Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-02
Proclamation by Gen. Fremont-He
Assumes the Administrative Pow
ers of the State of Missouri.
ST.. LOUIS, Aug. 3I.-The following pro-
clamation was issued this morning:
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT.

( ST.. LOUIS, Aug. 3l.-The following pro-
clamation was issued this morning:
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT. |
ST.. LOUIS, August, 80.
Circumstances in my Judgment of Suhl-
cient emergency render it necessary that
the commanding General OF this Depart
ment should assume the administrative
powers of the State. Its disorganized con-
dition, the helplessness of the civil author
ity, the total insecurity of life, and the
devastation of property by bands of muir
derers and murauders who infest nearly
every county in the State, and avail them
selves of the public misfortuues, and the
vicinity of hostile force to CRAFTY private
and neighborhood vengeance, andl who
find an enemy wherever they find plumber,
finally demand the severest measures to
repress the daily increasing crimes and
outrages which are driving of the inhabit-
ants and running the State. In this con-
ditiou the public safety and the success of
our arms require unity of purpose without
let or hndrance to the prompt admins
tration of affairs. In order, therefore, to
suppress disorders, to maintain, as far as
now practicable, the public peace and to
give security and protection to the presons
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 LeNvcnworth, by way of the posts of
jefferson city, Rulla and lronton, to Cape
Girardeau, on the Mississippi river. 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 he shot.
The property. real and personal, of all
persons in the State of Missouri, who shall
take up arms against the U. S, or who
shall be directly proven to have taken ac-
tive part with their enemies in the field, is
declared to be confScated to the public
use, and their slaves, if any they have, are
hereby declared freemen.
All persons who shall be proven to have
destroyed, after the publication of this or
der, railroad tracks, bridges or telegrnphS,
shall suffer the extreme penalty ofthis law.
All persons engaged in reasonable cor
rrspondence, in giving or procuring aid to
the enemies of the L. S, in fomenting tu-
mutt, in disturbing the public tranquility
by creating and circulating false reports or
inceudiary documents, are in their own i'll
tercst warned that they are exposing them
selves.
All persons who have been led away
from their allegiance are required to re-
turn to their homes forthwith. Any such
absence without sufficient cause will be
held TO be presumptive evidence against
them. The object of this declaration is to
place in the hands of the military authori
ties tue power to give Instantaneous effect
to existing laws, and to supply such def
ciencies as the conditions of war demand /;
but it is not intended to suspend the Orii-
nary tribunals of the country, where the
law will be administered by civil officers
in the usual manner and with their custo-
mary authority while the same can be
peacefully exercised.
The Commanding General will labor Wig
ilantIy for the public welfare, and in his
efforts for their safety hopes to obtain not
only the acquiesence but the active sup
port of the people of the country
[Signcd,] j, c. Fremont,
Major General Commanding.