Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-02
Proclamation of Gen. Price.

Gen. Prices proclamation, issued atiNeC
slIo, but bearing no date:
EelLolv Citizens. In the month Of Juu
Inst, was called to the command OF
handful of MissOurinns. who nobly CAV
up home and comfort to espouse in thn
gloomy hour the cause of your bleeding
country, struggling with the most causeles
and cruel despotism known among civil
lied men. When peace and protection
could no longer be enjoyed, but at tn
price of honor and liberty, your Chic
Magistrate called for 10000 men to drive
theruthless invader from soil made fruit
full by your labors and consecFated By
your homes. To that call less than 5000
responded. Out of a male population ex-
ceeding 100000 men, one in forty only
stepped forward to defend with their per-
sous ana their lives, the cause of consti-
tuttOuRl liberty aud human rights. Some
allowances are 70 be made on the score of
u want of military organization, sup
posed want of arms, the necessary retreat
of the army Southwark, the blockade OF
the river, and the presence of an armed
and organized foe,
But nearly six months have now elapsed
your crops have been titled, your harvests
have been reaped, your preparations for
winter have been made, the army of Mis-
way TO the river, the foe is still in the
field, tue country bleeds, and our people
groan under the inhictious of foe mark
ed with all the chnrarterisIics Of barbar-
Otis warfare. Aud where now arg tue Co.,
600 men to avenge our wrongs aud free
our country2 Had 10000 men hocked 10
our standard with their shot guns III their
hands, there would not now be Federal
hireling in the State to pollute our soil.
Instead of ruined communities, starving
families and desOlated districts, we should
have had a people blessed with protection
and with stores to supply the wants and
necessities aud comforts of life. Where
are those $4,000 men2 Are Missourians
no longer true to themselves Are they
timid. time serving race, fit only for 5ubjec-
ton to IA despot? Awake, my country
men, to sense of what constitutes the
dignity and true greatness of people. A
few men have fought your battles-a few
men have dared the dangers of the battle-
ZELDA few have borne the hurdships of
the camp, the srorching suns of summer
and the frosts of winter; the malaria of
the swamps, the priVatiOns incident to our
circumstances, fatigue, famine, hunger aud
thirst, often without blankets, with the
cold, wet earth for u bed and n stone for a
pillow, G nd only TO meetthe enemy on the
field, where some paid the nOblest debt
known among men, to the cause of your
country and your rights, with their lives;
but where one has been lost in the field
there have been lost by disease induced by
privationnnd toll. Duriugall these trials
we have murmured not; We offered all we
bad on earth ut the altar of our common
country-our own beloved Missouri, and
we only now ask our fellow citizens aud
brethren to come and help US to wear what
we have gained, and to win our glorious
inheritance from tho cruel hand of the
spoiler aud the oppressor. Come to us,
brave sons of Missouri, rally to our stan
darGl must have fifty Thousand men.
call upon yoH in the name of your country
for fifty thousand men. Do you stay ut
home to take care of your property Mil
lions have been lost because you stayed at
home. Do you stay Mt home for gratificH-
ton? More men have been murdered at
home than | have lost in i've successful
battles. Do you stay ut home TO secure
terms with tue enemy7 | warn you the
day may soon come when you will be sur
rendered to the meScies of that enemy,
ddd your sub6Jauce es given uPsto the
HessiAu and the jayhawker. i cannot,
will not, attribute such motives to you, my
COuutrymen. But where are our Southern
Rights friends2 We must drive The Op-
pressor from our land. Unjust have 10000
men. Now is the crisis of your fate; COW
the golden opportunity to save the State.
Now is the day of your political salvation.
The time of enlistment tor our brave band
is beginning to expire. Do not hold their
patience beyond endurance, do not longer
sicken their hearts by hope deferred. They
begin to inquire, where are our friends p
Who shall answer Boys and small prop
erty holders have. in the main, fought our
battles, for the protection OF your proper
ty, and where, they ask, where are the men
for whom we are fgbting7 How shall |,
how eau |, explain2 Citizens OF Missouri,
L call upon you by every consideration
of interest, by every desire of safety. by
every tie that binds you to home and COun-
try, delay no longer. Let the dead bury
their dead. Leave your property to take
care of itself, commend your homes to the
protection Of God, and merit the ndmira-
ton of childhood and womanhOod, by
showing yourselves men, the sons of the
brave aud free, who bcqueathed to US the
sacred trust of free institutions Come to
the army of Missouri, not for week, or a
month, bnt to free yonr country.
'.Strike-till the last armed foe expires,
Strike-fOr your nltArs aud your tres,
Strike-for the green graves Of your stres,
God and your native lAndi'
The burning ires of patriotism must in
spire aud lead you, or all is lost; lost too.
Just Mt the moment when all might forever
be saved Numbers give strength, num-
bers intimidate the foe, numbers save the
necessity often of fighting battles, numbers
make our arms irresistible, numbers COM
nand universal respect, and insure conf
dence. We must have $4,000 men. Let
the herdman leave his fold, let the farmer
leave his field, let tue mechanic leave his
shop, let the lawyer leave his office, till
werestore the supremacy of law. Let the
aspirauts for Office and place know that
they will be weighed in the balance of pa
triotism, aud may be found wanting. If