Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-05-30

T.soSS. RsosiTins Boolss. &c. ke. ~
The Missouri Compact.
There seems to be good reason Of some
complaint on the part Of the Union men Of
Missouri, Of Gen. Harney's wisdom in form
ing treaty or agreement with Gen. Price
Of the State forces. These Union. men in
that State are peculiarly situated, as indeed
that class are in ell the border States. They
need not only the consciousness that they
are engaged in righteous cause, but The
confidence that strong, decisive measures on
the part of Government, TO uphold and pro-
tecs them, alone affords. Il is not enough ioc
the poorle of the NOrah 70 say, eHOnOr to the
loyal citizens of Missouri" or for the gov
srnmsnt to say, "You are on the right side,
my friends. Be firm" but what thsyi want
and have right to demand is for a man Of
authority, and one having the means of en-
forcing his word, to set his foot down firmly
and saw "These men are under tue protection
of the Unitsa States Government. Touch
them at your peril. And if this command
Is not heeded, the cannon and the rife should
repeat the lesson, and disperse the rebellious
forces.
The prompt and meritoriops~ action Of.
Capt (nOw GEN. Lyon, in taking the Sc
cessiOn forces prisoners, is well known. This
and the events Of the two subsequent days,
quenched secession in st. Louis. But at
jefferson City, where the secession Governor
rsigns supreme, the State officers used all
the influence Of their position to infame the
soldiers and the inhabitants against the fed
eral troops ana chs Uaion.) Ateshis State Of
affairs, Gen. Harvey was waited upon BY
Gen. Price, who had become frightehed at
the formers proclamation, and asstened TO
make friends with thspeWers that wers.--
Gen. Price was commander of the Missouri
forces uader7 the infamous militS law. just
passed by the Legislature, and Of which We
have before spoken, one offs progisip1S being
that any person guilty of speaking diTePeet-
f,lly of Go7erhor or the Legislature
should be guilty of treason, and punished
accordingly. This ordinances had been de-
clared BY Gen. Harney only few days be-
fore this interview, as reasonable and un-
constitutional. TWAS not supposed, there
fore, that he would demean himself efl the
Government which he represents, by hold
ing formal consultation with q General
who held his Office by virtue of thatFery act
But to the surprise Of the Union men he. re-
ceived Gen. Price with courtesy, and a!t9r a
consultation, was ps1suaded3 in thelwOrds of
the joint agreement, %that each of them had
no other than a common Object-that Of res
toring peace and good order to the people of
the State, in subordinatiOn to the laws OF the
General and the State Governments"
How this object could be ever attributed to
Gen Price or to those who appointed him
viii ever be wonder to the people Of MIS-
souri,. And then comes this shameful para
graph in the agreement;
HGen. Price, haUiag By eOmmissiOn full dlr-
fhority oUer the militia Of ths StGte Of Missouri,
undertakes, with the sanction Of the Govern
or of the State, already declared, to direct
the whole power of the StateOficers to main
tain order within the State among the peo-
pie thereof; aud Gen. Harney publicly de-
clares that this object being this assured, he can
hare no occasion, as he has no 0ish, 10 maxi
TziEitaT-y uaoUements, t0hieh might Otherwise ere
ate ereite1asatsi and jsdI0a&tS, Uhieb he mos
earnestly desires to 0Void." ........ .gi is
Gen. Harney's seruples to "create excite
ments and jeaiousies' by prompt UniOr
movements, is strong reminder Of Buehan
ans palmy days, when be declined to exhibi
grain Of common sense or common Patri
otism for fear iiof creating jealousies and civi
war"
Now what has been the result2 Genera
Harney carried out his part of the pro
qramme, and made no military movements
notwithstanding Union men in various por
tons of the State were driven from thei
homes and otherwise maltreated, and further
more, he released from the arsenal the rebe
prisoners which Lad been taken a few day
before at Potosi, by brave squad Of Uniol
soldiers. Gen. Price, on the other hand, wa
to disperse the Stat. troops. he returned 4
Jefferson City, butbefore reaching there som
of the secession soldiers, who were dissatis
fed with the agreement Of peace, tore dow
an American flag, and. ran up the COnfeder
ate flag. Gen. Price, on bis arrival, ordere
It down. The fellow who put it up replied
tTH see you in HI first by Cd" and th
Clerk Of the House Of Representatives at th
same moment waved his hat and shou,sd e
JEFF Davis. This is the sort Of men that th
Governor has gathered around him, and wit
whom Geh. HafDey has agreed upon peac,
How long @ill they observe its provisions
and how much cOnsiilsratiou do they deserve
more than if they were already in the Cor
federate army at Richmond2
We have waitd and watched for nor
cheering prospect for the Union men OF Mi
sour, and hesitated from calling in questiO
the acts or motions Of an experienced Office
who is upOn-ths ground and can, Of cOurs'
judge Of many points better than an Out
sider5 but de people Of this county hHv
long ago discarded the idea Of any comprc
mise With traitors who arein arms sgaini
the gOTernmsnt, and when we see the chal
acter Of the Missouri rebels, We cannot br
mistrust the wisdom Of any 'agfssment
with Them of any kind or nature, save BY th
strong arm Of power ,sl sii b t.ass5 -
Since the above was written, the follOVin
letter from Jefferson City has come to han
in the st. Louis Democrat Il shows Ii