Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-20
Proclamation of GEN. Lyon.

PROCLAMATION of Gen. Lyon.
ST. LOUIS, June II.
The following proclamation has been is
sued:
To the citizens of Missouri: Prior to the proc.
iamation issued by Gov. Jackson, of June II
1t was well known to you that the Governor
and Legislature sympathized in the revolu.
tlonary movement now in progress in this
country, and had adopted every means then
State from the Federal Government. For
this purpose, parties, avowed Secessionists
have been organized into military companies
throughout the State, with the full knowl-
edge and approval of the Governor. The .es.
tablIshment Of encampments in the State al
an unusual period of the year, and author
lied for an indefinite period, could have had
no other object than the concentrating of q
large military force, to be subjected to the
provisions of the military law then In con-
temptation and subsequently, passed, bill 30
offensive to all peaceful inhabitants, aud 30
palpably unconstitutional that it could be
accepted by those only who were willing to
conform to its extraordinary provisions for
the, purpose of effecting their cherished OBJ
ject-the disruption of the Federal Govern
ment. That bill provides for an obligation
to the State on the part of all persons enroll
ed under its provisions, irrespective of
any obligation to the United States, when
the Constitution requires that all State Off
GERS take an oath of allegiance to the United
States.
This of itself is reputation of all autho-
rity of the General Government, whose Con-
stitution is the supreme law, on the part of
the State Government, its officers and such
citizens as might choose to adopt the provi-
siOns of the bill, and coupled as it was on the
part of the Legislature and the Governor with
declarations hostile to its authority, aud in
sympathy with those who were arrayed in a
condition of actual hostility against it, could
leave no doubt of its object. To carry out
the provisions OF this extraordinary law, the
public schools were deprived of the funds ne
cessary to the education of your children;
your asylums were even stripped of the means
OF support, and an additional and onerous
tax was imposed upon you.
This bill, regarded as it has uniformly been
by all loyal citizens of the United States as
having in direct view of hostilities to the
Federal Government, was so denounced by
General Harvey, who characterized it as a
Secession Ordinance in his proclamation of
May 18th. That proclamation doubtless gave
rise to an Interview between Gen. Harvey
and Zen. Price, that resulted in an agreement
which, IL was hoped, would lead to the resto-
ration of tranquility and good order in your
State. That reputation of the military
Dill, and all efforts to organize the militia of
the State under its provisions, was the basis
vi agreement, was shown, as well by the pro-
clamatlon OF Gen. Harvey Immediately pre-
cedlng it, as by the following paper submit
ted 70 Gen. Price, containing preliminary
conditions to an interview with him.
lHere follows the letter to Gen. Price, pub
lished on Wednesday last.1 80 - ''
This agreement failed to define specifically
the terms OF the peace, or how far suspen-
sion of the provisions of the military bill
should form part of it, though, from the ex-
press declaration of Gen. Harvey at the time
of the conference, as we'll as from the forego-
ing paper, supension of any action under
the bill until there could be Judicial de-
termination of its character by some compe-
tent tribunal. must in good faith be regarded
as the fundamental basis of the negotiation.
Nevertheless, Immediately after this arrange
ment and up to the time of Governor Jack
sons proclamation, inaugurating complaints
OF attempts to execute the provisions of this
bill, by which the most exasperating hard
ships have been imposed upon peaceful, loyal
Citizens coupled with persecution and pro-
scription Of those opposed TO its provisions.
have been made to me as commander of the
United States forces here, and have been car
ried to the authorities at Washington, with
appeals for relief from Union men of all parts
of the State, who have been abused, insulted,
and, in some instances, driven from their
homes. That relief l conceive it to be the
duty of just Government to use every ex-
ertiOn in its power to give. Upon this point
the policy of the Government is Sc. forth in
the following communication from the de-
partment at Washington: -#s
ADJUTANT's GENERALS OFFICE,
WASuINGT0N Nav 81 1881
BRIG. GEN. w. S. HARVEY, Commanding
Department of the West, st. Louis: Sir
The President observes with concern that
Notwithstanding the pledges of the State au-
thorities to cooperate in preserving the
peace of Missouri, loyal citizens in great
numbers continue to be driven from their
homes. 1t is immaterial whether these out
RACES continue from inactivity or indisposi-
ton on the part of the State authorities to
prevent them, it is enough that they contin-
ue. to devolve on you the duty of putting q
stop TO them summarily by the force under
your command, to be aided by such troops
as you may require from Kansas, Iowa, and
Illinois.
The professions of loyalty to the Union by
the State authorities of Missouri are not to
be relied upon. They have already falsified
their professions too often, and are too far
committed to secession to be admitted to
your confidence, and you can only be sure of
their desisting from their wicked purposes
when it is not in their power to prosecute
them, You will, therefore, be increasingly
wstchfui OF their movements, and not permit
the clamors of their partizans, and opponents
OF the wise measures already taken, to prevent
you from checking every movement against
the Government, however disguised under the
pretended State authority.
The authority of the United States is para
mount, and whenever it is apparent that any
movement, hether by color Of the State au.
thority or not, is hostile, you will not hesi-
tate to put il down. ~
[signed,l L. THOMAS, Ad't Gen.
1t is my design to carry out these instruc-
tons in their letter and spirit. Their Justice
and propriety will be appreciated by all those
who take an enlightened view of the rela-
lions of the citizens of Missouri to the Gen
erai Government, nor can such policy be CON-
strued as at all disparaging to the rights or
dignity of the State Of Missouri, or as infring-
ing, IN any sense, upon the individual liberty
OF its citizens.
The recent proclamation of Governor Jack
son, by which be has set at defiance the au-
thorities of the United States and urged you
to make war upon them, is but the consumma-
ton of his reasonable purposes long indi-
Gated By his acts and expressed opinions, and
now made manifest. If in suppressing these
reasonable projects in carrying out the poll
cy Of the Government and maintaining its
dignity as above indicated, hostilities should
unfortunately occur and unhappy conse-
quences should follow, / would hope that all
the aggravation of those evils may be divert
ed from the innocent and may fall only upon
the heads OF those by whom they have been
provoked. 81 3
In the discharge of these plain but onerous
duties. / shall look for countenance and &C.
tive cooperation of all good citizens, and
shall expect them to discountenauce all lille
gal combinations, or organizations, and sup
port and uphold by every lawful means the
Federal Government, upon the maintenance
of which depend their liberties, and the per-
feet enjoyment of all their rights.
lSigned,l sles.sal 81 N. LYON, af
Brig. Gen. U. S. v. Commanding.