Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-21
PROCLAMATION BY GEN! LYON TO
THR PEOPLE OF BQQNYItLE, NO.
me- following p-roelamaion ~ Issued b. day

The following proclamation was issued to day:
BOoNvILLE, June 1s.-People Of Missouri On
leaving the city of St. Louis in consequence of a
declaration Of war made by the Governor of this
State against the government of the United
States, because l would not assume to relInquish
its duties and abdicate its rights of protecting
loyal citizens from oppression and the cruelt1es
of the secessiOnists in this State, l published an
address TO the peOpie, in which l declared my
intention TO use the force under my mi for
no other purpose than the maintenance of the
authority of The general government, and the
protection of the rights and property of law
abiding citizens. The State authorities, in viola
ton of an agreement with Gen. Harvey on the
2lst of May last, had drawn together and organ
lied on a large scale the means of warfare, and
having made a declaration of war, they aban
dOned the Capital, issued orders for the destruc-
ton of the railroad and telegraph lines, and pro-
ceeded to this point and put into execution their
hostile purposes against the general government.
Thus deVOlved upon me the necessity of meet
ing this issue to the best of my ability, and &C
cordingly 1 moved to this point with q portion
of the force under my command, attacked and
dispersed the hostile forces gathered here by the
Governor, and took possession of the camp equip
page left and a considerable number of prison
ers, most of them young and of Immature age,
who represent that they have been misled by
frauds ingeniousIy devised and ndustriously cir
culated by designing leaders who seeek to de-
volve upon unrefecting and deluded followers
the task of securing the object of their own false
ambition. Out of compassion for these misguid-
ed youths, and to correct impressions create by
INSCRIPTIONS calumniatOrs, I liberated them up
on condition that they will not serve in the i'm
pending hostilities against the United States
Government.
have done this in spite of the known facts
that the leaders in the present rebellion, having
long experienced the mildness of the General
Government, still feel confident that this Mill
ness cannot be oYertsxed even by factions hos
Utilities having in view its,overthrow; but lest, as
In the case of the late Camp Jackson affair, this
clemency shall still be misconstrued, 1t Is proper
to give warning that the Government cannot be
always expected TO indulge it to the compromise
of its evident welfare, having defined that those
plotting against the Government have falsely
represented that the Government troops intend
ed q fOrcible and violent invasion of Missouri,
for purposes of military despotism and tyranny,
1 hereby give notice TO the people of this
State, that / shall scrupulously avoid all inter
ference with the business, rights and prOpertyiOf
every description, recognized by the laws of this
State, and belonging to law adding citizens; but
it is equally my duty to maintain the paramount
authority Of the United States with such force as
1 have at my command, which will be retained
only as long as opposition shall make it neces
sary; and that il is my wish and shall be my pur-
pose to deTolve my unavoidable vigor arising in
this issue, upon those only who provoke it; and
all persons who, under the INTERPRETATIONS
above mentioned, have taken up arms, or who
are now preparing to do so, are invited 10 return
to their homes and relinquish their hostile atti-
tude TO the Federal Government, and are assured
they may do so without being molested for past
occurrences.
(Signed) y. LYON,
Brig. GensU. S.A.,C Commanding.