Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-05
PROCLAMATION.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, I
NEW ORLEANS Dec IG 1862

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. I6, 1862. )
In obedience to orders from the President, have
assumed command of the department of the Gulf to
which added by his special order the State Of Texas
The duty with which l charged requires to
assist in the restoration of the government Of the United
States 1t is my desire to to the people Of every
class all the privileges Of possession and enjoyment
which arc consistent with public safety, which s
possible for benefcent and just government TO confer
In the execution of the high trust with which / sm
charged RELY upon the operation and counsel Of all
loyal and veldsposed people, and upon the manifest
of those dependent pon the pursuits Of peace
as well as upon the support Of naval and land forces
Ny instructions require 20 treat enemies those
who are enemies, but shall gladly regard as friends
those who friends no restrictions will be placed
upon the freedom Of individuals which not impara
lively demanded by considerations Of public safety but
while their claims will bs bersy considered, it is due
also to them state that all the rights of the govern
nent will be unfiinchingly main. aimed.
Respectful consideration and prompt reparation Will
be accorded all persons who wrOnged in body OF
estate by those under my command.
The government does not profit by the prolongstiou
Of civil contest or the privat or public suerngs which
attend IT, lis Fruits not equally distributed In the
dsloyal States desoaton has empire the aud OF
the land In the North the is abiding sorrow bu
yet calamity. Its cities and towns are increasing
in population, wealth and power. The refugees from
the South sone compensate In great part for the terrible
decmatiOns Of battle
The people Of this department who are disposed tc
stake their fortunes and tber lives upon resistance
the government may wisely reflect upOn the immutabl
conditions which surround them. The valley of the
Mississippi s the chosen seat OF po ulation product
and power on this continent In few years twenty
ave millions Of people, unsurp sssd Ia material re
sources and capacity for war, will swarm upon its fe"
tile rivers Those who TO set conditions upoI
theff exodus to the gulf count upon power not givei
to man. The country washed by the waters Of th
Ohio the Missouri and the Mississippi never b. per
mauenty severed. If generation basely barter
av ay its rights immortal hOnors viii rest upon anothe
that reel2ins them.
Let never be said either thai the East and the Yves
may be sspara ei Thirty days distance from the mar
kets of Europe may satisfy he snts Of Louisiana an
Arka but it VIII not answer tie Gem snds Of III
nos aud Ohio The valley OF the MississiDc will bay
deltas upon the Al ntc. The physic4 force Of III
West viii dsbonch upon iis shores ith power As re
sstless the Of lis 81 mt rivers. TIL coun
/ try cannot be rmHrently divided. Ceaseiess war
may drain its blood and Treasure domestic tyrAnts
toegn foes may grasp the scepter Of its power bot II
des my VII rem ain unchanged It will still be united
God has ord .ined il Whal svais thea, the dearuc
tion Of the best g)ve Iment ever devised ny ma1-tb
sefsdiust Ds, seleorreetng Constitution Of the Unite
States
People of the Southwest Why not accept the cor
ditiors imposed by the imperous necessities of gee
/ g-aphical con6gurAtion and mmercial supremacy
ana reestsblish yaur ancient prosperity aud ren9wn
w. not become the founders Of States which as th
entrepOts and depots Of your owu central snd uppe
valleys may stand in the sffiuenee Of their resource
without superior and in the privileges Of tie people
| witsout peer among the nations Of the earth ,
| n. P. BANKS,
GalOr-GenerRl Command.nE