The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-09-04
Impor,nnt, FROM NYDsxouri:

Gen. Fremont proclaims Martial Lao IL
Missouri, and declares the property Of all
Traitors in arms conf seated and their
slapes
ST.. Louis, Aug. aO.-<The following proc
lamation appears ip,the morning papers:
Circumstances, io5my judgment Of sulfi-
cient urgency, renderit necessary that the
commanding General oe this Department
should assume the aS3inMistpa tive powers OF
the State in its disofS anized condition, and
helplessness of civil authority, the total in
security of life, and the devastation Of. props
erty by bands of murderers who infestncarly
every cospty in. the State, and avail them
selves Of the public misfortunes and the vi
entity ola hostile force to crafty private
and neighborhood vengeance, and who find
an enemy wherever they find plumber, final
~ demand the severest measures to rcprcss
the daily increasing crimes and outrages
which are driving offthe Inhabitants and
running the State. In this condition, the
public safety and the success of our arms re,
quire unity Of purpose without let or him
drance to- the psorRpt administration Of af-
fairs.
In order, therefore, to suppress the law
less and to maintain as far as now practica-
bic the public peace, and 10 give security and
protection to the persons and property Of
loyal citizens, do hereby extend and de-
clare established martial law throughout the
State of Missouri Hhae lipes Of the army of
occupation in this State are for the present
declared to extend from Leavenworth by way
of the posts of Jefferson City, Rolla and
Ironton, by Cape Girardeau on the Missis-
sippi river; and all persons who shall be Ia
ken with arms in their hands within these
lines shall be tried by courtmartal. and il
found guilty, will be shot, The property,
reah and personal of all persons in the State
of Missouri who shall take up arms against
the United States, or who shall he directly
proven to have taken an active part with
their enemipS IN, the field, is declared to be
confiscatedto 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 the publication of this order,
railroad tracks, bridges or tclegraphs, shah
suffer the extreme penalty efthis law.
All persons engaged in in reasonable cor
respondence in giving or procuring aid to
the enemies Of the United States in fOment-
ing tumults, in disturbing the public tran
guilty, by creating and circulating false re.
ports or incendary documents, are in their
own interest warned that they are exposing
themselves to sudden and severe punish.
ment
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
presumptive evidence against them. The
object of this declaration is to place in the
hands Of the military authorities the power
to give instantaneous effect to existing laws,
and to supply such deficiencies as the con-
duct of the war demands, but it is not in
tended 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 Com
handing General will labor vigilantly for the
public welfare, and in his efforts for their
safety, hopes to obtain, not only their acqui-
escepce, but the active support Of the people
of the country.
(SigneD j. c.. FREMoNr,
Maj. General Commanding.