Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-06-04
PROCLAMATION OF GEN. MCCLELLAN


The following is the proclamation Of Gen. Nc
Clellan to the Union men of Western Virginia
Headquarters, Department of Ohio,
CISoISNATI, May &c, 1861.
10 The Union Men Of Westera Yirgiaii.
VRoINIASs: The General Government has
long enough endured the Vaccinations Of n few
iactlous rebels in your midst. Armed traitors
have in vain endeayored to deter you from ex-
pressing your loyalty at the polls Having failed
In THIS infamous attempt TO deprive you Of the
exercise of your dearest rights, they now seek to
inaugurate reign of terror, and thus force you
to yield to their schemes, and submit to the
yoke Of the tratorous conspiracy dieniGed by the
name Of the Southern Confederacy. They are
destroying the property of citizens of your State
and running your magnificent railways. The
General Government has heretofore carefully
abstaned from sending troops across the Ohio,
or even from posting them along its banks, al.
though frequently urged by many of your pro
minent citizens to do so.
| 1t determined to await the result Of the State
election, desifous that no one might be able to
say that the slightest effort had been made from
this side to influence the free expression Of your
| opinions, although the many agencies brought TO
bear upon you by the Rebels were we'll known,
| You have now shown under the most adverse
circumstances that the great mass Of the people
| ot western Virginia are true aud loyal to that
benehcent Government under which we and our
fathers have lived so long. As soon as the re-
suit Of the election was known, the traitors COM
menced their work of destruction. The General
Government cannot close its ears to the demand
you have made for assistance. l have ordered
troops to cross the river. They come as your
friends aud brothers as enemies only to armed
rebels who are preying upon you. Your homes,
your families, and your property, are safe un
der our protection. All your rights shall be re.
ligiousy respected.
Notwithstanding all that has been said by the
traitors to induce you to believe our advent
among you will be signalized by an interference
with your slaves, understand one thing clearly |
Not only will we abstain from all such inter |
ference, but we will, on the contrary, with an |
iron hand, crush any attempt at insurrection on
their part.
Now that we Hre in your midst, call upon
you to fly to arms and support the General Gov
ernmenti sever the connection that binds you to
traitors; proclaim to the world that the faith
and loyalty go long boosted by the Old Dominion
are still preserved in Western Virginia, and that
you remain true to the Stars and Stripes
(Signed) G. d. MCCLELLAN,
Major-General commanding.
The Generals proclamation to his soldiers
says: You are ordered to cross the frontier and
enter on the soil OF Virginia. Your mission is
to restore peace and confidence; to protect the
maiesty Of the law, and secure our brethren from
'he etusp OF armed traitors place under the
safeguard of your honor, the persons and pro-
perty of the Nirginiaus. l know you will re-
spect their feelings and all their rights and pre-
serve the strictest discipline.
Remember each one of you holds 10 his keep
ing the honor of Ohio and of the Union. II you
are called upon to overcome armed opposition l
know your courage is equal to the task. Re-
member that your only foes are armed traitors
and show mercy even to them when in your
power, for many Of them are misguided. When,
under your protection, the loyal men of Western
Virginia shall have been enabled to organize and |
form until they can protest themselves, you can |
return to your homes with the proud satisfac- |
tion of having preserved gallant people from
destruction.