Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-09-11
Fremont's Proclarnation-
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
st. Louis, Angu I so, 1861.


Circumstances, in my judgment Of sufii-
Gent urgency, render it necessary that the
Commanding General of this Department
should assume the administrative powers Of
the State. Its disorganized condition and
helplessness of the civil authority, the to-
tai insecurity Of life, and the devastation oil
property by bands Of murderers and ma
rauders, who infest nearly every county in
the State, and avail themselves of the pub
lie misfortunes and the vicinity of hostile
force to crafty private and neighborhood
vengeance, and who find an enemy where
ever they find plumber, finally demand the
severest measures to repress the daily in
creaSing crimes and outrages which are
driving off the inhabitants and running the
State. In this condition the public safety
and success of our arms require unity Of
purpose without let or hindrance to the
prompt administration of affairs.
In ORDER therefore, to suppress disorders
to maintain as far as is now practicable the
public peace, and to give security and pro-
lection to the persons and property Of 10y
al citizens, do hereby extend and declare
established MARITAL Law throughout the
State # Missouri. The lines Of the Army
OF Occupation in the State are, for the pres
emf, declared to extend from Leavenworth
by way of the posts of Jefferson City, Rolla.
and Ironton, to Cape Girardeau 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 We directly proven to have taken part
with their enemies in the field, is declared
to be confscated 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 thepub-
ication of this order, railroad tracks,
bridges or telegraphs, shall suffer the ex-
treme penalty Of this law. All persons en-
gagged in reasonable correspondence, in
giving or procuring aid to the enemies Of
the United States, in fomeuting tumults, In
disturbing the public tranquility, by Great
ing and circulating false reports or incen-
diary documents, or are in their interest,
are warned that they are exposing them
selves to sudden and severe punishment
All persons who have been led away from
their allegiance are required to return forth
with to their homes Any such absence
without sufficient cause, will be held to be
presumptiye evidence against them. The
object Of this declaration is to place in the
bands of the military authorities the pow
er TO give instantaneous effect to existing
laws, AMI to supply such deficiencies as the
conduct Of the war demand, but it is not
intended to suspend the ordinary tribunals
of the country, which will be administered
by the civil officers, in the usual manner
and with their customary authority, while
the same can be peacefully exercised.
The Commanding General will labor
vigilantly for the public welfare, and il his
efforts for their safety, hopes to obtain not
only the acquiescence but the active sup
port of the people OF the country.
Signed, j. G. Fremont,
Major General, Commanding