New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-12
Gen. Prices Proclamation,

To the People of Central and North Missouri -
| Fellow Caizens-In the month of June last was
called to the command of handful of Mssourans
who nobly gave up home and comfort to espouse
| in that gloomy hour, the cause of your bleeding
| country, struggling with the most causeess and
| cruel despotIsm known among civilized men. When
| peace and protection could no longer be enjoyed
| but at the price of honor and liberty your Chief
Magistrate called for fifty thousand men to drive
the ruthless invader from soil made fruitful by
| your labors and consecrated by your homes"
10 that call less than five thousand responded
out of male population exceeding two hundred
| Thousand men, one in forty only stepped forward
to defend with their persons and their lives, the
| cause of constitutional liberty and human rights
Some allowances are to be made on the score of q
want of military organization a supposed want OF
arms the necessary retreat of the army south
ward 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 pre-.
paratlons for winter have been made the army of
Missouri, organized and equipped, fought its way
to the river.
The foe is still in the tield-the country bleeds.
and our people groan under the infections of foe
marked with all the characteristics Of barbarian
warfare-and where now are the fifty thousand to
avenge our wrongs and defend our country? Had
fifty thousand men focked to our standard, with
their shot guns in their hands, there would not now
be Federal hireling in the State to pollute our
soil. Instead of ruined communities, starving fam
lilies and desolated districts, we would have had
people blessed with protection, and with stores to
supply the wants and necessities and comforts of
lite. Where are those fifty thousand men? Are
MissOurians no longer true to themselves? Are
they tlmd, time-servng, craven race, fit only for
sub]ectlon to a despot? Awake, my countrymen,
to sense of what constitutes the dignity and true
greatness of people, A few men have fought
your battles. few men have dared the dangers
of the battlefield. few men have borne the
hardships of the camp, the scerching suns of sum-
mer, the irosts of winter, the malaria of the swamps,
the privations incident to other circumstances-fa.
tgue and hunger and thirst-often without blan.
kets, without shoes, with insufficient clothing with
the cold, wet earth for bed, the sky for cover
ing and stone for pillow-glad only to meet the
enemy on the field, where some paid the noblest
devotion known among men on earth to the cause
OF your country and your rights, with their lives
But where one has been lost on the field three
have been lost by diseases induced by privation
and toll. During all these trials we have murmured
not; we offered all we had on earth at the altar of
our country-our own beloved Missouri-and we
only now ask our fellow-citizens-our brethren to
come to us and help to secure what we have
gained, and to win our glorious inheritance from
the cruel hand of the spoer and oppressor
Come to us, brave sons Of Missouri! rally to our
standard. must have fifty thousand men. | call
upon you in the name of your country for fifty
thousand men. Do you stay at home to take care
OF your property? Millions of dollars have been
lost because you stayed at home. Do you stay at
home for protection! More men have been mur-
dered at home than have lost in five successful
battles Do you stay at home to secure terms
with the enemy? Then warn you, the day may
soon come when you may be surrendered to the
mereies of that enemy, and your substance given
up to the Hessian and the jayhawker I cannot,
l will not attribute such motives to you my coun.
trymen. But where are our Southern Rights
friends?
We must drive the oppressor from our land. I
must have fifty thousand men. Now is the crisis
OF your fate. Now the golden opportunity to save
the State. Now is the day of your political saliva.
ton. The time of enlistment for our brave band
IS beginning to expire. Do not tax their patience
beyond endurance. Do not longer sicken their
hearts by hope deferred. They begin to inquire,
=" Where are our friends?n Who shall give them
answer? Boys and small property holders have in
the main fought the battles for the protection of
your property, and when they ask, ;" where are
the men for whom are fghting2" how shall
I-how can | explain? Citizens of Missouri, call
upon you by every consideration of interest, by
every desire of safety by every tie that binds YOU
to home and country, delay no longer. 'Let the
dead bury the dead" Leave your property to
take care of itself. Commend your homes to the
protection Of God, and merit the admiration and
love of childhood and womanhood by showing
yourselves MEN, the of the brave and free who
bequeathed to us the sacred trust of free institu
tons. Come to the army of Mssour-uot for a
week or month, bat TO free your country
Strike, till each armed foe expires
strike Tor your altarS and your fires,
SoF The green gravrs of your sircs
Sod and your native hand ~
The burning fires of patriotism must inspire and
lead You, or all is lOst--lOSt too insT at tho mo