The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-02
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Wednesday Morning, January 2, 1867.
PORTLAND.


nc htssOufA disturbances.
The recent disturbances in the western and
northern counties of Missouri have grown
naturally out Of the war, which in that re-
gion divided society and gave rise to these
personal feuds which are among the most dan
gerous and lasting results Of civil war When
in the early part of the war Gen. Pope took
command in Missouri, he found bands of out
laws, protected and encouraged by citizens
quietly living at home, who were driving
Union men, peaceful, industrious. law-abiding
denizens. out of the State. These men usually
escaped to the nearest military post and en-
listed. Their property was "confiscated," or
destroyed, and If they delayed too long their
yes paid the forfeit. Gen. Pope, acting un-
der martial law, obliged all the citizens to
turn out for the common defence and held all
responsible for any injuries done by marau-
ders. This plan, strictly enforced, restored
peace and order for the time
At the close of the war both Confeder.
ate and Unior soldiers returned to their for
mer homes. The recollection of personal in
Juries was still fresh. The aggressors and the
aggrieved were once more in the same neigh
borhood. The aggressors found themselves
once more supported by the sympathy
OF majority, and renewed their per-
secutions. In armed bands and with
comparative impunity they resumed their
cheerful pastime OF plundering and shooting
their neighbors, the Unionists Gov. Fletch-
er thcreupon sent force of State militia in.
to the disorderly counties Arrests were
made and eulprits are now awaiting trial.
The respectable" Conservatives 1.-THE new
name for Coniederates) affected great aston
ishment, and appealed to Gen. Hancock in
behalf OF the buslwhackers whom they Sc
ocretly encourage. United States troops were
sent to the scene of disturbance, but on the
energetic protest of Gov. Fletcher, were with.
drawn, it is said, by the Presidents order.
This is succinct account of the affair. IT
appears that the militia in some instances
acted with needless severity. The St. Louis
Democrat very properly rebukes their hasty
and Incorporate zeal. 1t would be strange
indeed if the miltiamen should be very ten
der in their treatment ofmen who never SPAR
ed them; but the alternative for the counties
is either to be overrun by armed outlaws or
to endure the slight excesses which NAV ba
committed by men under military discipline-
unless indeed the entire community win
charge itsel with the duty of preserving or
der. To the audacious statement that no res.
stralning force is needed, the Lexington LA
Fayette county, Register thus replies:
The disturbances in this county have been
700 frequent and long-continued, and too open
and notorious to be smoothed over by any sys-
tenn OF lying these gentlemen can invent. III
may be amusement 1or them to have a pano of
outlaws overriding all law and terrorizine over
sne people, put they must remember that but
few men feel safe in the power of such men
They may have assurances that thew will not
De lnterfcred with; we have no such assurances:
on the contrary we, in common with many Cit
liens OF this county, know the intentions of
these men, and know them to be hostile to-
: wards us, and II there is any set of men in this
county, who claim to be respectable, who de-
sire to keep us at the mercy OF such gang we
want to know them, SO that we may avoid
them in the future. Amy one who will main-
tam tnat vigorous Efforts to put stop to this
lawlessnes5 should not be made, appears TO ms
to be an enemy to the public peace. This conn
tyls perfectly quiet say these gentlemen and
there Is no necessity whatever for Governor
Fletcher interesting himself in our affairs. Ii
rs srue that tnese gentlemen who are CRYING
sail is peace have taken matters very ouietly'
They doubtless think it peaceable that desn ,ra
does should ride up to the market and deiiber-
ateiy shoot one OF our citizens that thev shouId
shoot at their pleasure into the houses of inof-
1ensiVe negroes ana visit them at n ght in arm
ed squads and rob them OF their week 's wages
and threaten them with death if thew inform
on them. They think it peaceable when an
armed band can at MONDAY rob a bank or a
United States mall-coach, or knock one of our
German cltlzens down n the streets at night
and pick his pockets, or ride like sayages ana
firing their pistols through crowded streets. en-
dangerlng tine hives of all. They may think it
peaceaDle Tor an armed ruffian to shoot twic.
at negro and half-armed citizens We can
not, however, see 1T in that light. If such is
peace, give us war.
This extract sufficiently indicates the state
o. things which has required the intervention
OF the state government. In answer to a Pc
t.tion from the citizens of jackson county. aa-
joining La Fayette, pleiging themselves to
maintain order and asking that no troops
should be sent there, Gov. Fletcher, granting
their petition, takes occasion to say
hope you will permit me to say to Won and
through you to those you represent that hence
forth 1t should be the effort of every good citi
zen TO devote himself to the building up of the
general prosperity of your country, and that
you should regard no man as good citizen
who does not unite with you for the security OF
lie and proverty, and for advancing the oener-
al good, no matter what side he has taken in
the war or in politics since the war. Public
opinion can soonremedy all Che evils existing
Ill your county. Get that public opinion pron,
erly expressed and understood it saw to
all men that every violation of the law shall be
promptly and legally punished; let it frown
down the disturbers of your peace, the men
with pistols belted on them, who swagoer
around your streets and ride over your coin.
try; let pistols be the known and recognized
badge of the bushwhacker or the outlaw: let
every man account for himself Proceed un-
der chapter ~ of the general statutes against
every man found roaming about with his pis-
tolls belted to him and his blanket strapped to
his saddle; make every such man show that he
has an honest calling, and if he have not. hire
him out as vagrant. Do not permit few
dozen vagrants to destroy the peace and pros
perity of your ct unity. Give every man the
protection of the law, but make every man give
1t his support and obedience, in return for its
protection.
1t would greatly promote the formation OF
correct public opinion, if half dozen of
these scouDdrels could he cancht and hupu