The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-06-19
Proclamation Of Gov. jackson.
ST.. LOUIS, June lS. The following proc.
lamation from Gov. Jackson, was rcceivd to-
rue People oF NIsNorRl.

trade with your own fellow citizens has
been and is subjected to the harrassing con
troll of an armed soldiery; peaceful citizens
have been imprisontd witho ut warrant Of aw
unoffendingly defenoeless women and chill
dren have been ruthlessly shot down, muir
dered, and other unbearable indignities hav,
been heaped upon your State and your
selves. To al these outrages and indigni
ties you have submitted with patriotic
forbearance, which has only encouraged
the perpetrators of these grievous wrongs t
attempt still holder and more daring usurna
tons.
1t has been my earnest endeavor under al
these embarrassing circumstances to main
tain the pence of thu State and to avert, i
possible, from our borders, the desolatins
effects of civil war. With the object in view
I authorized Major General PRICE, severa
weeks ago, to arrange with General Harvey
commanding the Federal forces in this State
terms Engagement by which the peace o.
the State might be preserved They came
on the 21st Of May, to an understanding
which was made public. The State author.
tiles have faithfully labored to carry out the
terms Of that agreement. The Federal Coy.
erApent on the other hand, not only MATES.
ted its strong disapprobation oft by instant
dismissal of the distinguished officer who on
its part entered into it, but at once began and
has unrenittingly carried out system Of
hos tile operations in utter contempt of that
agreement, and in reckless disregard of its
own plighted faith.
These acts, latterly, portcnd revolution
and civil war so un mistakeable that resell
we'd to make one further effort to avert this
danger from you. therefore solicited an
interview with Brig. Gen. Lyon, comman-
ding the Federal army in Missouri. It was
granted on the 10th inst. Moving all ques-
tons of personal or official dignity, went
to ST. Louis, accompanied by Major Gener-
eral Price. We had an interview on the
18th inst, with Gen. Lyon and Col. F. P.
Blair, Jr., at which submitted to them this
proposition:
That would disband the State Guards
and break up Its organization that would
disarm all companies which have been arm
ed by the State that would pledge my
self not to attempt to organize the Militia un-
der the Militia bill; that no arms or NUM-
tons of war should be brought into the
State; that would protect all citizens
equally in all their rights, regardless Of their
political opiniGns; that l would Fepress all
insurrectionary movements within the State;
that would repcl all attempts to invade
from whatever quarter, and by whomsoever
made; and that I would thus maintain
strict neutrality in present unhappy contest,
and further proposed that would, if nec-
essary, invoke the assistance Of the United
States troops to carry out these pledges.
All this proposed to do upon the condi
ton that the Federal Government would un-
dertake to disarqa the Home G. ards which il
has illegally organized and armed through
out the State, pledging itself not to occupy
With its troops any localities in the State not
occupied by them at this time. Nothing
but the earnest desire to avert the horrors
of Gil war could have tempted me to propose
these humiliating terms. They were rejec.
ted by the Federal officers,
They demanded not only the disorganii.
cation and disarming of the State Militia
and the notification of the Military Bill, but
they refused to disarm their own Home
Guards and insisted that the Federal Gov
eminent should enjoy unrestricted right to
move and station the troops throughout the
State whenever an1 wherever that might,
in the opinip Of its officers, be necessary
either for the protection ofioyal subjects Of
the Federal Government or for the. rcpclling
Of invasion, and they plainly announced that
il was the intention Of the Administration ia
take military occupation under these pre-
tsxts Of the whole State and reduce it as
avowsd by Gen. Lyon himself TO the exact
condition Of Marylan.
The acceptance by me Of these degrading
terms would not only have sullied the honor
of Missouri, but have arouse the indigna'
ton of every brave citizen and prccipitate
every conflict which it has been my aim to
prevent. We refused to accede to them and
the conference was broken up.
Felloy citizens, AL our efforts towards
concliatop have failed. We can hope for
nothing from the justice or moderation of the
agents Of the FedeFal Government in ths
State.
They are theoretically fastening the exc
cution os their bloody apd revolutionary
schemes, for the military occupation Of youl
State by armed bands of lawles invaders, fol
the overthrow Of your State government, and
for the subversionof these liberties which thai
Governnent has ever sought to protect
And they intend to exert their Whole power
to subjugate you If possible, to the military
despotsm which has usurped tho pewer O
the Fedsrai Government.
Now therefore 1, C. +. Jackson, Governor
Of the State Of Missouri, do, in view Of thu
foregoing facts, and by virtue Of the powers
vestedin me by the Constitutional lays o
this Commonwealth, issue this. my procla
NATION, calling the Militia of the State, t
the number of SO, 600, into active service 0
the State. for the purpose .f repelling sait