Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-09-06
The State of Missouri under Mar.
,tial Law.
ST.. LOUIS, Aug. 3l.-The following proc
was issued this morning:
Headquarters Western Department I
ST.. LOUIS, Mo-, Aug. 80,

was iSSuSu tuS mOTnlHB
Headquarters Western Department,
ST.. LOUIS Mo-, Aug. 80.
Circumstances, in my judgement, of sufficient ur-
gency render it necessary that the Commanding
General of this Department should assume the ad-
ministrative powers of the State. Its disorganized
condition. the heplessness of the civil authority and
and total insecurity of life and the devastation of
property by bands of murderers and marauders who
infect very nearly every county in the State, and
avail themselves of the public misfortunes and the
vicinity of hostile force to crafty private and ueg-
borhood vengence, and who find an enemy wher-
ever they find plumber, finally demanded the sever
est to repress the daily increasing crimes
and outrages which are driving off the inhabitants
and running the State.
In this condition the public safety and the sue
cess of our arms require unity of purpose without
let or intolerance to the prompt administration of
affairs -.
In order, therefore, to suppress disorders to main
tain as far as practible the public peace and give
security and protection to persons and property of
loyal citizens do hereby extend and declare estab-
lished martial law throughout the entire State of
Missouri, and the lines of the army of occupation
in this State for the present declared to extend
from Leavenworth by way of the posts of Jeffer-
son City, Rnlla and Ironton to Cape Girardeau on
the Mississippi river All persons who shall be ia
ken 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 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 are hereby declared freemen All
persons who shall be proven to have destroyed after
the publication of this order railroad tracks bridges
or teegraphs shall suffer the extreme penalties of
this law.
All persons engaged in reasonable correspond
ence in giving or procuring aid to the enemies of
the United States in fernenting tumuts, in disturb
ing the public tranquility, by creating and circula
ting fasle reports or incendary documents, are in
their own interest warned that they are exposing
themselves to sudden and severe punishment. All
persons who have been led away from their allegi-
Any such absent without sufficient cause will be
held to be presumptive evidence against Them the
object of this declaration is to place in the hands
Of military authorities the power to give effect to
existing laws and to supply such Deficiencies as the
conditions of 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 the customary authority,
while the same can be peaceably exercised.
The Commanding General will labor vigilantly
for the public welfare and in his efforts for their
safety hopes to obtain not only the acquieseuce but
the active support of the people of the country
(Signed) JOHN G. FREMONT.
Major General Commanding