St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1861-09-05
Gen. FrcmOnt'S Proclamation.
Headquarters Western Department,

llCal-Unnrtc1S w CStCftl I
ST. Louis, Mo, Aug. 30, 1861.
Circumstances, in my judgment, OF
sufficient Importance, render it neces-
sary that the Commanding Gencral OF
this department should assume the
administrative powers OF the State.
Its disorganized condition, and the
hclplessness of the civil authorities
the total unsarety Of life and. the de-
vastation Of property by bands OF ma,
RAIDERS and murdcrers who infest
nearly every county in the State, and
avail themselves of the presence OF
hostile force to crafty private and
neighborhood revenge ; and who find
an enemy wherever they find plumber,
finally demand the severest measures
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
success of our arms require unity OF
purpose, without let or hindrancc, TO
the present administration of affairs.
In order therefore, to rcpress disorders;
to maintain as far as is now practical
bic, the public peace, and to give Sc
curity and protection to the persons
and property Of loyal citizens, | do
hereby extend and declare established
martial law throughout the State of
Missouri. ..... ............ .....
The laws of the army of occupation
in the State are for the present dcclar-
cd to extend from Lcavenworth, by
the way of the posts of Jefferson City,
Rolla, and Ironton to Cape Girardcau,
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 be shot ......
The property, real and personal, OF
all persons in the State of Missouri,
who shall take up arms against the
United States, or who shall be direct.
ly proven to have taken part with the
enemy in the field, is declared to be
confscatcd to the public use, and their
slaves, if they have any, are hereby
declared freemen. All persons who
shall be proven TO have destroyed af,
ter the publication of this order, rail-
road tracks, bridges or telegraphs,
shall suffer the extremity of this law.
All persons engaged in reasonable
correspondence, in giving or procur-
ing aid to the enemies Of the United
States in fermenting tumults /; in
disturbing the public tranquility by
circulating false reports or incendiary
documents, or are in their interest,
are warned that they are exposing
themselves to sudden and severe pun.
ishment. All persons who have been
led away from their allegiance, are re-
quired to return forthwith to their
homes. Any such absence without
sufficient cause, will be held to be
presumptive evidence against them.
The object of this proclamation is
to place in the hands of the military
authorities the power to give instanta
neous effect to existing laws, and t.
supply such deficiencies as the conduct
of the war demands but it is not in
tended to suspend the ordinary tribu
nails of the country, which will be ad
ministered by the civil authorities O
the United States, and with their Gus
tomary authority, while the same Cal
be peacefully administered.
The Commanding General will labo
vigilantly for the public welfare, ant
in his efforts for their safety, hopes t,
obtain not only the acquiescence bu
the active support of the people o
the country.
J. G. FREMONT,
| Major General Commanding.