Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19
Proclamation of GOV. jackson to the
People of Missouri.
10 Ia PAoule of lNissouri:


To tie People Of Missouri:
A series of unproyoked and unparalleled out
RACES have been inflicted upon the peace and dig
nty of this Commonwealth, and upon the rights
and liberties of its people, by wicked and I'M
principled men protesting to act under the au-
thority of the u. s. Government. The solemn
enactments of your Legislature have been multi
fed; your volunteer soldiers have been taken
prisoners; your commerce with your sister States
has been suspended; your trade with your own
fellow citizens has been subjected to the harrass-
ing control of an armed soldiery; peaceful citi
zens have been imprisoned without warrant of
law; unoffending, defenceess men, women and
children have been ruthessly shot down and
murdered, and other unbearable indignitles have
been heaped upon your State and yourselves. To
all these outrages and indignities, you have sub
mitted with patriotic forbearance, which has only
encouraged the perpetrators of these grievous
wrongs to attempt still holder and more daring
usurpations.
1t has been nv earnest endeavor, under all
these embarrassing circumstances, to maintain
the peace of the State and to avert, if possible
from our borders the devastating effects OF civil
war. With that object in view, authorized
Major General Price, several weeks ago, TO ar
range with General Harvey, commanding the
Federal forces in this State, terms OF agreement
by which the peace might be preserved. They
came, on the Dist of May. to an understanding
which was made public. The State authorities
have faithfully labored to carry out the terms OF
that agreement; the Federal Government on the
other hand, not only manifested its strong disap-
probation of It by the instant dismissal of the
distinguished officer who on its part entered into
it, but at once began, and has unremttingly car
ried out a system of hostile operations in utter
contempt of that agreement, and in reckless dis
regard of its own plighted faith
These acts have latterly portended revolution
and civil war so Enthusiastically that have re-
solved to make one further effort to avert these
dangers from you. | therefore solicited an in
terview with Brigadier General Lyon, command
ing the Federal army in Missouri 1t was grant
ed and on the 10th inst, waving all questions of
personal or official dignity, went to ST. Louis,
accompanied by Gen. Price We had an inter-
view on the 18th inst, with Gen. Lyon and Col.
f. p Blair, Jr., at which / submitted to them
these propositions: That | would dsband the
State Guard and break up its organization; that
I would disarm all companies which have been
armed by the State; that / wOuldpledge myself
not to attempt to organize the militia under the
militia bill; that no arms o.. munitions of war
should be brought into the State; that
/ would protect all citizens equally in
their rights, regardless OF their political
opinions; that would suppress all Instruction
airy movements within the State; that | would
repel all attempts to invade it from whatever
quarter and by whoever made; and that | would
thus maintain strict neutrality in the present I'M
happy contest, and preserve the peace OF the
State And l further proposed that / would, il
necessary, invoke the assistance of the United
States to carry out these pledges. All this pro-
posed to do upon the condition that the Federal
Government would undertake to disarm the Home
Guards, which it has Illegally organized and arm
ed throughout the State, and pledge itself not to
occupy with its troops any localities in the State
now occupied by them at this time
Nothing but the most earnest desire to avert
the horrors of civil war from our beloved State
could have tempted me to propose these humiliat
ing terms They were rejected by the Federal
officers They denounced not only the disorgani
cation and dsarming of the State militia, and the
notification of the military bill, but they refused
to disarm their own home guards, and insisted that
the Federal Government should enjoy the unre
stricted right to move and station Its troop;
throughout the State, whenever and wherever
that might in the opinion of its officers be neces
sary either for the protection of loyal subjects OF
the Federal Government, or for the repeng o.
invasion; and they plainly announced that it wa;
the intention of the Administration to take mill
tary occupation under these pretexts, of the whole
State, and reduce it, as avowed by Gen. Lyon
himself, to the exact condition of Maryland
The acceptance by me of these degrading term:
would not only have suled the honor of Missouri
brave citizen, and precpitate the very cOnfic
which it has been my aim to prevent We re
fused to aceede to them and the conference wa:
broken up.
Fellow citizens-All our efforts towards con
citation have failed. We can hope for nothing
from the Justice or moderation of the agents o
the Federal Government in this State. They arr
energetically Fastening the execution OF thei
bloody and revolutionary schemes for the inau
0f civ n
military occupation of your State by armed band
of lawless invaders, for the overthrow of you
State Government and for the subversion of thos,
liberties which that Government has always sough
to protect; and they intend to exert their whole
power to subjugate you if possible to the militar,
despotsm which has usurped the powers of thu
Federal Government.
Now, therefore, /, 9. T. jackson, Governor oil
the State of Missouri, do, in view of the fOrego
ing facts, and by virtue of the powers vested il
me by the Constitution and laws of this common
wealth, issue this, my proclamation, calling the
militia of the State to the number of fifty thou
sand into active service of the State for the pur
pose of repelling said invasion and for the protec
ton of the lives. liberties and property of the cit
liens OF this State; and / earnestly exhort al
good citizens OF Missouri to rally under the flag
of their State for the protection of their endan
gered homes and iresdes, and for the defence o
their most sacred rights and dearest liberties II
issuing this proclamation / hold it to be m,
solemn duty to remind you that Missouri is still
one of the United States; that the executive de
partment of the State Government does not AFRO
gate to itself the power to disturb that relation
That power has been wisely vested in the con
vention which will, at the proper time, expires.
your sovereign will, and that meanwhile it il
your duty to obey all constitutional requirement,
of the Federal Government. but it is equally m,
duty to advise YOU that your first allegiance is due
your State, and that you under no obligation
whatever to obey the unconstitutional eGiicts o
the military despotism which has enthroned itsel
at Washington, nor to submit to the infamous
and degrading sway of its wicked ministers il
this State. No brave and true hearted Nilsson
rian will obey the one submit to the other
Rise, then, and drive out ANONYMOUSLY the inya
dcrs who have darel to desecrate the soil which
your labors have made fruitful and which is con
secrated by your homes.
[Signedl CLAIBORNE T. JACKSON.