Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-08-30
A PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF
NEW YORK

of the series Of violations of law and defiance Of the
constituted authorities that have signalized the course
Of the ANTI Renters in Delaware county, proclams
and declares that county to be in state OF nsnr-
rection.
The important and interesting character Of this
proclamation has induced us 10 make the subjoned
summary of il. Mt Ff
Governor WRIGHT says that the evidence present
ed to him by the Sheriff, District Attorney, Judges
of the County Courts, and other officers of the
peace and citizens of the county of Delaware, es-
ablishes satisfactorily the following among other
facts:
That the execution Of civil and criminal process began to
be resisted by bodies Of men, in the county of Delaware
early March last.
combinations resist the execution Of such process
by orce under the denomination OF anten or equal rights
associations, commenced being formed that county,
than year ago.
Tha associations have engraed upon their organ
zaon force Of Disguised masked and armed men, subject
to the orders and directions Of the officers OF the associations
and by and through which force under the protection Of its
DISCUSSES and Masks the resistance the execution OF legal
process is to be made, and is made.
"Tha the members Of this armed force are denominated
Indians Natives organized in bands called tribes, and
have their leaders and commanders called Chiefs having
names in imitation of Indian chiefs
Tha the officers Of the associations and all the members
of the armed foce to observe and support the
stuon Of the association, and keep secret all things
muncated known to them which require to be kept
cet and, in the Of the disguised and armed men, the
further clause added that they will stand by each other as
long life shall last.
That the avowed and declared object of the associations
prevent by force the collections Of rent and that the
press duty of the armed force resist the execution of pro-
issued for that object but that the of resistance by
force against the execution of legal process and the discharge
Of their duties by the officers of the law have been entirely
confined to proceedings for the collection of rents but have
been extended, in instances TO other legal process
THAT these associations, and organizations OF disguised
ad tho n
Delaware, but exist to a great if not equal extent in
several adjoining countless and that the organizations armed
and unarmed wherever they exist have and common
object make cause and and
operation.
That in all the prominent and fragrant Of resistance
to the process and officers of the law Delaware and other
countless the members Of these armed bands of disguised and
masked have been the prominent and that in the
county of Delaware, before the passage of the law above
feed to, this had been carried to such extent
require the utmost exeron Of the power Of the county to
peace and ORDER and criminal process only
THAT the consequence Of this state of things has leen
substantial suspension the county Of Delaware of all pro-
for the collection Of rents from the close of the serious
disturbances there in March last until very recent and
signal instance to be hereafter particularly noticed the Sheriff
having undertaken within that time execute and carry out
such process in but instance and in that voluntary set
Element between the parties relieved him before the point
reached at which resistance has been usually met and he hav
ing other instances declined to receive and
tempt TO execute such process
That time during the last month"; pursuant to pro-
ceedngs by way of distress for against by the
OF Moses Earl of the town of Andes the county of Della
the Sheriff had appointed day for the sale, upon the
premises OF the property dstraned and upon the day OF
sale attended the place. and large collection of per-
sons whose appearance and conduct satisfied him that their
object prevent his sale of whom would make
bid upon amy part of the property offered for SALE and from
whom he learned that disguised and armed force of
sixty secreed in the woods adjoining the field where
he trying to sell the property whereupon he adjourned
the sale to the h of the present month"; at the same place
'That the 7th day Of the present month, the Sheriff
attended at the place Of SALE accompanied by his under Sheriff.
Osman N Steele Erastus S. Edgerton, constable of the
county, and Peter p Wright the agent Of the landlord who
attended to bid upon the property These found upon
the premises force Of Disguised masked and armed men,
about 220 strong, by which they surrounded
movements made indicating preparation to enter upon
the sale of the property and by portion Of whom, obed
to the order of acting their chief the horses upon
which Steele and Edgerton mounted shot and kill
ed and Steele MORALLY wounded and survived but six
hours three balls taking effect in his person, and from twelve
twenty guns being fired The execution Of civil process
thus resisted the enforcement of the law prevented and
the order and peace of society deeply and eparaby disturb
ed and broken in this instance
Tha il has been subsequently ascerained that in adJ
ton to the disguised and armed force of go which
tua surrounded the sheriff and his assistants and shot down
the under sheriff. additional simar force Of forty picked
remen stationed in the bushes by the side Of the road
and TO the place of sale, with directions watch the
posse which it apprehended would follow the sheriff and
to his aid to order il TO halt if should attempt TO
pass and to shoot down the who composed if they
should not obey the order to halt thus making the whole
disguised and armed force assembled upon this occasion
st the execution Of the law and of civil process go
or more than that number.
That considerable portions of this disguised and armed
force drawn from two Of the adjoining counties, and
were not citizens Of the county Of Delaware.
That these organizations to resist the law and the
ton of its process have extended themselves the magsacy
of the county of Delaware and that justices of the peace
Of the towns in that county found enrolled
bers and officers Of the associations if not under the Indian
DISCUSSES bearing TO resist the law by orce-orgetng
the oath of office they have taken and taking themselves and
administering to others oaths conceal violations Of the law
to the ministerial officers of the county, and that conabes
also found members of both Of these combinations
to the officers of the towns, and that supervisors the
bers OF the local legislature Of the county, members Of the
Ani-rent associations swearing support their constitution
and pledge, if not Indians swearing bear arms against
the law.
'That Of the obligations which every person takes up
on HIMSELF becoming member of Ani-rent
ton, to make fixed and regular contributions the funds
the association that stipulated rent of two cents upon the
of all the land held by the members of these associations
levied and paid to the easurc to meet the expenses Of
the organizations that the moneys thus collected paid
under the direction OF committee purchase materials for
dresses masks and ammunition for the Indians and to
pay the expenses of their subsistence and entertainment when
called out well to the expenses of lawsuits and
gations and where there is surplus in the treasury to
pay the Indians for their time spent in the service to which
they devoted.
That one thousand persons have enrolled them
selves and taken the prescribed oath Indians within the
single county Of Delaware, while much larger number have
become members Of the Anrent associations and that the
obligations assumed towards each other certainly by the In
dams not by the members Of the associations Also strongly
imply, If they do expressly enon efforts the part Of
those ut liberty to those under and in the custody
of the law for acts performed Indians members Of an
association, and in urherance Of the objects Of those organ