Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1863-01-06
Proclamation of Gen. Banks.

Headquarters DEPARTMENT OF THE
GULF, New ORLEANS, Dec, 16 In uhe
diencs to orders from The President, | as
sumo command of the Department Of the
Gulf, to which is added, BY bis special
order, the State Of Texas.
The duty with which | am charged re-
quires me 10 assist in their restoration to
the Government Of the United Statos. 1t
is my desire to assure the people Of every
class oil the privileges Of possession and
enjoyment which is consistent With the
public safety, or which it is possible for
beneficent or just Government to confer.
10 the execution of the high trust with
which an charged. rely upon the CO.
operation and counsel Of all loyal, we'll. dis
posed men, aud upon the manifest interest Of
those dependent upon the pursuits Of peace
as we'll as upon the support of the naval
and land forces. Ny instructions require
me to treat as enemies those who are enc
mics, but l shall gladly regard as friends
those who are friends. No restrictions
will be placed upon the freedom of indi-
viduals which are not imperatively deman-
ded by considerations Of public safety but
Will: their claims will be literally consid-
cred, it is due also to them to state that
oil the rights Of the Government will be
uuaincbingy maintained. Respectful con-
sidera'ion aud prompt reparation will be
accorded to all persons who are wrongej in
body or estate BY those under my COM
mand.
The Government does not profit by the
prolougation of the civil contest, or the
private or public suferings which attend
it. Its fruits are not equally distributed
10 the disloyal States desolation has its
empire, both on sea snd land In the
North the war is an abiding sorrow, bu,
not yet calamity. Its cities and towns
are increasing in poi ulation, wealth and
power. The refugees from the South
alone compensate, in great part, for the
terrible decimations of battle.
To the people Of this Department who
are disposed to stake their fortunes and
lives upon resistance to the Government,
may wisely reflect upon the immutable
conditions which surround them. The
Valley Of the Mississippi is the chosen
seat of population, product and power on
this continent In few years twenty
five millions Of people, unsurpassed in
material resources and capacity for war,
will swarm upon its fertile rivers. Those
who assume to set conditions upon their
exodus to the Gulf, count upon power
not given to man. The country washed
BY the waters of the Ohio, Missouri,
and Mississippi, can never be permanently
severed. II one generation basely bsrters
away its rights, immortal honors will rest
upon another that claims them.
Let it never be said that either the
Fast or the West may be separated.
Thirty days distance from the markets Of
Europe may satisfy the wants Of Louisiana
aud Arkansas, but it will not answer the
demands Of Illinois and Ohio. The val
ley Of the Mississippi will have its delta
upon the Atlantic. The physical force Of
the West will deboucb upon its shores
with . power resistless as the torrents of
its giant rivers.
This country cannot be permanently
divided. Ceaseless wars may drain its
blood and treasure. Domestic tyran,s or
foreign foes may grasp the scep're of its
power, but it's destiny will remain un-
changed. 1t will still be united. God
has ordained il. What avails then the
destruction Of the best Government ever
devised. BY man; the self-adjustipg, self
correcting Constitution Of the United
States.
People Of the Southwest, why not accept
the conditions imposed BY the iuperisus
necessities Of geographical confguratioo
and commercial supremacy, and re-estab-
lish your ancient prosperity and renowu ?
Why not become founders Of States which,
ss entrepots and depots Of your own Gen.
trail aud upper valleys, may stand, in the
sffluence of their resources, with superior,
snd, 10 the privileges of the people, without
. peer among the nations Of the earth
(Signed) N. T. BANhS,
Major Gsaer.i Commanding