Year: 1861

The Louisville Courier, of the I'd instant


has long and able article on the progress of
despotism in Missouri, in which il thus deals


with Fremont and his proclamation


Major General Fremont, known to the coun-


try principally by his insubordination and


pecula ations in California during the Mexican


war; and ms the representative of the idea of


the abolition of those 90 twin relics of ba rbar-
ism, slavery and polygamy,N in the Presiden-


tial canvass of SO, has issued a proclamation


in which he assumes all the administrative
powers of the State. establishes martial law
throughout its limits, supersedes the cOnstitu-


ton and civil law, confiscates property at his
discretion, consigns all persons who may dis
regard his despotic commands to the tender
mercies of q drum-hea ourt-martial-the
members of which act as prosecutors, Judges


and Jurors-and subjects his victims TO " sud
den and severe y punishments at his dlsCre
uon-a proclamation in which he assumes alb


solute power over the property and lives of


the people of the entire State, and proclaims


his intention to be controlled in the exercise
of that power only by his sovereign will and


pleasure.


This extraordinary act is done without a
shadow of warrant in the Constitution or the
laws. and without pretence of any.


1t is an abominable, atrocious, and infamous
usurpation, by military subordinate of the


President, OF powers which are to-day neither
exercised nor claimed by the most despotic
ruler IN Europe-a usurpation which nothing
could justify or excuse-a usurpation which
outlaws the contemplate tyrant who thus


would reduce to q slavery worse and more ab-
Ject than that which prevails on Southern


plantations the white fTeemen of a sovereign
State--a usurpation which, authorized, sane


TONED, and approved as it is by the President


must open the eyes of the people of the tire
country and the whole world to the designs of
the Administration at atWashington TO crush out


the last vestlge of free government here and
establish in its stead an absolutism more des-
potic and rs irres esponsible as that of Turkey.
Thank God. the tyranny of that royal
Governor Will be short lived The people of


the State We're already rushing by hundreds
and thousands to the defence of their homes
and liberties, and this act was scarcely ne
cessary to drive the last Missourians to arms
Under Jackson, and Price, and McCulloch


and Hardee, and Pillow, a mighty host is
gathering and advancing: and soon, like q
thunderbolt, they will fall on the Hessian
hordes of the tyrant and sweep them from the
earth they pollute.


To-day this petty creature of a bastard
Nero, in his guarded tent, may dream of roy
atty, and imagine himself a king and the
master OF million of his equals, but to NOR
row VIII come and then, a fugitive from the
justice that must overtake him, trembling g
begSar for mercy from those he would have
mercilesSly betrayed, he will call in vain on
just and righteous retribution from which he
cannot escape


The people of Missouri will triumph As
sure as God lveth they will drive the inva-
ders from their soil and visit Judgment on the
heads of their OppreSsorS. Freemen cannot
be conquered. 1t Will not be long until free
government is restored in our sister State
Soon the glad shouts of a delivered people
will go up from the Mississippi to the confines
OF Kansas, and every friend Of humanity will
reloIce that the reign of tyranny has ceased
In that mighty Commonwealth.