Arkansas true Democrat., 1861-09-05
Martial Law in Missouri.


 The telegraph brings us a synopsis, or the gist of the proclamation of the military despot of | Missouri, John c. Fremont. From Lincoln down to the lowest subaltern, the prosecutors of this war have endeavored to make themselves | odous and to vie with each other in brutality and ferocity. Not to be behind, and as if de- termined to win an immortality of infamy, Ere mont has declared the whole State of Missouri to be under martial law. All persons found with arms in their hands, unless fighting for the trump government, are to be hung. Though not versed in war matters, we suppose this would include all prisoners taken in battle. If SO, there commences in Missouri the most bloody and vindictive war ever recorded in the histo- ries Of nations. For every man hung by Ere mont or his tools, dozen tories and Hessians will perish by the cord and bullet The human mind stands aghast at the cool brutality of the proclamation. It proclaims ' no quarter"-it inaugurates a system of warfare fit only for fends or savages. Had Fremont served under the Austrian tyrant or ta ken lessons from the Turks, he could not have exhibited more bar barous ferocity than he has shown. Upon him and those who placed him in power must rest the fearful responsibility of inaugurating reign of terror and blood, and of trampling under foot all the recognized principles of civilized warfare.
 No right is more clearly guaranteed to free men than the right to bear arms, yet Fremont makes it crime to be punished with death.- Absence from home is made by him crime also to be punished with death The constitu- ton and the laws are trampled under foot and the bloody code of Fremont is put in their stead. What makes the matter still worse is the known fact that the federalists have no authority over any part of the State and military power over only few counties. Martial law only be proclaimed over that portion of country actu- ally in possession ofa power
 The French revolution gave birth to brood of monsters, who literally bathed in blood, but we doubt if any of them have shown more blood thirstiness, vindictiveness and utter disregard of humanity than John Charles Fremont.
 How long the good God will permit such wretches to pollute the earth remains to be seen. Haply, the bullet of some brave Missou- rian may soon rid the world of such a miscreant
 
 pD~We copy in to-days issue two proclama- tions by the Governor, which we find in the Ga zette. We do so because the law requires us to do all work for which the State |" shaU be Ha6le to pay" We have given our bond in the su m of t,centy Mousand dollars, approved by the Governor, for the performance of |" ecery kind and description O pork' ordered for the State.
 The law on the subject is as follows
 SEC. 9 Be u further enacted, That the public printer shall be required to do and perform all book pamphlet, and job printing, work of every kind and description, for which the State shall be liable to pay.
 SEC. 5. Be t further enacted, That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with the provisions of this act be and the same hereby repealed.''
 APPROVED, Jan'y 9th, 1861.
 This law, in making it obligatory upon us "to do and perform" all the public work, also imposes upon all State officers the duty to get all work done at our office for which the State is liable to pay" There is no option with any one in the matter. The law is plain and uumistakable.