The Bear Flag Republic
Ide's Proclamation of 1846
William B. Ide's Proclamation of 1846 "to establish and perpetuate a liberal, a just and honorable Government "
"PROCLAMATION, "TO ALL PERSONS, INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA AND COUNTRY AROUND REQUESTING THEM TO REMAIN AT PEACE; TO PERSUE THEIR RIGHTFUL OCCUPATIONS,-- WITHOUT FEAR OF MOLESTATION.
"The Commander-in-chief at Sonoma gives his inviolable pledge to all persons in California, not found bearing arms, or instigating others to take up arms against him, that they shall not be disturbed in their persons, property, religion, or social relations to each other, by men under his command.
"He hereby most solemnly declares the object of his movement to be,--first, to defend our women and children, and his brave companions in arms, who were first invited to this country by a promise of lands on which to settle themselves and families; who were promised a Republican government; who, when having arrived in California, were denied even the privilege of buying or renting lands of their friends; who, instead of being allowed a participation in, or of being protected by a Republican government, were oppressed by a military despotism; who were even threatened by proclamation of one of the principal officers of the aforesaid oppressive government, with extermination, if they would not depart out of the country, leaving all their property-- their arms and their beasts of burden; and who were thus to be despoiled of the means of defence or of flight--and were to have been driven through deserts inhabited by hostile savages to certain death.
"To overthrow a government, which has robbed and destroyed the Missions, and appropriated the properties thereof to the individual aggrandizement of its favorites; which has violated good faith, by its treachery in the bestowment of public lands; which has shamefully oppressed and ruined the laboring and producing inhabitants of California, by their enormous exactions of tariff on goods imported into the country: --this is the purpose of the brave men who are associated under his command.
"He also declares his object, in the second place, to be, --and he hereby invites all good and patriotic citizens in California to assist him--to establish and perpetuate a liberal, a just and honorable Government, which shall secure to all, civil, religious and personal liberty; which shall insure the security of life and property; which shall detect and punish crime and injustice; which shall encourage industry, virtue and literature; and which shall foster agriculture, manufactures and mechanism, by guaranteeing freedom to commerce.
"He further proclaims that he relies upon the justice of his cause--upon the favor of Heaven--upon the wisdom and good sense of the people of California, and upon the bravery of those who are bound and associated with him by the principle of self-preservation, by their love of Liberty and by their hatred of Tyranny--for his hope of success.
"And he further premises that a Government, to be prosperous and ameleiorating in its tendency, must originate among its people: its officers should be its servants, and its glory its COMMON REWARD!"
"(Signed) WILLIAM B. IDE,
Commander.
"Head-Quarters at Sonoma,
June 15th, A.D. 1846."
Reprinted from A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM B. IDE Chapter 12,
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1880, by
SIMEON IDE,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
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