Whereas information has been transmitted to the President of the United
States by the governor of the Territory of Arkansas that certain persons
pretending to act under the authority of the Mexican Government, and
without any lawful right or power derived from that of the United
States, have attempted to and do survey, for sale and settlement, a
portion of the public lands in said Territory, and particularly in the
counties of Lafayette, Sevier, and Miller, and have presumed to and do
administer to the citizens residing in said counties the oath of
allegiance to the said Mexican Government; and
Whereas such acts and practices are contrary to the law of the land and
the provisions of the act of Congress approved the 3d day of March, A.D.
1807, and are offenses against the peace and public tranquillity of the
said Territory and the inhabitants thereof:
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Jackson, President of the
United States, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me in and
by the said act of Congress, do issue this my proclamation, commanding
and strictly enjoining all persons who have unlawfully entered upon,
taken possession of, or made any settlement on the public lands in the
said counties of Lafayette, Sevier, or Miller, or who may be in the
unlawful occupation or possession of the same, or any part thereof,
forthwith to depart and remove therefrom; and I do hereby command and
require the marshal of the said Territory of Arkansas, or other officer
or officers acting as such marshal, from and after the 15th day of April
next to remove or cause to be removed all persons who may then
unlawfully be upon, in possession of, or who may unlawfully occupy any
of the public lands in the said counties of Lafayette, Sevier, or
Miller, or who may be surveying or attempting to survey the same without
any authority therefor from the Government of the United States; and to
execute and carry into effect this proclamation I do hereby authorize
the employment of such military force as may be necessary pursuant to
the act of Congress aforesaid, and warn all offenders in the premises
that they will be prosecuted and punished in such other way and manner
as may be consistent with the provisions and requisitions of the law in
such case made and provided.
Done at the city of Washington, this 10th day of February, A.D. 1831,
and of the Independence of the United States of America the fifty-fifth.
ANDREW JACKSON.
By the President.