Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-17
LETTER FROM GEN. aARNEY.
To !as People Of the State OF Missouri.
MrLirARy DEPARTMENT OF THE wxsT,l
ar. I.ouia. Nav IL, 1861,

MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF THE WET
ST. Louis, May II, 1901.
Of this department, / find, greatly to my aston
ishment and modification, most extraordinary
state Of things existing in this State, deeply
affecting the stability of the Government OF the
United States, as well as the government and
other interests of Missouri itself.
As citizen of Missouri, owing allegiance 10
the United States, and having interests In COM
mon with you, feel it my duty as well as privi.
lege, to extend warning voice to my fellow.
citizens against the common dangers that
threatens us, and to appeal to your patriotism
and sense Of justice to exert all your moral
power to avert them.
1t Is with regret that feel it my duty to call
your attention to the recent act OF the General
Assembly of Missouri, known as the Military
bin, which is the result, no doubt, Of the tenn.
porary excitement that now pervades the public
mind. This bill cannot be regarded in any 9th
er light than an indirect secession ordinance ig-
norng even the forms resorted to by other
States. Manifestly, its most material provisions
are in conflict with the Constitution and laws OF
the United States. To this extent it is a nullity,
and cannot and ought not to be upheld or re-
garded by the good citizens of Missouri. There
are obligations and duties resting upon the peo-
pie of Missouri under the Constitution and laws
of the United States which are paramount, and
which trust you will carefully consider and
weigh well before you will allow yourselves to
be carried out of the Union, under the form OF
yielding obedience to this military bill, which
Is clearly in violation of your duties as citizens
of the United States.
| 1t must be apparent to every one who has
taken q proper and unbiased view of the sub
iect, that whatever may be the termination of
the unfortunate condition of things in respect to
the 30 called "Cotton States" Missouri must
share the destiny of the Union. Her geographi-
cal position, her soil, productions, and in short,
all her material interests point to this result
We cannot shut our eyes against this CONTROL
ing fact. 1t is seen and its force s felt through.
out the nation. So important is this regarded
as to the great interests of the country, that l
venture to express the opinion that the whole
power of the Government of the United States,
II necessary, will be exerted to maintain Mis-
souri, in her present position in the Union
| express to you, in all frankness and SINGER
ity, my own deliberate convictions, without
assuming to speak for the Government OF
the United States, whose authority here and
elsewhere | shall at all times and under
all circumstances endeavor faithfully to up
hold .
DESIRE above all things, most earnestly to
invite my fellow citizens dispassionately to con.
slider their true interests as well as their true
relation to the Government under which we
live and to which we owe so much.
In this connection desire to direct attention
TO one subject, which no doubt will be made the
pretext for more or less popular excitement. j
alude to the recent transactions at Camp Jack
son, near St. Louis. IL is not proper for me to
comment upon the official conduct OF my prede-
cessor in command of this Department, but it is
right and proper for the people OF Missouri to
know that the main avenue Of Camp Jackson,
recently under the command Of Gen. Frost. had
the name of Dauis, and principal street OF the
same camp that Of Beauregard; and that body
of men had been received into that camp by its
commander, which had been notoriously organ.
ized in the interests OF the sscessionists-the
men openly wearing the dress and badge distin'
gushing the army of the so-called Southern
ConfedeTdcy. IL is also q notorious fact that
quantity OF arms had been received into camp
which were unlawfu!ly taken from the United
States arsenal at Baton Rouge, and surrept :
tiously passed up the river in boxes marked
marble.
| Upon facts like these, and having in view
what occurred at Liberty, the people can draw
their own inferences, and it cannot be difficult
for any one to arrive at a correct conclusion as
to the character and ultimate purpose OF that
encampment. NO Governments IN tue Woriu
would be entitled to respect that would tolerate
for moment such openly reasonable prepare
tions.
1t is but simple justice, however, that should
state the fact that there were many good and
loyal men in the camp, who we're in no manner
responsible for it's reasonable character.
Disclaiming, as lido, all desire or intention to
interfere in any way with the prerogatives oi
the State of Missouri, or with the functions Of
its Executive or other authorities, yet regard
it as my plain path of duty to express TO the
people, in respectful but at the same time decid.
ed language, that within the field and scope of
my command and authority, the SUPREME
LAW of the land must and ehall be maintain
ed, and no subterfuges, whether in the form OF
legislative acts or otherwise, can be permitted
to harass or oppress the good and law.abiding
people of Missouri. shall exert my authority
to protect their persons and property from viola
tions of every kind, and shall deem it my
duty to suppress all unlawful combinations Of
men, whether formed under pretext Of military
organizations or otherwise.
WIN. S. HARVEY,
Brig Gen. U. S A., Commanding