A Proclamation

Whereas it is the Duty and the Interest of the Citizens of this State, to respect obey and support the Constitution Laws and Government, which they have established for their own Security and Welfare— And it is also the Duty of those to whom the Execution of the Laws is confided, to exercise the Authorities vested in them with Fidelity and Decision— And Whereas both Houses of the Legislature of this State did on the 23d. and 24th. Days of last Month concur in a Resolution expressed in the words following vizt.

“Whereas it appears by sundry Affidavits accompanying a Message from his Excellency the Governor,1 that the regular Administration of Justice has been interr ^upt^ ed by numerous Combinations of Individuals in the Town of Livingston in the County of Columbia, and that the Deputies of the Sherif of the said County have been prevented from executing the Duties of their Offices in attempting the same—

Resolved that his Excellency the Governor be, and he is hereby requested to cause the Laws of the State to be enforced in the said Town of Livingston in the County of Columbia and to call out such Part of the Militia of the said County, or of any of the adjacent Counties, as he may think necessary for that purpose; and that the Legislature will make Provision therefor.”2

And Whereas it is not improbable that divers of the Offenders have unwarily been misled and deceived by designing and interested Individuals, and if apprized of the Criminality and Consequence of their Conduct would return to a proper Sense of their Duty now therefore I have thought it proper to issue this Proclamation, and to exhort, to warn, and to command the said Offenders to forebear committing the like violences in future. And I do strictly enjoin and require the Judges, the Justices, the Sherif and all other Ministers of Justice in the sd. County to be vigilant and active in preserving the Peace of the free course of Law and Justice in the said Town—

To the End that means proportioned to the Exigencies of the cases may be seasonably afforded, I have directed the Adjutant General to transmit Orders to certain Commanders of Regiments and the Corps of Horse (who will be named to the Sherif) that they do respectively, and whenever the Sherif of the said County shall apply for the same, detach under the Command of a discreet officer, so many men well armed and equipped as Circumstances may in the Opinion of the said Sherif require; which Detachment or Detachments are forthwith to march and to aid and assist the said Sherif and the Magistrates in suppressing according to Law any Riots and unlawful and tumultuous Proceedings, and in apprehending all person concerned therein, or who shall do and offer any violence to the Sherif or his Deputies, or to any of the magistrates in the Execution of their official Duties— The said Detachments while on such Service will be allowed full Pay and Rations.3 And I do hereby direct the Sherif of the said County whenever any such offenders shall be apprehended to inform me of it immediately, that a Commission of Oyer and Terminer may thereupon be issued, and the said offenders be without Delay prosecuted, and if convicted, be brought to exemplary Punishment—. Given under my Hand and the privy Seal of the State at Albany the first Day of March 1798 and in the 23d. year of the Independence of the United States— By His Excellency’s Command David S. Jones Private Secretary