White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1861-09-05
proclamation,
HEAD -QuAarEas WEsrERN DErARTnENr, J
ST. LoU1s, August 30, 1851. \


ST. Louls, August 30, 1861.
Circumstances. in my judgment. Of
sufficient urgency, render it necessary
that the Commanding General of this
Department should assume the admins
trative powers of the State.
Iu disorganized condition, the helpless'
ness Of the civil authority. the total inse-
curity Of life, and the devastation Of prop
erty by bands Of murderers and maraud-
ers who infsst nearly every county in the
State, snd avail themselves of the public
misfortuses and the vicinity Of g hostile
forcs to crafty private and neighborhoo.i
vengeance, and who find an enemy wher-
ever they find pluuder. finally demand the
severest measures torepress the daily in.
creasing crimes and outrsges. which are
driving off the inhabitants and running the
State.
In this condition, the public safetv and
the success of our arms. require unity Of
purpose, without let. or hindrance. to the
prompt administration of affairs.
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 10y
al citizens, l do hereby extend and declare
established Martial Law throughout the
State of Missouri. 81,
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 Ironton.
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, aud if
found guilty, will be shot.
The property, real and personal, Of all
persons ia 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 con6scated to
the public nse, and their slaves. If any
they have. are hereby declared free men.
All persons who shall be proven to have
destroyed. after the publication Of this
order. railroad tracks. bridges or tele-
graphs. shall suffer the extreme penalty Of
the law.
All persons engaged in reasonable cor
respondence. in giving or procuring aid
to the enemies of the United States, in TO-
menting tumuits. in disturbing the public
tranquility by creating and circulating
false reports or incendiary documents, q e.
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 re-
turn forthwith 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 ex-
isting laws. and to supply such deficien
cies as the conditions Of war demand
But it is not intended to suspend the OF
binary tribunals of the country. where the
law will be administered by the civil of.
ficers. in the usual manner and with thei,
customary authority. while the same can
be pcaceably exercised. ....
The Commanding General will labo,
vigilantly for the public welfare, and in
his efforts for their safety hopes to obtain
not only the aequiesence but the active
support Of the loyal people of the country
j. c. FREMONT.
Major General Commanding.