Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-28
TIE PRODUCE BLOCKADE.
PrOcEan,afion 81 Cor. Rector.


WHEREAS, By the Constitution and laws of
this government, l am, as the chief magistrate
of the State of Arkansas, sworn to support and
to see faithfully executed such laws and Con-
%stitution, and by invoking the power of the said
government, if need be, to secure and guarantee
TO every citizen Of said State, the enjoyment of
life, liberty and property, repeIliug any encroach-
ment OF the same, coming from whatsoever
source 1t may and whereas, it is made known
to me, that Col. Scion Borland, commandant of
the Confederate States forces at P~ocahontas, Ar
kansas, has, by proclamation or :" general ORDER
as such commandment, assumed without lawful
authority, to lay an embargo upon the lawful
trade and ommerc Of the good people, citizens
Of the State of Arkansas, from its confines upon
the Red river, to the ~reInOtest corner and parcel
Of The republic. And by said proclamation or
general order, has forbidden the expectation or
Transmission from the Commonwealth of many
of the various staple commodities and products
Of the cOuntry-many OF which articles exist
among the good people in superabundance, and
must needs be exchanged with their neighbors
OF the Southern States, il not for money, yet for
other products, and commodities of prime ne
cessity, useful-nay indispensable to the comfort
and well being Of themselves and families.
And whereas, also, the said commandant, in
violation OF the most sacred right guaranteed to
the free people of Arkansas by their Constfta-
AoAAs bAcb AAAOnN BAAohlhE tl1 oGlu
avOcations of trade, if found offending against
bis general order, shall, by the military authority
vested in himself and his subordinate officers, be
arrested and imprisoned, at viii, against law,
and in defiance Of the civil authorities of the
sovereign State of Arkansas; and that the prop
erty Of any and all persons so offending, at the
viii OF said military authority, shall be wrested
from them and arbitrarily condemned and dis
posed of at the will of the private purchaser,
whose cupidity might needs make it agreeable
to get his neighbours goods and property at prices
by himself stipulated.
And whereas, also, other repeated acts of IN
suit, injustice and wrong have by the subordin-
ate officers Of the Confederate States been con-
tumaciously and without provocation insultingly
offered to the State of Arkansas and its lawfully !
constituted authorities, of which l have again
and again asked redress at the hands, as well of
those as my own, whose duty it is to protect the
constitutional rights of the several States form
ing the said Contederacy, and to secure to the
citizens thereof the enjoyment Of civil liberty !
and it being my solemn duty, as far as in me
lays, to mete this out to the humblest of my fl
low-citizens.
Now, therefore, be it known that by virtue of
the authority in me by law vested, as Governor
Of the State Of Arkansas, | do hereby annul, set
aside, revoke and countermand the said general
order of the said Col. Scion Borland as totally
unauthorized and UnwaTranted declaring that
the free export from, and interchange of, commo-
dities IN the State OF Arkansas and among her
citizens, be to them restored and guaranteed;
that the writ of habsaS corpus be issued by all
authorized tribunals, and the same be enforced
by the proper officers, supported by the military
power of the State of Arkansas, to the extent
necessary for the liberation of any and all citizens
arrested by the said Scion Borland or his officers,
or any officer, Confederate or State, because of
the expectation, shipment or sale of their own
property, Or the purchase of property from others
in such quantities, and at such prices, as may be
agreed upon between the buyer and the seller, |.
regarding a despOtic exercise of military power
more dangerous to the peace and happiness of
the people than the temporary enhancement of
prices proposed to be redresSed by said general
order; denying that the said Colonel Borland is,
in any manner, authorized to assume control of
the internal affairs of the State of Arkansas, or
the civil rights, or lawful trade, of her citizens
deprecating, nevertheless, at all times monopolies
and e~xtortjon.
Bat the legislative branch of the government
inst recently adjourned from this capital,
having failed, if they might haYe done SO By
TO fix a table of prices upon the property of
citizens, or to prevent the free export of the sur
plus products of the country.
Now, therefore, unless the pressing necessi-
of the people shall imperatiyely demand
from the military authorities of the State OF Ar
kansas, a forced interference with the ordinary
Of trade, l deem it a wise policy to trust the
eradication of such abuses to a wholesome NOR s
al sentiment, inaugurated and enforced by the
people themselves, by example and an elevated
patriotism, rather than by the power of the
sword turned against those whom it was intend
ed to protect, aud thereby reserying TO the State I
Of Arkansas, through her authorities, the right 7
to regulate her own internal affairs. free from
the Interference of all other governments, or
their officers, as well in time of war as in peace.
In testimony whereof, /, Henry ii. Rector,
of the State of Arkansas, have here {
unto set my hand and caused the seal of the
State of Arkansas to be affixed at Little Rock, =
the goth day Of December, A. d. 1861. !
HENRY NJ. RECTOR.
By ltA ssYerHff
LnlNE SrIRnaS. SECRETARY Of StaEe. 7