New York Daily Tribune

From The St. Louis Democrat of June 13.

Advices reached us yesterday that Gov. Jackson, on his return to Jefferson City, on Tuesday night, caused the destruction of the Gasconade and Osage Railroad bridges. A dispatch to this effect was received at the arsenal yesterday morning, and by the last evening's train on the Pacific Railroad, we learn, positively, that the Gasconade bridge was destroyed by fire yesterday morning. The cutting of the telegraph wires by the same vandal band, leaves us without any reliable advices from points on the railroad, above the Gasconade, and from Jefferson City. There was a rumor at Hermann, well credited at that place, that the Osage bridge had also been burned. It is not doubted in this city, that both structures are entirely destroyed.

We learn that just before starting from the city on Tuesday evening, on the special train, Gov. Jackson gave his solemn word of honor to Mr. Taylor, President of the Pacific Railroad, that he did not intend to harm any of the bridges or do any damage to the road.

Gov. Jackson's list of crimes is now truly appalling. He stands before the country as a coward, a liar, an incendiary, and a traitor. Can he, will he, be permitted to escape the gallows? The scoundrel was gibbering with fear during his stay in our city, though the assurances of protection from Gen. Lyon were most ample. He, no doubt, took the special train with the belief that a detachment of United States troops were to follow immediately in his rear, and arrest him directly on his arrival at Jefferson City. Craven and perfidious himself, he supposed others are governed by the same vices. It is bad enough to be a rebel, but to be a miserable coward to boot, is reaching a depth of degradation until now unexplored. Well may the Missouri Secessionists hang their heads for shame, for their leader in the hour of their need proves himself to the world a feeble and yet ruthless dastard.

His alarm was, no doubt, fully shared by his Major General, Sterling Price; and we are disposed to believe that this distinguished officer was an accomplice in yesterday's barbarism. It is reasonable, at any rate, to conclude, knowing the influence of General Price over Gov. Jackson, that these acts of incendiarism would not have been committed without his sanction.

The St. Louis Republican a quasi Secession paper, says of this affair:

"When the Osage bridge was damaged, early in the last month, under circumstances very similar, by order of the same official, there was a general disposition to overlook the indiscretion. It was done at a moment of great excitement, when members of the Legislature as well as others occupying official stations, were almost beside themselves with frenzy, and to give an order for the destruction of the bridge and to carry it out was the work of a moment. In the present case, without any of the surroundings which seemed to justify that outrage on the public property, Gov. Jackson appears to have lost all judgment, all respect for his position, and to have been heedless of the damage which he was doing. There is no apology for his conduct. He had no right to expect that he would be followed by United States troops for the purpose of executing any writ against him.

If a writ was in existence at all, feeling secure of his innocence of all treasonable intent against the United States government, he ought to have waited the service of civil process, and given bail to answer the charge. But instead of doing this, either with a design to arouse the popular feeling, or to give him time to escape from Jefferson City, he puts into execution a deliberately conceived plan to destroy the property of the State, and orders that it shall be carried out. We do not know what Governor Jackson may have done that he should stand in such awe of the process of the United States courts, and of military men who have been threatening to visit different parts of the State, but we can see, as yet, no justification for this wanton destruction of property."