Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-06
TIE CONSPIRACY UNFOLDING.

! From the ST. Louis Republican.
The evidence of a Whispered Radical con-
spiracy to control the State Of Missouri BY
| armed force accumulates from day TO day.
All the denials Of the Democrat and Gov.
! FLETCHER must 60 for naught. They have
been proved guilty Of prevancatlon and
falsehood. The criminal dupiicity and hy-
pocrisy Of the Governor We exposed two or
three days since, exhibiting him the char
acter of chief cOnspirator ia the plot to
maintain the Radical ascendency by arms,
and actively engaged in its development,
| while pretending TO the public that he had
abandoned his designs and was no longer
countenancing or aiding in the organization
OF armed forces having no sanctioned of
law. He cannot be ignorant that in every
county of the State there is a ramihca-
ton Of an organization political in charac-
acter, Radical in its creed, illegal and un-
constitutional in design, hostile TO the liber-
ties Of the people, secret in its deliberations,
I and relying upon armed force for success.
We published nearly two weeks ago, the
general constitution and regulations of the
organization known as the Advance Guard
OF America" exhibiting the fact that in the
State the Radicals were forming themselves
into secret associations for political purposes.
enough indicated that the organization par
took Of military character, force being in
fact the instrumentality relied upon TO give
efficiency 70 its schemes.
The Democrat "poOhed" at our warnings
in reference to this Advance Guard, char
aeterizing the organization, in substance, as
a harmless afair-a mere voluntary associa-
/ ton for consultation and unitedaction within
legitimate bounds. Since then, from several
distinct and widely separated sources, we
have received copies Of the same General
Constitution" Of the order, preceded, how
ever, BY more specific constitution and by
laws, which more clearly disclOses the pur-
poses Of the invisible body seeking to rule
the State, fixing upon it a military character,
and pledging il exclusively 10 the nainte-
nance Of the Radical Constitution.
The eighth section reads as follows;
"SEC. s. The sentinel in the anti-room
will report the name Of the party seeking
admission to the Guard, and, on his being
vouched for by some member present, the
Adiutant shall order him 70 be admitted to
the ante-room, and examine him as to his
qualifications by asking him the following
questions: Do you acknowledge the COnsti-
tuition Of the State of Missouri as the su-
preme law, and are you willing TO the ut
most Of your power 10 maintain and enforce
it? Are you willing to move at the order
Of your commander to support the Constitu-
ton and laws Of this State, Uith arms If ne
ccssary9''
We will not consume space or time in
commenting at any length on this or any
other provision of the constitution Of such a
body. The positive and absolute illegality
Of it is apparent upon its face. Itproclaims
a purpose 10 do an unlawful act-each mem
Der being pledged to submission to an I'M
| lawful authority, and to obedience to the
unlawful orders Of the commander Of a Sc
cret and unlawful band of conspirators who
are plotting to maintain by arms the Radi-
cal Constitution and laws Of the State, for
the ultimate purpose Of perpetuating the
Radical faction in its ill-gotten power.
The menace TO the constitutional rights
and Liberties Of the people Of Missouri. Its
ultimate purpose is the control of the polls
by armed men, bound together by obligations
| pledged in secret, known TO each other by
secret signs and passwords, and directed by
commander whom they are solemnly
pledged to obey. The Governor ofthe State
cannot be ignorant of the existence of this
organization. He undoubtedly countenances
il, counsels it, corresponds with its leaders,
| is apprised fully of Its progress, numbers,
extent and reliability, and is the source Of
the supply Of the "arms" by which its con-
stituti0n is TO be maintained and enforced.
Conservatives have no alternative, inview
Of the existence Of this order, but to be pre-
pared to defend their rights and liberties
against any practical demonstration of its
plans. When armed conspirators, without
legal sanction, assume to be the Interpreters,
maintainers and enforcers of the law, it is
high time for law-abiding men to respond to
such an assumption in way to defend con-
stitutional rights and maintain their liber-
ties under the law. Such an organization
has no higher or better authority to act than
a gang of guerrillas or company of buc-
cancers. They are doubly condemned in
their organization and their designs. Let
Conservatives be fully prepared, without de-
lay, to meet this order, or any portion Of II,
whenever and wherever it may present it.
ea1f