Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-03
The state of missouri Under
ST LOUIS, Aug 3l--The following proclamation
was Issued this morning:
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,

HEADQuARTERs WESTERN DEPARTMENT.
- ST.. LOUIS Mo-, Aug 30
Circumstances, in my judgment, of sufficient ur-
gency render it necessary that the Commanding
General of this Department should assume the ad-
ministratiye powers of the State. Its disorganized
condition, the helpessness of the civil authority
and the total insecurity of life and the devastation
of property by bands of murderers and mlrauders
who infect very nearly every county in the State,
and avail themselves of the public msfortunes and
the vicinity of hostile force to crafty private and
neighborhOod vengeance, and who find an enemy
wherever they find plumber, finally demanded the
sevCrest measures TO repress the daily increasing
crimes and Outrages which are d living off the in
hsbitants and running the state.
10 this condition the public safety and the success
OF our arms require unity Of purpose without let or
intolerance TO the prompt Administration Of affairs
In order, therefore, to suppress disorders, to
maintain as far practicable. the public peace
and to glve security and protection to the persons
ard property of loyal citizens, do hereby extend
and declare established martial law throughout the
entire State of Missouri ald the fines of the army
Of occupation in this State are for the present de
clared TO extend from Leavenworth by way of the
posts of Jefferson City, Rolla and Ironton to Cape
Girardeau on the Mississippi river. All persons
VINO shall be taken with in their hands within
these lines shall be tried by court martial and if
found guilty will be shot.
The proper ty, real and personal of all persons in
the State of Missouri who shall take up arms against
the United States, who shall be directly proven to
have taken active part with their enemies in the
field is declared confscated to public use and
slaves, if any they have, hereby declared free
men. All persons who shall be proven to have
destroyed, after the publication of this order, rail-
road tracks, bridges or teegraphs shall sufer the
extreme penalties of this law.
All persons engaged in reasonable correspon
dencs, in giving procuring aid TO the enemies of
tie United States in fermenting tumu'ts in disturb
ing the public tranquility, by creating and crcula
ting false reports incendiary documents, are in
their own interest warned that they are exposing
themselves to sudden aud severe punishment All
persons who have been led away from their a'legi-
quiTed return forth with to their homes
Any su,h absence 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 effect to
existing laws and to supply such Deficiencies the
conditions Of war demand, but it is not intended to
suspend the ordinary tribunals of the country where
the law will be administered by the civil officers in
the usual manner and in their customary authority
while the same can be pesceably exercised.
The Commanding General will labor vaantly for
the public welfare and 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. FRENoyT,
MAJOR General Commanding.