The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-01
MISSOURI.

MIS- s 8 Uki.
Distsrbsa Usndisisi 81 che SKATE -I.Dsrtans
CorrespoDdenco.
TO Hu ExCurxznOY mn pRUDxn o. IN uNr1D
ErATRs:-
The undersigned q United States Assessor for the
Sixth Collection District In the State Of Missouri would
respectfully submit 70 your Excellency the following
statement in regard to the unfortunate and disturbed
condition OF things in the county Of lafayette being
the county which reside and keep my ONCE for said
district:--
ETs-Nartial law has been proclaimed by the Cover
nor in said county. he assigning the reason for said
proclamation that che become satisfied that ordinary
process cannot be executed in said county and that's
sucent posse will respond 10 the call Of the officer
for that purpose" II is alleged that civil process
has been resisted that the citizens have been called
upon by tho proper oicer and refused 70 respond,
which alone could, under the constitution OF the
United States authorize me placing Of the county MY
militia OF the State. The facts are that no
process has ever been resisted in the county;
respond the call OF the civil officers that the great
Of the citizens OF the county ready and willing
Il any and all tines IL needed or called upon TO aid
the civ ocsrs in The enforcement OF the laws against
all offenders; that the civil officers Of the county stand
ready at all times 70 execute tho laws and say they need
military aid In doing and IL Is not at their request
by their desire that martial law has been proclaimed
or troops CHARTERED The people Of tho county and
such interposton by the Governor.
Second Since the quartering OF militia from foreign
lessness and violence interrupted the execution Of
the civil laws and also the revenue laws OF the United
States by driving out the Sheriff Of the county and his
deputies aud the United States Assessor for said district
and the United States Collector for said county Of Lafay
cite, By violence and threaten their lives II they re-
turn and have taken the United States Assistant Assessor
prisoner completely obstructng the execution Of
tho United States revenue laws In said Sixth collection
YhirdLThey have and are committing such acts OF
violence upon the citizens Of said county
many OF them fee from their homes and business and
TO cause complete suspension OF business. In said
county Tor further information of your Excelency
we enurolfate the following among tbs many acts Of
boodsbcd and violence perperated by said militia, who
are in the man composed desperate men, OF whom
known during the late war as Confederate bush
county. was attacked and beaten BY them and driven
from his Office, and his life threatened Alexander
MITCHELL prominent Union citizen and banker was
stopped upon the by Of the militia revolver
presented his head. and he compelled to remain quiet
while ne robbed; next morning, IN company with
Major Kelly, Of Major General Hancock stan, he called
upon Major montgomery the commander OF the militia.
and pointing out the who robbed him, some OF the
property was found IN his possession The NE OF MT
from the county. On the same night that Mr. Mitchell was
robbed by them gentleman from Michigan named Mans
field also beaten and robbed by he and four other
cizens robbed and beaten upon the streets Three OF
them 70 the residence Of the County Treasurer
named John Hall, drew their rcvolvers upon and
threatened to shoot his wife, squad them attacked
Major John E. Ryand, who was during the war In the
military service Of the United States and were about TO
and maltreat him, when Major Montgomery coming
up compelled them to desIst, telling them 10 have no
controversies with citizens the Streets but II any
citizen nsited them TO shoot him down There
citizen named Richardson shot the strcsts and
killed since they have been in the city. The murderer
has been robbed by them quiet and peaceable citizen
named Mason was shot by them and dangerously
wHom we name James NJ Poole the sheriff Of he
county who Was in the United States service during the
oniire war; his deputy, Jacob 4. Price. prominent
during the In the United ates service; tho County
Attorney for the county 4 Beverly vaughan, the
the war; In the United States military service and
many others were taken BY the militia and held as
prisoners. and some Of them badly beaten and other
wise naltreated and when discharged told by the
commander that any Of his men were hurt or injured,
that no matter who did il they should be held RESPONSE
bc The commander Of tho militia threatened TO set
tire TO the City Hotel, and ordered turpenne for the
purpose but was prevailed upon 70 desist II fred,
would burned the most valuable business square in
the CITY, Squads searching for the United States
Assessor for the district, threatening his he all the
escaped by the forty over the river which, few min.
utes afterwards was also guarded by them The lives,
liberty and property Of the citizens are at the mercy Of
these desperate and awoss men, sent into the county
is said, by order OF the Governor, some Two weeks
before the issuing Of bis proclamation which herewith
Numbers OF the most desperate men in the state under
tho call OF the Governor for troops statement OF the
fact. signed by leading citizens Of the county,
was laid before the Governor, and ho was soil.
cited them OF protect the citizens, assured
OF the ability of the civil officers TO enforce the laws
the NIL Withdrawn and Of the willingness of the
citizens TO aid them Ia doing 50. The only response 70
that application was, forwarded by the Governor
the commander OF tho militia At Lexington, who, with
q sq.ad o. his men, mobbed Colonel Casper GuTber,
isaung Union citizen, because he had aided 10 having
application statement made 70 the Governor The
United States revenue laws cannot be executed IN the
district while this iamenisbc condition OF things exists
The United States Assistant Assessor for Ray county IL
also made prisoner by the militia
In view Of the interruption the execution of the
unea States laws said district and OF the fact that the
civil officers OF the United States cannot remain In said
district without protect against the violence OF those
iawless who all now IN possession OF the county
we respectfully solicit the nterposon Of your Excel
ency protect Ia tho discharge OF duties As
Of sad DISTRICT and that your Exceency will take
such steps will lead full and complete Invest ga
ton OF the ourages perpetraed upon loyal and peace
full people under this unfounded and false prsext that
the laws cannot be executed 10 said county
United States Assessor, sixth District, Missouri.
wc the undersigned citizens OF Lexington and county
Of Lafayette state that W. know tho foregoing recital Of
OF the ouraees pepciraed upon the people Of In
ayctte county set forth By tae United states Asses
sor {. Vaughan, to be true, and they BIO estab
sbed by tho testimony Of the great OF
the people Of county including the civil officers and
earnestly and pectfuly unite In the prayer OF
petition projection under the laws Of tho United
lives and property, and that invcsiiga
ton may be instituted al the earliest period practical
ALEXANDER MITCHELL,
lH0S b. WALLACE,
L. : Marshal Western District Of Missouri
To TIE CITIZENS on lkfAfLTTa AND JACKSON CoVStitos
Having become satisfied that the ordinary process Of
Law cauuet be executed your counties and that sur
ccnt posse will not respond 70 the cali Ok an ocer FOR
lnaf purpose have, BY authority OF the act Of the
General Assembly OF the lain Of March, 1885, entitled
IAN act 70 provide for the enforcement OF the civil
law &c called into active service twenty -four CON-
psnics cavalry companies Of infantry for duty
in the counties Of Lafayette and JaQson. which coun-
tics will be required 10 by taxation the amount
necessary 10 pay said force Whenever am saii5fed
the people OF the counties named win enforce the
law against all men who have violated II, they can
and ought To do and shall by thor support OF civil
thorty give the legal protection TO the law abiding
citizens and each ovdoer has proper fear Of the pun.
shment OF the law the troops ordered there will DO
Withdrawn.
In testimony whereof have hcreunto set my hand,
and caused 10 be affixed tho great seal OF the State Of
Missouri Done at the city Of Jefferson, this 18th day
Of December the year OF our Lord 1s6e and OF tho
Independence OF the United States the ninety nrs and
Nv the Governor THOS. c. FLETCHER