The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-20
= MONsTROUs OUTRAGE.

~
On Wednesday last the radical governor
of Missouri, Tom Fletcher, raised an e1ci'e'
mspt. in st, Louis, which well nigh cuimin'
.ted in riot and revolution, and he only saved
himself from the indignation of the people by
leaving the city. The facts are as follows;
The constitutional convention of Missouri,
in session last winter. passed an ordinance
declaring large number Of ofices In the
state vacant, and among them the offices OF
Judges of the supreme and circuit courts,
and suthorizing the governor 70 I'LL the vac
anciss. These officers had been elected by
the people, and their terms would not expire
for q year or two, or longer, This seemed
an indecent, an unnecessary step tor, Win
out doubt, popular election would better
reflect tho peoples choice, than the appoint
msnt by any single Official.
The judges of the supreme court declined
to obey this extraordinary usurpation OF
power and proceedings were being instituted
to try the validity of the ordinance. At lo
o'clock on Wednesday, General D. c. Cole
man. of the Enrolled Missouri State Militia,
appeared in the supreme court during the
session of the court, Judges Bay and Dryden
being on the bench, and served notice on
them, from the governor, to vacate sheir
seats. Neither Judge Bay nor Judge Dryden
saw fit to yield obedience to this summary"
and revolutionary threat, and SO informed
General Coleman, adding that Governor
Fletcher had no warrant or authority for
inte.rupting them in the discharge of their
official duties. sssa
Udon this refusal, General Coleman with
drew, and in the course of half hour or
more, returned with police force of ten OF
twelve men, and forcibly elected the judges
of the supreme court and took possession Of
the books and papers, arresting the supreme
Judges on the frivolous charge of disturbing
the peace.
Directly after this summary ejectmsnt OF
the highest judicial officers of the state,
Msssrs. David Wagner and Walter l.. Love-
lace, tom Fletoher's new judges) who had
been stationed in an adjacent room, entered
the supreme court room and seated them
selves upon the jadges' bench. They at
ssmpted to transact no business, and after q
short time adjourned their court until o.
clock P. NJ. During this time Gen. Coleman
and his posse comitatus were in and in the
vicinity of the supreme court room to see
that these asurping Judges should receive no
harm ct the hands of an outraged and indig-
nant people. This lswlsss and high handed
proceeding produced intense excitement
throughout the city. Nothing but the fear
full perils-through which the state has been
passing for four years, as the consequence OF
the lawlessness of other men, also high in
authority, four years ago. with the added
counssls of prudent and wise men, prevented
an outbreak to punish this arbitrary lawlsss-
ness. which would necessarily have involved
bloodshed ta--
Gen. Coleman and the state militia drag
ged the supreme Judges from their seats and
took them before the Recorders Court, on q
charge of disturbing the peace, when they
procured bail and hearing was set for the
next day. At the time set for the hearing
of the case the gentlemen appeared, but no
one appeared against them and they were
dischsrged,-the governor having accom-
plished his object. viz go. possession of the
books and papers and by the force of bayo-
nets placed his usurping judges in their
seats. a AAa q -@&
What makes the case one of still greater
aggravation is that the people have just been
voeipo IN tho pau constitution and nroho hi ~
have rejected it. At any rate it would have
been better for the governor to have waited
until the result was known. instead of resort:
ing to such q shameful proceeding as be has
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