Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1859-08-18
From the Leavenworth Times.
THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE.


the FiglGnce Committee Done. -
/ Within. the last week, 10 cur certain
.ihknnMiedge, some drininais haye been saS.
aeely dealt with by secret organiEation
In one or two instances the penalty Of death
has been inflicted. In others the victims
have been punished till they confessed 10 all
facts Of which they were cognizant.
These confessions are well calculated to
'tartle the general community, and create .
feeling of anxiety and distrust, not only in
regard TO property, but life itself.
1t seems Chat this vast Western region is
infested with organized bands Of horse
thieves and cut-thr oats, who have their
headquarters in remote and obscure por-
tions Of the Territory.
| The operations of these bands are based
upon the information of spies and agents,
who are purposely sent TO every community.
All the booty secured, or the profits de-
rived frol-its disposition, with a percent
age deducted in behalf of the rogues
who secure it, is put into a general fund
and usued 10 advance the ends of viliiany,
on still larger scale.
The absence Of any thorough organized
government, or police system, of telegraphs
or railroads, enables these scoundrels 10
play their game boldly, with but little risk
For long years the citizens of the Terri
tory have been subjected 10 systematic loss
es and despoliations.
1t has become so at length that man is
unsafe in leaving his house for moment.
The thieve, nre ever on the alert, ready TO
seize every opportunity. Once mounted
and ON the prairies, pursuit is almost USE
less, and capture next 10 impossible.
During the last year, hundreds OF horses
have thus been stolen and never heard Of.
A gentleman bitches his horse, pays short
visit, and comes out 10 find his animal gone.
4 farmer steps in:o store 10 make some
purchases, and when he comes out, his horse
has disappeared.
Houses have been broken open, citizens
waylaid, money and goods stolen, farm and
farm-houses plundered, and yet there were
neither prosecutions nor convictions. The
law seemed entirely inadequate TO answer
the ends of justice.
Goaded by their losses, and such reflect
ions, large numbers of prominent and intel
ligen, citizens have joined an organization
which has grown terrible in power end
bloody in lis judgments.
There is no need TO par;icularize what
has occurred. Though cosnlzan', in the
main, of what has been done, we have no
desire TO public what few, unacquainted
would justify, and what perhaps would
CRATE upon the public mind.
We wish To appear neither as the prose-
rutor nor the defender OF those who have
AIKEN the law into their own hands, and
the award OF crime with such
igor and severity
We well know how lack Of confidence
n the courts Of justice, aud continued Sc
les Of successful lhefts and crimes. are cal |
:n!a!ed 10 rouse the worst passions of bor-
Ter community. We know, too. there are
many palliating circumstances 10 be urged
n favor OF the people administering pun
shment according 10 their own code.
But the experiment is fraught with many
angers 10 the individual and the Stafe.-
And while Lynch Lnwn may .-rm in~ti
able in certain cases, it cannot be sustain
d or enforced, in general way, without
hgendering greater evils than those it seek.
D eradicate.
We trust, then, tina. the action of The
Vigilance Committee men" may soon be
rought TO close. They have struck ter
Or into the very hearts of the outlaws, S
lieves and bandits. They have also gam l
sufficient knowledge concerning the op- t
rations and organizations Of the villianous I
nngs, and those associated with them, 10 f
feet their destruction through the law and
,cngnized authorities. 4
The terror they have induced will put :,
op TO further outroges on persons and prop II
ty, and we can enjoy reign of peace and
der. =,
We feel confident that these suggestions \
ill commend themselves TO the judgment :,
ID good sense of all orders and clasyes Of :
en-. The vigilance organization has done ;,
J work. That work has been dark and
cody. The necessity for its prolongation
Over-if it did exist-and tho time has r,
w como when the functions OF establish al
law should be recognized, and the hand S
popular vengeance stayed. s
1.-THE Louisiana Journal, published at y
ouisiana City, Missouri, has hoisted the NJ
me of Edward Bates, of Missouri. Tor Of
resident, subject TO The decision Of u er
on Convention - o. 'r Bss 8 Z ~