Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-23
Situation of st. Louis,

We are living on a powder mine in this
city. Among the civilians every third man
| meet is Secessionist. There is no doubt a
powerful secret organization of traitors here,
well armed who are only awaiting the first
| opportunity to rise and butcher every Union
man they can find. The large military force
in and around the city is the only thing
which prevents them from carrying out their
hcIlish purposes. The Metropolitan Police is
at the head of this secret treason, and as the
force is now organized, it is power to be
dreaded. Without doubt as much danger is
to be apprehended from the police as from
vile crew in Baltimore recently deposed by
Gen Banks.
The Democrat, of this morning, has an ar
ticle which is likely to wake up the military
authorities to the danger in their midst. |
give the article, believing it, in the main, to
be correct:
John A. Browulee is now the head of the
police department of the city Of st. Louis
The peace OF the city is in his hands. 1t is
in his power, at any time. to use the force in
his hands to get up or aid and abet an insur-
recion gotten up 10y others for the destruc-
tion of the property and lives of the loyal
people Of this city 1t is well, therefore, to
consider carefully who is Brownlee, and what
is his relation to the present civil war now
raging in this State If ex.Gov. Jackson,
with his army, shall succeed in approaching
50 near st. Louis as to threaten it's capture,
what part woald John A. Browulee probably
act in The drama? If Jackson should actual
ly invest our city, surround it with his horde
of invaders from Arkansas and Tennessee.
and our people should be compelled to rely
in any degree on the police of this city. how
would John A. B:owulee act in such a crsis2
These are important questions to the loyal
people of this city. Is John a. Brownlee
traitor here in the midst Of our peaceful pop
ulation or is be not?
Brownlee seems to have been one Of those
who planned and coutrived this civil war in
Missouri He preceded Sackson in the van
of this treason Brownlee set on foot the ex-
petition to Baton Rouge for arms. Brown
lee got up Camp Jackson, suggested the seiz-
ure of the Arsenal of Liberty also the attack
on the St Louis Arsenal also the calling of
that Legislature All this he did, as appears
from the document published by ue yester-
day, and from other sources of evidence. Has
he repented? Who can say it? Is he pa
tliot now? Probably. WHO appointed linn
to his present Office? Governor jackson
Jackson is leading an army of traitors to the
sack of St Louis. Who knows that Brown
lee is not commanding "A traitor army inside
the city? Citizens of st Louis, where do
you stand ? In whose hands are your pro-
perty and lives? How do you know that
Governor jackson does not at this moment
control the police force of st. Louis Are
You willing thus to stand in jeopardy What
is the use TO fight The enemy on the bor-
der, when YOU hug to your bosom the en-
emy in the heart of st. Louis? This must not
be- Traitors must not be allowed to hold us
thus in their power. Brownlec is no friend
of the loyal people of St Louis lie stands
uncovered before us-strpped Of the last ves-
tge OF a pretense to the respect of the friends
of good government and loyalty among us.
We cali the attention Of Governor Gamble,
who has ust been elected bya loyal conven-
ton, to the evidences of treason which are
clustering around the high officers named
We ask him to look at the fact now for the
first time presented to the public. and consid-
er them in connection with the conduct of
our Police Commissioners touching the Camp
Jackson arms-seat for by them, brought
here by them, received by them, the freight
paid by them, and transported by them to
Camp jackson. The official lives OF these
men rest upon a breath from the lips Of Gov.
Gamble"
The document referred to, as duplicating
Brownlee, was letter written by Gen.
Frost the traitor, to Gov. Jackson giving
the GOV vernor advice as TO how Missouri could
be taken out of the Union, how to capture
the st. Louis Arsenal, and how to arm the
State 30 as to resist the Federal Government
The letter wac endorsed by Brownlce.
The Union men of this city are secretly or
ganizng, aud in few weeks will be able to
cope with the Secessionists, in case the militia
ry should tie withdrawn from here. should
not be surprised if we should have two or
three more bloody fights in this city before
treason is entirely crushed out Unions S.
LouiS cor