The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-23
Letter From Gen. Harvey.
VV~1 VII y
MILITARY DEPART, OF THE WEST,
St. Louis, May IA.

St. Louis, May IA.
On my ret.rn to the duties Of the com
mand of this department, | find, greatly
to my astonishrnent and modification, "a mos
extraordinary state of things existing in
this State, deeply affecting the stability o
the Government of the United States, al
well as the Government and other interests
of Missouri itself.
AS citizen of Missouri, owing allegi
ance to the United States, having interest:
in common with you, feel it my duty a;
we'll as privilege, to extend warning voice
to my fellow citizens against the common
dangers that threaten us, to appeal to your
patriotism and sense Of justice to exert al
your moral power to avert them.
1t is with roget that feel it my duty to
call your attention to the recen: act OF the
General Assembly of Missouri. known as the
Military bill which is the result, no doubt,
of the temdorary excitement that now per
vades the public mind. This hill cannot
be regaded in any other light than an ipdi-
rect secession ordnance, ignoring even the
forms resorted to by other States. Mani
festly. 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 regarded by the good citizens OF
Missouri. There are obligations and du-
ties resting upon the people of Missouri
under the Constitution and laws Of the
United States which are paramount, and
which l trust you will carefully consider
and weigh before you will allow yoursel-
yes to be carried out of the Union. under
the form of yielding obedience to this mil
itary bill, which is clearly in violation of
your duties as citizens ofthe United States.
1t must be apparent to every one who
has taken proper and unbiased view OF
the subject, that whatever may be the term
nation of the unfortunate condition OF
things in respect to the SO called Cotton
States" Missouri must share the destiny
of the Union. Her geographical position
her soil--productions, and in short all
her material interests, point to this result.
We cannot shut our eyes against this con-
trolling fact. 1t is seen and its force is
feet throughout the nation. So important
is this regarded as to the great interests OF
the country, that venture to express the
opinion that the whole power of;he govern
ment of the United States, if necessary,
will be exerted to maintain Missouri in her
present position in The Union. | express
TO you, in all frankness and sincerity, my
own deliberate convictions, without assum-
ing to speak for the Government OF the
United States. whose authority, here and
elsewhere, l shall at all times, and under
all circumstances, endcavor faithfully to
uphold
desire, above all things, NEST earnest.
ly to invite my fellow citizens dispassion-
atcly to consider their true interests as vel
as their true relation to the Government
under which we live, and to which we
owe so much.
In this connection l desire to direct a.
tention to one subject, which no doubt
will be made the pretext for more or less
popular excitement. | alIude to the re.
cent transactions at Camp Jackson, near
st. Louis. 1t is not proper for me to com
ment upon the official conduct Of my pre-
decessor in command of this Department,
but it is right and proper for the people o
Missouri to know that the main avenue OF
Camp Jackaon, recently under command
Of Gen. Frost had the name of Davis, and
principal street of the same camp that o
Beauregard; and that body of men had
besn notoriously organized in the interest
OF the Sessionists-- the men openly wearing
the dress and badge Distinguishing the ar
my of the 80 called Southern Confederacy
1t is also notorious fact that a quantity
of arms had been received into the camp
which were unlawfnlly taken from the
United States Arsenal at Baton Rouge, and
surreptitiously passed up the river il.
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 ofthat encampment. No Govern
ment in the world would be entitled to res
pect that would tolerate for a moment such
openly treasonable preparations.
1t is but justice, however, that should
state the fact that there were manv good
and oyal mer in the camp. who were in no
manner responsible for its treasonblo char
acter.
Disclaiming. AS 1 do, all desire or inten-
tion to interfere in any way with the prera-
gatives of 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 res
pectful, but at the same time decided Ian
guage, that within the field and scope OF
my command and authority, the SUPREME
LAW Of the land must and shall be main
tanned. and nc subterfuges, whether in the
forms of Legislative acts or otherwise, can
be permitted to harrass or oppress the good
and the law-ablding people of Missouri
] shall exert my authority to protect their
persons and property from violations o
every kind, and | shall deem it my duty tc
suppress all unlawful combinations of men
whether formed under pretext of military
organizations or otherwise.
VIM. s. HARNEY,
Brig Gen. u. S. Army, Commanding.
MISSISSIPPI TRooPs.--The Matches
COURIER, states that ninety-three compa
| nies have alraadv been mustarod into Gov