Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-23
GOVERNOR WALKERS PROCLAMATION

tNAIED cIAlES 1ROOPS ORDERED OUT!
On Wednesday evening last Gov. Walker issued a
proclamation TO the people of Kansas notifying
them that had summoned his aid the DDS ofthe
United States to assist him in enforcing the laws
The occasion of the proclamation was the action of
the FreeState party, in persisting in giving practi
cal efficiency to the legislation of the bogus Legisls
tire of Topeka, and resisting the collection of taxes
The Topeka body had passed laws comforting charters
upon certain towns and bodies, with the privilege
of electing Mayors, Justices of the Peace, &c., un-
der them. The attempt to use these charters, and
the refusal to pay taxes, brought matters TO an
issue at once between the Free State party and the
constituted authorities of the Territory Gov Wal.
ker has met the emergency in proper spirit
proclaimed his intention to maintain and enforce
the laws, collect the taxes and as a pre,auton
ordered out the troops fthe United States station
ing them at Lawrence He prOno"nces the course
of the Free State party reasonable, calling upon
all IFS adherents to aid in the enforcement of the
laws and maintaining the public peace assuring all
that in of obedience the past shall be forgotten
After arguing the matter at length, Governor
Walker makes the following appeal to the citizens of
Lawrence:
designated by you, by pulling your laws forcibly
into execution, would involve you in he guilt AID
crime of treason You stand, now, fellow citizens
upon the brink of an awful precipice, an it becomes
my duty TO warn you ere you take The fatal leap
into the gulf below. If your proceedings are not
srres you will necessarily destroy the peace Of this
Territory and involve / in all The horrors of civil
war. l warn you, then, before it is too late 10
recede from the perilOus position in which you now
stand.
appeal once more to your reason and patriotism
ask you in the name of our common country in the
name of the Constitution aud of the Union to desist
from the rebellion appeal once more TO your love
OF country to your regard for its peace prosperity
and reputation, TO your affection for your wives and
children and 10 all these patriotic motives which
ought to influence American citizens TO alb Inion
this contemplated resolution. If you have wrongs,
redress them through the peaceful fundamentally
of the ballot box in The mode prescribed by the laws
of your country.
As all arguments heretofore so often addressed by
me to you, have filled as Yet TO produce any effect
upon you have deemed ii necessary for your safety
and that Of the Territory. and save you from the
Perllous consequences Of your own acts, under the
authority vested in by the President of the
United States into your vicinage, to perform the
painful duty Of errrsung your revolutionary pro-
ceedings Let me implore you not 10 compel me 10
appeal 10 that military power which is required in
the last resort 10 protect the government of your
poses into effect without coming into unavoidable
and open conflict with the troops and government
of the United States.
Let me allure you, then, once more to abandon |
these proceedings before you involv yourselves in
the crime Of treason and subject the people of the
city of Lawrence TO all the horrors and caamities OF
insu direction and civil war If you will now desst
from the projected resolution, the past viii be for
gotten rs far practicable but if you persist in
passing these laws and carrying them into execution,
thus denying and superceding the government of |
your country, the deplOrable consequences must be
upon your heads and you still persist to spare all
bloodshed as far as practicable, and subject the
leaders and projectors Ofhs revolutionary movement
to the punishment prescribed by the law l will
accompany the troops to Lawrence with view to
prevent fpOssible, any conflict, and in the sincere
hope that herevouiionary movement contemplated
by you, and now so nearly accomplished, will, ere it
is too late. be abanlond by you.
lfyou can,beinhuenced by no other motives, these
evident fact that the power of the government is
ad equate to prevent the accomplishment of your
purpose. should induce you to desiSt from these