The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-01-14
Gen. Banks Proclamation.


headquarters, Depa lmeut OF the Gulf
New Orleans, Dec. is, 1902.
10 obedience 10 orders from the President /
have assumed command OF the Department Of
the Gulf, TO which IS added, by his special order
the State Of Texas.
The duty with which am charged requires
me 10 sssist in the restoration of the Govern
ment Of the United States. Ii is my desire 10
secure to the people of every class al Inc priv
ileges Of possession and enjoyment which are
consistent with public safety, OF which it Is pos
sble for bsnefcent aud just Government TO
confer.
In the execution Of the high trust with which
! am charged, | RELY upon the cooperation and
counsel Of all loyal and rell-dsposed people,
and upon the manifest interest oi those depen.
dent upon the pursuits-of peace, as well as upon
the support OF naval and land forces.
Ny Instructions require me to treat, as enc
mics those who are enemies, but | shall gladly
regard "a friends those who are friends. No re
strictOns will be placed upon the freedom Of in
dividuals which are not imperatively demanded
by considerations OF public safety; but, while
their claims will be Literally considered, il is due
also TO them TO state that all the rights OF the
Government will be undnchingly maintained.
Respectful consideration and prompt repars-
ton will be accorded TO all persons who are
wroDged in body or estate by those under my
command
The Government does not profit by the pro-
lengs ion OF civil contest or the private or pub
lie sufferings which attend it, It, fruits are not
-1"sllS distrh"f-d In tho dislova States desc
aIon has empire on the sea and on the land
In the North the war is an abiding sorrow. bat
not yet calamity It's cities and towns are IN
creasing in pOpua atOn, wealth and power. The
ha olara
in great part for the terrible decmations OF
battle.
The people of this Department who are dispo
sed TO stake their fortunes and their lives upon
resistance to the Government NAV wi-elv reflect
upon the immutable conditions which surround
them. The Valley Of the Mississippi Is the cho-
sen seat OF population, product aud power, on
this continent. Ia few yeats, twenty-five mi !
ion people, unsurpassed IN material resources
and capacity for war will swarm Upon its frrtile
rivers. Those who assume to set conditions
upon their exodus to the Cult count upon a
power not given TO man. The country washed
by the waters of the Ohio. the ssOuri and the
Mississippi can never be permanently severed
II one generation basely bafters away its rights,
immortal honOrs will rest upon another that re-
claims them.
Let il never be said either that the East and
the West may separate Thirty days distance
from the markets OF Europe NAV satisfy the
wants of Louisiana aud Arkansas, but 1t vii not
answer the demands OF lilinois and Ohio. The
Valley Of the Mississippi will have is deltas
upon the Atlantic. The physical force of the
Wes: will deboueh upon its shores with power
as resisIless as the torrents OF its giant rivers
This couauy cannot be permanently divided
Ceaseless wars may dfair it, blood and treasure
domestic tyrants or foreign foes may grasp the
sceptre Of its power, but its destiny will remain
unchanged IL will still be united GOO ha.
ordained il. What avsl-, then, the destruction
of the best Government ever devised by man
the seft adjusting, self-correctiug Constitution O
the United Statess
People of the Southwest, Why not accep
the conditions imposed by the imperous neces
sites of geographical con6gurauon and com
nerciAl supremacy, aud resstablish your sneien
prosperity and renowns Why not become ID,
founders Of States which, as the entrepots an
depots of your own Central and Upper Valleys
NAV stand iu the stllence Of their resource
without superior. and in the privileges of III
people, without a peer among the nations Q
tne earth. y. Z. BANKS,
Major General Commanding.