The Howard union. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-10
Gov. Fletcher in St. Jo5eph-Extraots
from his 6pseob

from his Speech.
Gov. Fletcher addressed the people Of
St, Joseph on Wednesday evening. We
makethe following extracts from his speech,
as given in the Herald:
When Wirtembergers meet around the
festive board, the first toast drank is always
to the Good Old Right. Like them we
only yant now the good old right, the
supreme rule Of the law. l never knew
other eot Of the war than to restore the
poser The lawi everything also that has
been done has been incidental or as means
OF efeeting that great object. / would
dislike 10 think that our brothers died in
fighting for any other purpose. On the
rock at Thermopy!ae are graven the words
-"Traveler, 60 tell the Laoedemonians
that we died here In obedience to their
sacred laws" Upon the monuments which
are to cover the mouldering ashes of the
heroic dead who fell fighting beneath the
starry hag-tlle monuments 10 which their
descendants will delight to wander, upon
| which the stranger from all countries will
seek to gaze-the monuments of the men
whose fame and deeds of valor will live in
story and song as long as language shall
endure among men-as long as liberty shall
find home on the green earth-as long as
patriotism shall warm the heart of one true
man-high on each tapered shaft l would
deeply grave the words: These died that
The Ia1p might lire.
Missourians understand this, and though
the rebellion has swept as simeon over
the fairest portions of cur State, we know
that no reconstruction is necessary for us !;
we only need TO enforce the laws. Return
ed rebel soldiers feel this, and from every
part Of the State have information of their
almost universal lawful conduct and good
behavior, contrasting strangely, but credi.
tably to them, with the conduct of copper
head-stay at-home rebel skunks who taint
the atmosphere of their localities with subtle
treason.
In some parts of the State the Radical
Union men are resolving to drive from their
midst returned rebel soldiers. l would say
to them that except by the law these men
can be convicted of no crime. | would
prefer them as neighbors to the men who
sent them TO the rebel army, and the men
who, claiming to be Union men, deny that
the loyal men haye entitled themselves 10
the control of the State. Convict returned
rebels for all the crimes they have com.
mitted and punish them by law, but do not
resort to mob violence.
know that, while talk to you of the
enforcement of the civil law as the rule Of
action of all men under all circumstances in
this State, you recall the oft repeated
ISLANDERS of the pro-slavery party and the
copperhead press that have been wanting
in respect to the legal tribunals ofthe State,
As it is my duty to enforce the laws, l
shall enforce what I understand 10 be the
law. III am mistaken as TO what the law is,
it will be my misfortune.
1t is natural TO suppose that every
human being in the State would be rejoiced
at this time but am forced 10 the con-
olusion that there are men who chafe and
fret, and, not only in their black treason.
festered hearts, mediate resistance TO law
and new scenes of rebellion and blood, but
are even now busiY engaged in an effort to
: foment and keep alive the troubles of the
State, by deceiving those whom they have
4 once deceived, and by misleading those who
confide in them Among these peshferou
= and evil.minded men whose malgnan
natures seem to thirst for blood and deligh
in human woe, reckon as the worst th,
, traitor ministers who, with closed eyes
elongated face, deep sepulchral tones an,
: uplited hands, :pollute Gods altars will
Il their presence, while treason and murde
a sway their souls and fill their hearts. Will
hypOcritical whining cant these scOundrel
- profess the religion of Jesus Christ-th
religion Of the Prince of Peace, as
pretext for and means Of obtaining access
the confidence of, and influence over th
& minds OF the people. In the bosom of III
N IN honest family the poison of their words
le more than the dripping of the Upas.
- charge it here tonight that these ministers
st agents and ENJOYS Of the Evil One, who's
clerical habits cannot conceal the wo
beneath, are responsible for more of th
rebellion, the misery. desolatiOn and deaf
of the last four years in Missouri than an
" other Of all the other classes Of the wol
iq ir shippers Of slavery. But for subtle traitc
preachers and lmpulsive and unscrupulou
], rebel women, we would have been spare
!; one-half our trouble IN Missouri.
is is Ihope there will be no misapprehensiO
ye on the part of those late emmissaries
N' TsT nay,s oo1 .Ioyav,, ond no,,, obo-s