The Van Buren press., 1861-09-25
Gen. Fremonts Proclamation.
HEADoraRrrRs WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
ST LoU.s, No, Aug. 50, lS6l,

ST Lots, No, Aug. 80, 1851.
Circumstances. in my Judgement of suf-.
ficient urgency, render it ces>ary that The
Commanding General OF this Department
should assume the administrative powers OF
the State. Its disorganized condition. the
heipl ssness Of the civil authorities, ani the
to.ai Insecurity oi life, and the devastation
of property by bands Of murdercrs ana
nlaran iers, who infect very nearly every
county In the State. and avail themselves o.
the pubiic ulsiortunes AMI the vicinity Of
h '>tile i"rce, to crafty private and neigh
horhood ven5 5.an e. AMI who find an enemy
wherever they Tin plum Ter, finally demand
ell the sepere>t measures to repress the daily
increasing crimes AMI uutrages which are
driving "if the inla ,itants. and ru iiny the
Sac.
In this con lition the public safety and
the ~uccess m our arms require unity of
p"rpose. without let or hindrance to the
pr"mpt administration of affairs.
la o.ier, therefore, to suppress disorders,
to ,n.In;ain. as far as pra iitaLle, the pub
iic peace. AMI TO give security AMI pro,ec-
'i"n to the persons and property of loyal
citizens. do hereby extend ami declare
martial Law throughout the entire State of
Missouri. an the lines of the army o. oc-
cupatirn IN this State, are. for the present
ieciIrei 10 extend from Leavenworth, by
way OF the posts of Jefferson City. R,lla
AMI lrauton. To Cape Giradeau, on tn. Mis-
si,.;ppi rIv.r. All persons who shsil he
Iakea wlia arms ~ their hands within, the,e
hunts, shall be tried ny court martial, md
His,,ivd.s..l guilty wall he shot.
The property, real and personal, Of all
persons ia the State ot Missouri. who shall
take up arm, against the United States. or
who shall be directly proven to have laken
active part with the enemies in the field. is
declared contiscsted to public use. and slave,
IT any they have, are hereby declared free
mcn. All persons who shall be proven to
have destroyed, after the publication of thi,
order, railroad tracks, bridges or tcleyiap,s,
shall suffer the extreme penalties ,l this
law.
All persons engaged in reasonable cor
resp N ienee. IN giving or procuring all to
afiie enc.nie> u. the United States, in fer
mtnsng Eumuits. III disturbing the public
iram4ai'3t. ny rrea,ing AMI circulating fa sc
ani III -enlIary documents, are, in tn .ir own
crest, wa,nei that they are exposing
themselves to sudden and severe punish
ment.
All persons who have been led away
from r,elr allegiance. are required to return
forthwith % their homes. Any such, ab-
sent without sutii lent cause, will be held to
be p.esun .'tive ev..l,nce against them
The object of thi, declaration is to place in
the han,Is of the military authorities the
power to give eifec: 10 existing laws. and
10 supply such deficiencies as the conditions
OF war demand but it is not In zen led TO
suspend the ordinary tribunals OF the coun-
Try where the law Will be administered by
the civil officers in the usual manner, AMI in
their customary authority, while the same
can be peaceably exercised.
The Commanding General will labor
vigilantly for the public welfare. and in hls
eforts for their safety. hopes to obtain not
only the acquie>ence but the active support
oi the people of the country.
J"HN G. FREMONT,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.