The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-06-28
Proclamation OF Gen. Lyon, at Boom
villes

VILE.
BooNvILLE, NO., June 20.
The, following proclamation was issued
to-day:
BooNvILLE, June 20, 1861.
To THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI Upon
leaving the city of st. Louis, in conse-
auence of the declaration of war made by
the Governor of this State against the
United States, because would not assume,
on its behalf, to relinquish its duties and
abdicate its rights of protecting loyal citi-
zens from oppression and cruelties of seces.
sionists 10 this State, / published an address
to the people, in which declared my inten-
tion to use the force under my command for
no other purpose than the maintenance OF
the authority of the general government and
the protection of the rights and property OF
all law abiding citizens. The State author
tiles, in violation of an agreement with
Gen. Harney, on May 3Ist last, had drawn
together and duly organized the means Of
warfare. and having made declaration OF
war, they abandoned the capital, issued Or
ders for the destruction of the railroad and
telegraph lines, and proceeded to this point
to put into execution their hostile purposes
toward the General Government. They de-
volved upon me the necessity OF meeting
this isue to the best of my ability, and ac-
cordiugly moved to this point with por-
tion Of the forces under my command, at
tackled and dispersed the hostile forces
gathered here by the Governor, and took
possession of considerable number of pris-
Oners, most of them young men of imma-
ture age, who represent that they have
been misled by frauds ingeniously devised
and industriously circulated by designing
leaders, who seek to impose upon unreAect-
ing and deluded followers the task of secu.
ring the object of their own false
ambition. Out of compassion for
these misguided youths, and to cor
rect the impression created by un-
serupulous calumniators, liberated them
upon condition that they viii not serve in
the impending hostilies against the United
States Government. / have done this in
spite of the known facts that leaders in the
present rebellion, having long experienced
the mildness of the General Government,
etill feel confident that this mildness cannot
be over taxed, even by the factious hostili-
ties, having in view its overthrow, but lest,
as in the late Camp jackson affair, this
clemency shall still be misconstrued, it is
proper to give warning that the Govern
ment cannot be always expected to indulge
it, to the compromise Of its evident we fare.
Having defined that those plotting against
the Government have falsely represented
that the Government troops intended for
chile and violent invasion of Missouri,
for the purposes Of military despotism
and tyranny, hereby give notice to the
people of this State that I shall scrupu-
lously avoid all interference with the busi-
ness rights and property of every descrip-
tion recognized by the laws of this State
and belonging to law abiding citizens; but
is is equally my duty to maintain the para
mount authority Of the United States with
such force as have at my command, which
will be retained only as long as opposition
shall make eitnecessary and that it is my wish
and shall be my purpose to devolveany una !.
voidable rigor arising 10 this issue upon
those only who provoke it. All persons
who, under the misapprehensions above
have taken up arms, or who are
to do 80, are invited to return to
their homes and relinquBh their hostile at
titude to the Federal Governments, and are 81
assured they may do SO without being mo-
lested for past occurrences
z (Signed, siaae aaa N. LYON,
Z Commanding Brig. General q. S.sV. a
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