Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-02-05
From the L0gGasPOrt PharOs, jan %.
PUBLIC MEETING.
I'm Relation to the Peru Land Office


I'm Relation to the Peru Land Office
Frauds.
A rumor having spread in Cass, Wabash, Miami, and
the adjoining Counties of the unparalleled frauds attempt
ed to be praetiscd the Land Office Peru-a large
number of the canal land holders and Others the
Der Of FIVE or SIX hundred, met in Peru Monday jan
uay &c. without any concert, but each with determine
ton protect his rights. At the ringing of the bell
of the Presbyterian church. the house filed and many
could not get entrance whereupon, III. Mendenhal
called to the chair, and E. p Loveland appointed
secretary.
Judge Wright of Logansport was called upon state
the object Of the meeting, the and previ
sons Of the laws passed the session. the subject
Of canal lands and detail the frauds attempted to be
perpetrated by Morris and his coleagues-whch he did
in plain and forcble amid the plauds and cheer
of the multitude. After speech from Col Reyburn, the
following resolutions offered and adopted unanim
ously
ResOlred. That we look upon the conduct of A. w.
Norris E. F. Lucas and their colleagues becoming p
and robbers and that they requested notify the
public Of the time Of their next visit to the Upper Wa
/ bash.
I7esolred, That Jonathan R. Smith. be and hereby is
required deposte in the hands Of the committee here
by appointed the bundle deposited in his hands by A. w.
Morris, and that said committee pay the Cyrus
Taber Of Logansport. If 1t contains money-and if 1t
shall be decided to be the money of the State that said
Taber pay to the proper authorities and if it is the
property of A. w. Morris and bis colleagues that he pay
it to Mr. Morris in wild lands the end of execution
at their full appraised value.
1 Il. r.
and his clerks that the tract SALE and instament
books in the land Office he placed in the hands of Col
VIM Reyburn until Stearns Fisher enter upon the duties
of his Office
Resolved, That Jas. r. Miller, John A Graham, Lew
is D. Atkinson NJ. w. SeeIy, and COL w. Reybun, be
committee receive the bundle of Morris and depo
site the with Cyrus Taber and receive the books
and deposite the same with Col Reyburn.
ResOred That an immediate compliance with the FORE
going resolutions is expected from Jonathan R. Smith,
RssOred That the citizens Of Peru be and hereby
constituted guard prevent the entrance of E. F. Luz
to the town of Peru, previous to the expiration Of
his term Office
Resolued That we believe in the concurrent testimony
of Senators and Representatives that the law here
produced Was fraud practsed the Legislature by
W. Morris and E. F. Lucas and their colleagues and is
no law, and that it conflicts with law passed the same
day by the Legislaure-which last law well under
stood by he people and their representatives.
ResOIred, That the Governor be requested to withhold
his signature from the patents the certificates issued to
John Fitzgerald, who the tool of MoTris,-and that
Judge Wright, Col. Reyburn and Dr. Henton be COM
mee to draw address to the Governor and people
of Indiana, the conduct Of the persons implicated in
this fraud and that these resolutions with said address
be published in the papers at LogansPort Fort Wayne
and Indianapolis.
Whereupon, the meeting adjourned until two o'clock
to receive the reports of the committees.
At O'Clock the meeting again organized
Whereupon, the committee appointed receive Morriss
budget and the books reported that Mr. Smith had sent
the key to the meeting by Mr. Ress for the purpose
procuring the bOoks-but that Mr. Moris's money and
Mr. Smith both from home; whereupon the Looks
alluded to placed in the hands Of COL Reybum, and
the following resolution offered and adopted without
dissenting voice.
Bhereas Il was generally believed in the town of Pc
ru that Smith would be- in his settlement, defauer tC
the State-(he having the ability, hope he may
square the account)-And Whereas, this meeting, by
placing the money the hands Of TaDer wished to III
in wild lands for the benefit of the heirs of said Nor
rs and prevent him doing any harm with it: And
: EOu fhore his har eruIi
ever any Of it,
ResOEUed, That the committee be discharged; where
upon Judge Wright read, and the meeting unanimously
adopted the following ,nnprss
The undersigned a committee appointed at a public
meeting of the citizens of the Upper Wabash held Pc
the Goth day of January, s46 to address the Gov
add the people of Indiana on the unparalleled fraud
attempted be committed at The land Office in Peru,
the ed and oath days Of January inst in discharge
duty make the following statement of facts connected
therewh
By an act of the Legislature at its last session. approx
ed JAM 90 1885, the time for the payment of the bsanc
due canal lands extended five years from lS47, tn
penalty reduced TO 10 per cent and when the interest
year unpaid, the lands delinquent 10 b
advertised and sold lands sold for This Law
had passed the Legislature after much discussion and
well understood by the people living the canal lands
e This bill usually called Taber's bill.
On the last day Of the session. A. w. Morris, Of Indi
annapolis accosed Col Rey burn and told him he wishes
where year occurs TO be amended So to extend
two years before forfeiture should Col r. refus
ed have anything do wnh it, and Morris with tear
in his eyes besought him go for the 10 reliev
the poor the canal lands and have their land for
eed After being told that relief given in the othe
Il BILL Morris departed but the confusion of the adj ouru
u ment, Morris's bill offered by member, an
e passed By both houses each branch sopposng
tending relief when in fact by revivng certain other pre-
Visions the bill made it the imperative duty Of the Com
missioner sell land when the interest il due
years. the first applicant Ia half hour, Morn
e. by Col Reyburn with the bill enrolled and read
10 for the Governors signature On the 10th ns the da
of its PASSAGE it approved by the Govenor-he sol
IL posing with all Others that. appeared its face ii
bill barely extend the time for the payment of II
= tercst. On the day. before the law made o,
~ and certified o-for the certificate is dated the 2ls-l
- f. Lucas the following letter to the Clerk in Il
=" land Office al Peru:
ca INDIANAPOLIS, IA. Jan. 20, 1876.
>" Dear Sr-The Legislature has passed law, Of whic
the enclosed is a certified copy, which, if called yc
TO will have enforce There has been much legislatic
during past those lands but the last
be repeal all the former to denquents, and leaves
he lands that have not been promptly paid for, subject
h. privsie entry