Gen. Lee's Proclamation To The People Of Maryland

iittitimore ;:pt. 11. Gen. Leu Ims issued üio following proclainatioD ; Leo's Heaclquarters A'!y of Virginia, 1 near Freilericktown, Sept. 8. Tó the Pqople ui Marylaud. lt is riyht yu should know the purfjose lliat bus Irmight the army under myeommuod wiLfaio thu limita of your State. So far m Ihat purpoM coaceros yourselves, the pcoplo of the Confedérate States bava long watched wilh the duepest nymftalhy the renga and outrogea thut have been inflicted nncia tba itizti oí a Cotnmonwoalth allied to tho States of the South by the BtmogOTt social, politica] and commer, oiaï ties, and recuced to the eonditiou of u c'onqiieied province under tho pre. tunca of Biippoiting tho constitution, i but in violation of its most valued pro visión; your citizens have been arrested and imprisoned upon no charge and contrary to all fonns of law ; a "fuithful and mauly protest agaioat this outrnget made by a voneiitble and illustrious ManlamJer, to whom, in betior dayu, no eitizen n; pealed tor rigl't in vaii', was treuted with soorn and contempt. The government of your etaief city hus b.en usurped by armcd strangers ; your Legislature has been dissolved by the unlüwfui arrest of its members; freedom ot the press nnd epeech has been euppressed ; words havo been declared oflances by an arbitrary ciecree of Lhe Federal Executive, nnd citizens ordered to be ttied ly military comrnis.si.jn tot whf;t they may dure to speak. Believing that the peowlo of Maryland- possess a spirit too l,,fty to subroit to suüh a government, the peopla of tho South havo Imig wished to uid thoin in ibrowing off this fureign yoke to enublo you :igain to enjoy the inalienable i'ights of f'reonien and restore I the independence snd sovereignty of your Stato. In obedionce to this wish j our anny han come to assist you wiih , the power of its unas in regaining the I liiitits o! vvhich you have boen so uuj-jstly despoüed. This, cilizen3 of Marvland id our ruisskin. So Ja1 as J'öu are concerned, nu i e.-Uaiiit upon yourfifie vvill ia in ttiüdud j no intitriidutioi) yi] be allovvod within tlic limits of this army, at least. Maryhuiders stiall once moro enjov their nncient fieadom of' thought and speech. We know no enemies urnoag you, and wil! protect uil of you in everv opinión. Ii i; for yon to decide you'r di'stiny frely and witbnul constraiqt, ïliis army wil] respect your choisa, whatever t may be. and while the southern penple wül rt'jtxice to welcowie you to your national position amoug them, they will only weiemne jon whi yau co;ne from yourown fiee will. (Signed) R. E. LEE Gen. Commanding.