or business, and deprived of their ordinary means of support and of their domestic enjoyments; and
"Whereas, The employment of militia is not authorized by my instructions from the general government, except upon requisition of the commander of the military department in which Kansas is embraced; and
"Whereas, An authorized regular force has been placed at my disposal, sufficient to insure the execution of the laws that may be obstructed by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings; now
"Therefore, I, John W. Geary, governor of the territory of Kansas, do issue this, my proclamation, declaring that the services of such volunteer militia are no longer required; and hereby order that they be immediately discharged. The secretary and adjutant-general of the territory will muster out of service each command at its place of rendezvous.
"And I command all bodies of men, combined, armed and equipped with munitions of war, without authority of the government, instantly to disband or quit the territory, as they will answer the contrary at their peril.
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the territory of Kansas.
"Done at Lecompton, this eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
PROCLAMATION.
"Whereas, It is the true policy of every state or territory to be prepared for any emergency that may arise from internal dissension or foreign invasion:
"Therefore, I, John W. Geary, governor of the territory of Kansas, do issue this my proclamation, ordering all free male citizens, qualified to bear arms, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, to enrol themselves, in accordance with the act to organize the militia of the territory, that they may be completely organized by companies, regiments, brigades, or divisions, and hold themselves in readiness, to be mustered, by my order, into the service of the United States, upon requisition of the commander of the military department in which Kansas is embraced, for the suppression of all combinations to resist the laws, and for the maintenance of public order and civil government.
"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the territory of Kansas.
"Done at Lecompton, this eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
When Governor Geary's appointment was first announced in Kansas, it was generally understood that he would not affiliate with either party, but would use his endeavors to carry out the doctrine of popular sovereignty. Measures were immediately set on foot, by the pro-slavery party, to frustrate his plans, by gathering an army in Missouri and other slave states, with which to overrun
