The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-06-27
Proln.than Proclamna.th,onn Of Gen. Lyon Lyon.
o Erir BooNvILLE, June Is.


''To the People of Missouri :nesn brc lsof
"sUpon leaving the city of st. Louis
in consequence of declaration of war
made by the Governor of this State
against the government of the United
States, because ITwould not assume'
on its behalf to- relinquish its duties
and abdicate its rights of protectingi
loyal citizens from the oppression and
cruelty OF Secessionists i'm this State, /
published an address to the people in
which l declared my intention to use,
the force under my command for mo-
other purpose than the maintenance of
the authority of the General Govern
ment and the protection of the rights
and property of all law abiding citizens.
The State authorities, in violation of an,
agreement with Gen. Harney9 nItheI
2lst of May last, had drawn together
and organized upon large scale, the
means of warfare and having made a
declaration OF war, they abandoned the
capital, issued orders for the destruc-.
ton of the.railroad and telegraph linest
and proceeded to this point and put
into execution their hostile purposes
towards the General Government;
Thus deyolved upon me the necessity
OF meeting this issue to the best of
my ability, and accordingly 1 moved,
to this point with portion of the force
under my command and attacked and
! dispersed the hostile forces, gathered
here by the Governor, and took posses
sion OF the camp equipage left, and
considerable number of prisoners, most
of t hem young and of immature age,
who represent that they have BEEN
mlsled by frauds ingeuiously deyiseds
and industriously circulated by design
ing leaders who seek to devolve upon,
the unrefecting and deluded followers
the task of securing the object of their
own false ambition. Out of compass
sion for these misguided youths, and to-
correct the impressions created by. un,
scrupulous caluminators, liberated
them upon condition that they will not
Iserve in the impending hostilities,
against the U. S. government. 1 have.
done this in spite of the known facts
| that the leaders in the present rebellion
having long experienced the mildness
4 of the general Government, still feel
confident that this mildness cannot be-
overtaxed, even by factious hostilities,i
having in view it's overthrow. But
lest, as in the case. of the late Camp
Jackson affair, this clemency shall stilk
be misconstrued, it is proper to give
warning that the Government cannot.
be always expected to indulge it to the
compromise of its evident: welfare
Having defined that these plottings
> against the Government have falsely
: represented that the Governmenttroops
intended forcible and violent invasion
! of Missouri for the purpose of a mili-
tary despotism and tyranny, / hereby
give notice to the people OF this State,
,, that 1 shall scrupulously avoid all in-
,, reference with the business, rights and
property of every description, ,recog-
nized by the laws of this State, and
belonging to the law-abiding citizens ,
butitis equally my duty to M maintain the
paramount authority Of the United
States with such force os have at my
! command, wich win be retained only
: as long as opposition shall make it nec-
: essary, and that it is my wish, and it
= y shall be my purpose, to devolve my un-
! avoidable vigor arising in this issue
: upon those only who provoke it. All
persons, who, under the misapprehen-
: sions above mentioned, have taken mp
arms, or those who are now preparing
!, to do so, are invited to return to their
, homes and relinqnish their hostile atti-
: tude to the Federal Government, and
!, are assured that they may do so with
! out being molested for past occurrens
: ces. "Signed n. LYON. :,