The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-09-07

HEADQUARTERS OF THE
WESTERN DErART~6T,
ST. Louis, Aug. 81, 1861.
&c Circums tances. in my Judgment of Silffi-
Client urgency, render it necessary that the
Commanding General of this Department
should assume the administrative powers of
the State. Its disorganizcd condition, the
hclplcssncss Of the civil authority, the total
insecurity of life, and the devastation Of pro-
perry by bands of murlerers and marau Iers
who intcst nearly every county in the State
and avail themselves Of the public misior-
tunes and the vicinity ola hostile force to
crafty private and neighborhood vengeance
and who find an enemy wherever they find
plumber, finally demand the scverest meas
ures to reprcss the daily increasing crimes
and outrages which are driving oil the
inhabitants and running the State. In this
condition the public safety and the success
Of our arms require unity Of purpose, without
let or hindrance, to the prompt adminstra-
ton of affairs
" In order, therefore, to sunAxess dis
orders, to maintain as far as now cti cable
the public peace. and to give security and
protection to the persons and property Of
loyal citizens, | do hereby extend, and
declare established, martial law throughout
the State of Missouri. The lines of the army
of occupation in this State are for the present
declared to extend from Leavcnworth by
way of the posts Of Jefferson City, Rolla g,
and lronton, to Cape Girardeau on the
Mississippi River.
g All persons who shall be taken with arms
in their hands within these lines shall be
tried by court martial, and, if found guilty,
will be shot. The property, real and per-
sonal, Of all persons in the State of Missouri
who shall take up arms against the United
States, and who Shall be directly proven to
have taken active part with their enemies in
the field, is declared tn be coniiScated to the
public use and their slaves, if any they
have, are hereby declared free.
:" All persons who shall be proven to have
destroyed, after the publication Of this order.
railroad tracks, bridges or telegraphs, Shall
suffer the extreme penalty Of the law.
"All persons engaged III Reasonable cor
reSp"ndcncc. in giving or procuring aid to
the enemies OF the United States, III disturb
ing the public tranquility, by creating and
circulating false reports or nccndiary docH-
ments, are in their own interest warned that
they are exposing themselves.
{" All persons who have been led away
from their allegiance are required to return
to their homes forthwith any such absence
without sufficient cause will he held to be
prcsumptive evidence against them.
"Thc Object OF this declaration is to place
in the hands of the military authorities the
power to give instantant Gus effect to existing
laws, and to supply such Deficiencies as the
| conditions Of war demand. But it is not
intended to suspend the ordinary tribunals
of the country where the law will be admin
| istercd by the civil officers in the usual man.
ncr, and with their customary authority
| while the same can he peaccnbly exercised
The Commanding General will labo!
vgi'antly fol the public welfare, and in his
efforts for their safety. hopes not only the
acquiescence, but the active support Of the
| people of the country. ]. C. Fremont,
Major-Gencral Commanding.