without, that of
invasive aggression, and will, in either
case, justify and require the forciblc inter
position 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, Pres
id mt of the United States, do issue this my
proclamation TO command all persons en-
gagged in unlawful combinations against
the constituted authority of the Territory
OF Kansas, or of the United States, to dis
persc and retire peacably to their rcspec-
tive abodes, and To warn all such persons
that any attempted instruction in sal |
Territory, or aggressive intrusion into the
same, will be resisted, not only by the en-
ployment of the local militia, but also by
that of any available forces of the United
States 70 the end Of assuring immunity
from violence and full protection to the per-
sons, property, and civil rights ofall peace
full and law abiding inhabitants of the Ter
rltOry.
If, in any part Of the Union, the fury Of
faction or fanaticism, infiamed into disre-
gard of the grea; principles of popular SOW
crcisnty, which, under the constitution,
are fundamental i'll the whole structure of
our institutions, is to bring on the dire ca
nifty of an arbitrament of arms in that
Territory, it shall be between lawless vo-
lence on the one side and conservative force
on the other, welded by legal authority OF
the general government
call on the citizens, both of adjoining
and of distant States. to abstain from un-
authorized intermeddling in the local CON
Germs of the Territory, admonishing them
that its organic law is to be executed with
impartial justice; that all individual acts OF
interference will incur condign punish
mcnt; and that any cndeavor to intervene
by organized force will be firmly with
stood.
invoke all good citizens to promote or.
der by rendering obedience to the law; to
seek remedy for temporary evils by peace
full means; to discountenance and rebuke
the counsels and insjigations of agitators
anu Oh ulSOT1dfllZcTs, anu 10 TESTIFY tHcli
attachment to their country, their pride in
Its greatness, their appreciation of the
blessings they enjoy, and their determina-
ton that republican institutions shall not
fall in their hands, by cooperating to up
hold the majesty of the laws and to vindi-
cate the sanctiy of the constitution.
In testimony whereof, | have hereunto
set my hand, and caused the seal Of the
United States to be affixed to these pres
entS.
Done at the city of Washington, the elev-
enth day of February, in the
[sEAL year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty six
end of the Independence Of the United
States the eightieth.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
BY the President:
w. l.. MARCY, Secretary of State.