Pennsylvania, ss:
John F. Hartranft.
| Place of great seal of State. | In the name and by the authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. John F. Hartranft, Governor of the said Commonwealth. | |
A PROCLAMATION.
To the people of the State of Pennsylvania:
Whereas, There exists a condition of turbulence and disorder within the State, extending to many interests and threatening all communities, under the impulse of which there has grown up a spirit of lawlessness requiring that all law-observing citizens shall organize themselves into armed bodies for the purpose of self protection and preserving the peace.
Therefore, I, John F. Hartranft, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, do hereby recommend that all citizens shall organize themselves into associations, with such arms as they can procure, for the purpose of maintaining order and suppressing violence; and all good citizens are warned against appearing in company with any mob or riotous assembly, and thus giving encouragement to violators of the law.
Given under my hand, and the great seal of the State, at Harrisburg, this twenty-fifth day of July, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, and of the Commonwealth, the one hundred and second.
By the Governor:
M. S. Quay,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
The witness: That was issued that night. It got into the morning papers, I think of the 25th, in which I called upon the people to organize, and aid the civil authorities.