Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-24
PROCLAMATION By THE GOV.
ERNOR.
Hr,, Announces his Intention to Put
Down Any Attempt 20 Resist the
DRAFT.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF ONO, l
CoLUMBUs, August 23d, 1864. (
To THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OHIO !:

TO ever such deficiencies. This need not
and should not, have been the case. The
exertion that has been made to discourage
and prevent enlistment, if otherwise di-
reoted, whould have filed the quotas OF
those localities or left the deficiency very
light.
How ever unwilling to believe that any
considerable portion of the people of this
| State would array themselves in spirit Of
faction, if not reasonable, opposition to
| the execution of the laws of the land, there
are indications of such spirit in the State,
| which, as Chief Magistrate, may not dis
regard In appealing to the people to dis
card the counsel of wicke cd and unprinci-
| pied leaders that invite them % faction and
| forcible resistance to the draft or any other
| legal requirement of the Government, l
am actuated solely by desire to peserve
if practicable, the peace of the State, and
the welfare of the erring portion Of our
people, and not from any apprehensions Of
either the discrimination or ability of the
Government to maintain the supremacy of
its laws
The man who supposes that either the
National or State Government is unadvis-
ed Of, or unprepared for, the threatened
emergencies, Is following the deception of
his leaders to consequences of the most Sc
rieus character. Let me advise you who
countenance this insurrection, look care
fully at the civil and military penalties
you are incurrirg. The act of Congress,
approved July 3lst 1851, @T6 define and
punish certain eonsDirGeies," is as follows:
Be 1t enacted By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States Of Ani-
erica IN Congress assembled, That if two
or more persons within any State or Ter
ritory or the United States shall conspire
together to overthrow, or to put down, or
destroy by force, the Government of the
United States, or to levy war against the
United States, or to oppose by force the
authority of the Government Of the Uni
ted States; or by force to prevent, hin3er,
or delay the execution of any law of the
United States; or by force to seize, tske OF
posses any properay Of the United
States against the will or contrary to he
authority IF the United States; or by force,
OF intimidation, or threat to pre-
vent any person from accepting or
holding any Office of trust, or place of con-
fidenee under the United States; each ard
every person so offending shall be guilty of
a high crime, and upon conviction thereof
in any district or circuit court of the Unit
ed States, having jurisdiction thereof, or
district or supreme court Of any Territory
of the United States having jurlsdirtion
thereof, shall be punished by tine not less
than five hundred dollars and not more
than five thousand dollars; or by imprison-
ment, with or without hard labor as the
court shall determine, for period not less
than six months nor greater than six years,
or by both such fine and imprisonment"
This is merely the punishment for con-
spiracy; yet its penalties are not light,
and should not be thoughtlessly incurred.
This follows too, a mere combination or
agreement of men TO do an unlawful act,
and is complete without resort to arms.
Resistance 10 the law by bodies Of armed
men, constitutes the OVERT ACT OF TREA-
SON, the punishment of which is death
These are the civil penalties; the military
results are to be found in the power of the
Government by armed force, to deal with
every species of insurrection against the
enforcement of its legal enRctments.
1t is unnecessary to argue the duty Of
every citizen to yield obedience to laws
constitutionally enacted, so long as they
remain in force. If men may take up arms
to resist laws, in the policy or effect of
which they do not concur, then all govern
ment is at an end, and We are resolved into
anarchy. This state of things is not to
| be tolerated. A government may as well
perish in bold and vigorous effort to
maintain its integrity, as to suffer an in
surrection to neuralize its laws and defy
its power.
Most earnestly do appeal to the people
of the State not to engage in this forcible
resistance to the laws to which evil cOun-
sellors and bad men are leading them. 1t
can not and will not succeed. Its triumph,
| if it achieve any, must be of a merely tenn
porary character. The Government is not
weak. 1t is strong and powerful. 1t can
not and it will not permit an armed insur-
rection to impeach its strength or impair
Its power, while cOntending with the South
ern rebellion. do not say this to you in
any spirit of intimidation, or in any threat
ening tone. 1 speak it 10 you as a warn
ing, and with an imploring voice to hear
and heed it. l know what the determine
ton of your Government is, and fully
comprehend the power at hand to enforce
it.
What can you, who contemplate armed
resistance, reasonably expect to gain by
such m0vement2 You can not effectu-
ally or permanently prevent the enforce
ment of the laws You cannot in anywisC
improve your own condition in the present
and must seriously iniure it In the future
Judicious and conservative men, who looE
to the supremacy of government for the
protection and safety of their person and
property, will not sympathize with or co
operate with you. You may commit
crime; YOU may shed blood; you may de
stroy property; you may spread ruin anC
devastation over some localities Of the
State; YOU may give aid and comfort for 1
season to the rebels already in arm
against the country; you may transfer, TO
brief time, the horrors of war from
the fields of the South to thos
= of the State Of Ohio; you ma,
psralyze prosperity and create consterna
4 tion and alarm among our people. This
!, a bare possibility, but it is ali you can hop
e to accomplish; for you have looked upol
! the progress Of our present struggle to littl
purpose, if you have not learned the grea
i recuperative power and the deep earnest
:, ness of the country in this contest. Th
1t final result will not be doubtful; the disa:
Is ter to YOU will be complete, and the per
. atty will equal the snormity of the crimt
" From the commencement of this rebe
l. lion, the State of Ohio has maintained
t. firm and inhexible position which connC
n now be abandoned. In this inteni
ai danger that now threatens Us, l call upo
all good citizens TO assert and maintai
j. the supremacy of the Constitution an
a. laws of the land. These constitute II
" great elements of our strength as a natiol
a and they are the bulwarzs of our people,
Hold in subjectron by persuasion and peac
able means, if you can, all attempts at civ
insnrrection. or armed resistance to Z