The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-09-07
ImpOssAnt Proclamation.
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AsMARTIALsLAw DEcLAREn IN aussoURf
HEADoUARrKRs WESTERN DErARrMEsT,l
IS ST.. LOUIS, August 30, 1861
Circumstances. in my judgment of sufi-
/ Gent urgency, render it necessary that the
Commanding General of this Department
should assume the administrative powers of
the State.
! It's d;sorganized condition, the helpless
ness of the civil authority, the total insecu-
rity of life. and the devastation of property
| by bands of murderers and marauders who
infest nearly every county in the State, and
avail themselves of the public misfortunes
| and heyvicinity of a hostile force to crafty
private and neighborhood vengeance, and
| who find an enemy wherever they find
plumber, finally demand the severest meas
ures to repress the daily increasing crimes
and outrages, which are driving off the in
habitants and running the State.
In this condition, the public safety and
the success of our arms, require unity of
purpose, without let or hindrance, to the
prompt administration of affairs. a1
In order therefore, to suppress disorders,
to maintain as far as now practicable, the
public peace, and to give security and pro-
lection to the persons and property of loyal
citizens, do hereby extend and declare es
tablished Martial Law throughout the State
of Missouri 10 ~" 7-s1ir HE 80 -uti
The lines of the army of occupation in
this State are, for the present, declared to
extend from Leavenworth by way of the
post of Jefferson City, Rolla and Ironten,
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 be shot. @ aIF a'
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 directly proven to have taken
active 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 free men. ssE.a
ALI persons who shall be proven to have
destroyed. after the publication of this or
der, railroad tracks, bridges, or telegrsphs,
shall suffer the extreme penalty of this law.
All persons engaged in reasonable cor
respondence, in giving or procuring aid to
the enemies of the United States, in foment-
ing tumults, in disturbing the public tran
quillity by creating and CIRCULATING false
reports or incendiary documents, are, in
their own interest, warned that they are
exposing themselves to sudden and severe
punishment.
All persons who have been led away from
their allegiance are required to return forth
with to their homes. 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 authorities the
power to give instantaneous effect to exist
ing laws, and to supply such deficiencies
as the conditions of war demand. But it is
not intended to suspend the ordinary tribu-
nails of the country where the law will be
administered by the civil officers, in the
usual manner and and witheir customary
au thority, while the same can be peaceably
exercised. -F --5as1.
The Commanding General will labor Wig
iiantly for the public welfare, and in his
efforts for their safety hopes to obtain not
only the acquiescence, but the active sup
port of the loyal people of the country.
j. g. FREMONT
Major General Commanding.