The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-09-04

The following proclamation was issued thi.
morning:
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT. J
st. Louis, August 81, 1861.
Circumstances in my judgment, of suficien,
urgenc6 FENDER it necessary that the Command
ing General of this Department should assume
the administrative powers Of the State. 1t:
disOrganized condition; the helplessness of the
civil authority the total insecurity of life, and
the devastation Of property by bands of muir.
derers and marauders who infest nearly every
county in the State, and avail themselves of the
public misfOrtunes and the vicinity of hostile
force to crafty private and neighborhood ven.
geance, and who find an enemy wherever they
ind plumber, finally demand the severest mea.
sures to suppress the daily increasing crimes
and Outrages which are driving of the inhabi-
tants and running the State. In this condition
the public safety and the success of our arms
requires unity Of purpose without let or him
drance to the prompt administration of af-
fairs.
In order, therefore. to suppress disorder, and
to maintain as far as practicable the public
peace, and to give security and protection to the
persons and property of loyal citizens, do here
by extend and declare established martial law
throughout the State of Missouri.
The lines Of the army of occupation of this
State are for the present declared to extend
from Leavenworth, by way of the posts of JEFF
ferson City, Rolla. and Ironton, to Cape Girar-
deau on the Mississippi River.
All persons who shall be taken with arms in
their hands within these lines shall be tried by
court martial, and if found guilty will be shot.
The property. real and personal, of all persons
in the State of Missouri who shall take up arms
against the United States, or who shall be d.
rectly proven to have taken active part with
their enemies in the field, is herewith declared
to be cOniiscated to the public use 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 Or
der, any railroad track. bridges or telegraphs.
shall suffer the extreme penalty of this law. All
persons engaged in reasonable correspondence
in giving or procuring aid to the enemies of
the United States, in fOmenting tumults, in dis
turbing the public tranquility by creating and
circulating false reports or incendiary docu-
ments, are in their own interest warned that
they are exposing themselves to sudden and Sc
we're punishment. All persons who have been
led away from their allegiance, are required to
return forthwith to their homes. Any such alb
sence, 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 existing laws,
and to supply such deficiencies as the conditions
OF war demand. but it is not intended to sus-
pend the ordinary tribunals of the country,
where the law will be administered by the civil
officers in the usual manner and with their Gus
tomary authority. while the same can be peace
ably exercised. The commanding General will
labor viglantly for the public welfare, and in his
efforts for their safety hopes to obtain not only
the acquiescence but the active support Of the
people Of the country.
(Signed) JOHN C. Fremont,
Major General Commanding.