The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-27
The Ship Island Expedition-Genern I
Phelps's Proclamation

The correspondent of the New York
Times, who accompanied the expedition to
Ship Island, gives the following account of
the process of incubation of Gen. Phelps's
ridiculous proclamation referred to in our
last issue
During the latter part Of the trip to Ship
Island, General Phelps, as it was observed,
spent more than bis usual time in his room.
He did not come so promptly as the rest of
the officers to the table, and when he did
appear, seemed more occupied with his own
thoughts than with the current of CONVEX
sation. The cause of his temporary reti-
cence was explained on the day following
our arrival at Ship Island, when the general
caused to be published an address, or proc
lamation, to the loyal citizens of the South
west. Having with him no member of his
immediate stat, he had evidently consulted
chiefly his own judgment in putting forth
the address. After its completion General
Phelps explained that he regarded the occa-
sion as particularly fitting one for setting
forth in frank, and, at the same time, a
tolerant spirit, the sentiments which would
govern his conducc ia prosecuting war
against rebellion III she Southwest. Having
already reached our destination, and the
active duties of providing ior the landing
of the troops devolving upon lin, General
Phelps intrusted the proclamation to your
correspondent, with the request that he
would copy and circulate it as widely as
possible. The document was copied in a
plain hand and on the evening of our arri.
val at Ship Island Roads, it was read aloud
in the presence of the passengers and off,
GERS, who were convened in the steamers
saloon. On the following morning other
copies were made, one of which was read TO
the officers on board the United States
steamer Massachusetts, in the hearing OF
several secession prisoners, who had been
taken on board the rebel steamers Henry
Lewis, Anna, and other prizes in port. A
copy was also left on board, for COmman~
der Smith.
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLEsEx BRIGADE.
Ship Island, Mississippi, Dec. 4, 1861.
To the loyal citizens of the southeast:
Without any desire of my own, but con"
trary to my private inclinations, l again
find myself among you as military officer
of the Government. A proper respect for
my fellow countrymen renders it not out OF
place that should make known to you the
motives and principles by which nay com
mand will be governed.
We believe that every State that has
been admitted as Slave State into the
Union, since the adoption of the Constitu-
tion, has been so admitted in direct violation
of that Constitution.
We believe that the Slave States which
existed, as such, at the adoption of our
Constitution, are, by becoming parties to
that compact, under the highest obliga-
tions of honor and morality to abolish
slavery.
1t is our conviction that monopolies are
as destructive as competition is conservative
of the principles and vitalities of republican
government; that slave labor is monopoly
which excludes free labor and competition;
that slaves are kept in comparative idleness
and ease in fertile half Of our arabic ma.
tional territory, while free white laborers,
constantly augmenting in numbers from