True Democrat., 1863-04-08
TO THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI.


 ! It is my painful duty officially to announce to you the death, in December last, of our distin- guislled chief magistrate, Claiborne F. Jackson.
 His ability, integrity and patriotism, and his l vices and sacrifices i'll our cause, will honorably 1 perretuate his name in our history s -< Elected in 1860 Leutenant Governor of our State, am called by its constitution 10 the execu- | tive chair Confident that my authority Is eac- | knowledged by an overwhelming majority of. the people, l have assumed the position ofeGovernor of the State of Missouri. This announcement bas been delayed in order that an examination of our affairs might enable me, at the same time, to ad- dress you more undcrstandnely concerning them.
 Their condition Is hopeful but imposes on me responsibility to which am wholly unequal, un- less sustained by the yealons and coniding support of every loyal Mlsso,rian, and favored by tue 4 mighty Ruler of Nations, whose protection aiiet l guidance l reverently invoke sss.- Many of the incons enences produced by the l future to elect legislature ir August last, win be obvated by the act of our last General Asse4n- bly,, !" to authorize the Governor of the State of Missouri to suppress rebellion and rerel inyasion,t | approved May l0-h, lS6i, and authorizing iim. fer these purposes |" to take such measures, as i'll 1 his judgment, he may deem necessary proper" The ruling principle of my oliicsl conduct will be regard for the interests, tights, and dignity of 1 the whole people Of Missouri; as we'll those within 1 the Stite as those excd from it. That principle | enjons harmony with the Confederate government, and jealous. energetic and trusting support of it's efforts to secure the ndepehd ence of all the Con | federate States.
 The enemy has. persstently endeavored to in. spre our citizens with dstrust of the intentions Q l that government towards Missouri. The most solemn public pledges have been given by the President and Congress of the Confcdcracy that ] it's utmost powers will be exerted to mGntHin the territorial integrity of all the thirteen States composing it. The President will direct those powers to that end. Cordial pers ona and official l .k .ln to you that, among his many greatq tqualites the most perfect sincerity is conspicuous. His pledge he will celtanly redeem. Could you have witnessed the emotion with which he has hcard-the recital of your Suifeings, you would know that no object lies nearer his heart than the liberation of l Missouri. friendship of twenty years stantiing with the Secretary of War ustifes me in placing | the most implicit trust in his assurances that his department will do it's full duty towards noble State. From his energy aud administrative abili | ty the best results may be expected | Some tiinid friends apprehend that in a treaty. Of peace Missouri mty be wholly or partially sac rihcedto supposed military necessity. These fears ill founded. During the existence Of the arml tice preceding treaty, the voice o the ne pie in every State will make itself beard on the l question of boundary rhetween the North and the l South. Community of interests and affinity. ot race will inter pret the diplomatic jargon of the sfafus quo and the nj poSsidfts; and the question 1 to be etiled by negotiation may be, not whether | all the slavqholling States shali belong 10 our | Contederacy, but whether non sav ehoding munit es, not of New Engllnd origin. shall be at | mltted into 1t.
 to fight our battles. All Msslurians should strain their utmost energies to increase our power. both moral and phy,i-n. They should recruit the Con fcferate army by tens Of thousands, that on the core usion of armistce, the general rrsuh of military operations. may enable negOtators to | cl with shrn,upLs tho limits which ot race and institutions naturally assigns to I Confede a,v.
 Missouri sh 1uid he subjected to the evils of war only far as they are unavoidable in the attain
 mcnt of final success: Asl advised you eighteen months ago, '' partial uprsings, in detcncecss DO
 stions, without due concert Of action are worse
 u an useless" While right to raise troops | thIpughout Missouri will be maintained, mere raI:ibling predatory warfare should bo abandoncd.
 llte right Of our citizens self defence actual aggrcssor Is sacred, but retaliation cn the
 innocent for the acts of the guilty, should be reg
 nlated by the calm judgmcnt of our highest au-
 thorities. The return of the Confederate troops our State will take place the military
 position of atflrs shall give well grounded hope
 that they will remain there permanently. l have
 great confidence that such return will begin at 1 an early period; but, to hasten 1t, all patriotic
 Mssourians, able to do so should speedily join
 the Confederate armr, and those compelc cd to re
 main at home should quietly prepare to give it
 that support, i'll reliance which its return will 1 be nude.
 Our enemies have begun a system bv which wc are:compcled to carry at the risk of losing | all our property; to make the contest fair and | equal, .aey should incur like risk. Accord ingly, in obedience to the general wish of our loyal citizens and by virtue of the powers vest ed in the Governor of Missouri bv the statute before
 mentioned have to-dav issued an order of -e- questration, Subject to future modification under tSc executive power ot pardon and amnesty, anl | to the final action of tue peOpie,) embracing all property real anl personal, or hereafter ownci l by any person willingly supporting anywhere, at any time since May 10th, le6l or herea lter, the government of the United States, or the rebellion in Missouri headed by Hamilton R. Gamble.- Thia sequestration is for the purpose of ndcmni- ty to loyal citizens residents of Missouri, for dam'lg ges received anywhere, and to loyal citizens or residents, of any other of the Conederlte States or Maryland, fer damages done in Missouri to their persons or property; also for the purpose of securing support to Missourians disabled. and tc widows and orphans of M-souritns dying from l injuries; provided the damage, disability or injury be Cause by the act of the enemy. or incurred in | the servce of Missouri of the Confederate Sta,es, in tho existing war The property seques- trated k, for the moment, beyond our power, but
 the order is needed define and simplify the term, of the contest, and assure oppressed citizens of the intention of the State authorities to axenge their wrongs; it will also preclude future fra,du. 1 lent claims of pretended innocent purchasers with out notice to whom portions of such property may he transferred. IL is made extensive, because the 1 amount of compensation required will depend on the future of the enemy. Should that course 1 be Just and moderate, the estates of a few Der. sistent nIalignants ght suffice to balance tc ac l count, and liberal amnesty would be granted to | all others.
 The conseript acts, clearly constitutional with | their provisions for filling up old regiments and organizing new, apply to all Missourians within any State which is not exempted in accordance with law; and all members of our State Guard, still in active service, should at once enter the Confederate army. Unity of command is essential l to military efficiency, and all troops in the held should be under direct control of our ilustr our President, in whose consummlte leadership we may all confide.
 Except where important State interests are in- volyed, shall abstain from recommendations for positions under the Confederate government Alp ptlcatons for tncni sfouid Se sent directly the proper department, or presented for the cosidera tion of our congressional delegation, with which 1 desire to act i'll entire harmony.
 A pepper attention to my executive duties will ! not permit frequent visits to the camps. Business of the State will dctain me here two or three weeks longer; after the lapse of that time and un til location of the executive office shall have been made west of the Mississippi river, commu. nicatons to should be directed to Jackson Mississippi, from which place they will be for 'wardea to me.
 Sotdi,rs of Missouri, Your chief magistrate fully shares your longing to our suffering State