t material
provisions are in conflict with the Constitution and laws of
the United States. To this extent it is a nullity, and
cannot and ought not to be upheld or regarded by the good
citizens of Missouri. There are obligations and duties
resting upon the people of Missouri under the Constitution
and laws of the United States which are paramount, and which
I trust you will carefully consider and weigh well before
you will allow yourselves to be carried out of the Union
under the form of yielding obedience to this military bill,
which is clearly in violation of your duties as citizens of
the United States.

It must be apparent to every one who has taken a proper and
unbiased view of the subject that, whatever may be the
termination of the unfortunate condition of things in
respect to the so-called Cotton States, Missouri must share
the destiny of the Union. Her geographical position, her
soil, productions, and, in short, all her material
interests, point to this result. We cannot shut our eyes
against this controlling fact. It is seen and its force is
felt throughout the Nation. So important is this regarded to
the great interests of the country, that I venture to
express the opinion that the whole power of the Government
of the United States, if necessary, will be exerted to
maintain Missouri in her present position in the Union. I
express to you, in all frankness and sincerity, my own
deliberate convictions, without assuming to speak for the
Government of the United States, whose authority here and
elsewhere I shall at all times and under all circumstances
endeavor faithfully to uphold. I desire above all things
most earnestly to invite my fellow-citizens dispassionately
to consider their true interests as well as their true
relations to the Government under which we live and to which
we owe so much.

In this connection I desire to direct attention to one
subject which, no doubt, will be made the pretext for more
or less popular excitement. I allude to the recent
transactions at Camp Jackson, near St. Louis. It is not
proper for me to comment upon the official conduct of my
predecessor in command of this Department, but it is right
and proper for the people of Missouri to know that the main
avenue of Camp Jacks