Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[473] to be used by those of the citizens who are in arms. This is the property of the State, and ought to be disposed of to free the State from the debt incurred by its purchase, so far as the proceeds of its sale will have that effect. Information of its deposit ought to be given to this Department, so that it may be recovered and applied to the indebtedness of the State.

The militia of the State has not an organization as efficient as it should be. The Convention, by ordinance, adopted the act of 1859, in place of the Military bill of the last Assembly. It is necessary that there should be a complete organization under the act thus adopted by the Convention. Immediate attention to this duty is demanded by the condition of the country. Yet it is to be the act of the citizens who are willing to form bodies of volunteers.

The State has been invaded by troops from the State of Arkansas, and a large force under Gen. Pillow, of Tennessee, has lauded upon the soil of Missouri, notwithstanding the Congress of the Confederate States, in their act declaring war against the United States, expressly excepted Missouri, as a State against which the war was not to be waged.

Gen. Pillow has issued a proclamation, addressed to the people of Missouri, in which he declares that his army comes at the request of the Governor of this State, and says they will help us to expel from our borders the population hostile to our rights and institutions, treating all such as enemies, if found under arms. It remains to be seen whether Gen. Pillow, and other officers of the Confederate States, will continue their endeavor to make Missouri the theatre of war upon the invitation of Gov. Jackson, or of any other person, when such invasion is contrary to the act of the Confederate States, and when the invitation given by the Governor is withdrawn by the people. We have sought to avoid the ravaging our State in this war, and if the military officers of the Confederate States seek to turn the war upon us, upon the mere pretext that they are invited by a State officer to do so, when they know that no officer of the State has authority to give such invitation, then upon them be the consequences, for the sovereignty of Missouri must be protected.

There should be, on the part of the people of Missouri, a paramount purpose to preserve the internal peace of their own State, whatever may be the condition of affairs in other States. Our first duties are at home. If there could be a general recognition of this principle, the duty of preserving peace would be less onerous upon the magistracy of the State. But all will admit that, however unpleasant it may be, the duty of preserving the peace must be discharged by those upon whom the law imposes it. The means furnished by law are ample, and must be employed.

Combinations to oppress citizens and deprive them of their civil rights, because of any opinions they may hold, are flagrant offences against law, and unworthy the inhabitants of a free Republic. It must of course be expected that the power of the Government will be employed to subject all members of such combinations to the penalties imposed by law.

If those citizens who, at the call of the late Governor, have taken up arms, choose to return voluntarily to their homes to the peaceful pursuit of their occupations, they will find in the present Executive a determination to afford them all the security in his power, and there is no doubt entertained that they will be unmolested.

And now, people of Missouri, may not the hope be entertained that you will afford a cordial cooperation in an attempt to secure the return of peace? But a few months since you were prosperous and happy in the enjoyment of all your rights, civil and political. If you have suffered already great loss, anxiety, and distress — if you live in constant apprehension of coming evil — in uncertainty about all that is future — you can see how terrible are the consequences of a violent attempt to overthrow an established Government, which has heretofore afforded peace, prosperity, protection, and equal rights to all. It is but the part of wisdom to bear evils which are known to be endurable, rather than encounter such as are plainly before this people if peace be not speedily restored.

Now, therefore, I, Hamilton R. Gamble, Governor of the State of Missouri, in view of the foregoing facts, do hereby strictly charge and enjoin upon all sheriffs and other magistrates who are conservators of the peace, to use all the powers conferred upon them by law in arresting and bringing to punishment all persons who disturb the public peace, by using violence against any of their fellow-citizens, and especially are you charged to bring to justice all who combine to practise violence against other persons on account of their political opinions; and if force should be employed to resist you in the discharge of your duties to an extent that you cannot overcome by the means provided by law, you are charged to make known that fact to this Department, that proper measures may be taken in such case.

It is enjoined upon all citizens that they perform the duty of giving information of deposits of munitions of war belonging to the State, that they may come to the possession of the State without being captured by the troops of the United States.

It is further enjoined upon all citizens of suitable age to enroll themselves in military organizations, that they may take part in the defence of the State.

All citizens who are embodied under the act of the last session of the General Assembly, popularly called the “Military law,” are notified that the law has been abrogated, the troops disbanded, the commissions issued under it, as well as the commission under the act of the same session for the appointment of a Major-General,