Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-06-05

Halt Breed Disturhances.-Spsoko Of Civil War.
On our late visit Of = few hours to Fort Madi-
son, on Thursday evening. We were sorry to learn
that on Monday last, about one hundred and fifty
men in broad daylight, without disguise, left
their horses below Devil Creek, and, crossing the
Creek, they marched in regular order to the house
of person who had rented the premises from
Mr. Bullard, but who had subsequently bought
decree title, and had refused either to pay rent to
Mr. b. or leave the farm. Mr. B. had purchased
and held possession of the property for number
of years. He was willing to relinqnish his claim,
if the individual who held the decree title would
repay him for his improvements and the amount
of purchase money. This kind Of compromise
was refused, and on Monday last, this company
who sympathise with the Settlers against the
holders of Decree titles, proceeded to the house,
and after removing to safe place every article
Of furniture about the premises, even to the well
rope, they set fire to the house and reoiced at the
conaagration. What is very singular, there were
men present, who had lived in Lee county for fiji
teen wears and who counted the mob, and they
declare that they could not recognize in the crowd
a man whom they had ever seen before.
This is only the beginning of trouble on the
Half Breed Tract. On Thursday smoke was
seen from Madison, coming from the direction
Of another doomed house. The titles to property
on that tract are far from being secure. There
are men who have become desperate among the
settlers, and we fear that blood may be shed UNI
less some compromise is effected. We have been
after
tempts have been made to settle these difficulties.
We are sorry to be unable to see the end yet
The decree should have been kept open until ev-
cry reasonable claim had been satisfied As it is
we have no doubt that some bona fde owners
have been shut out, and some spurious claims adj
mitted. The fact that nearly all the principal
lawyers who have been employed by the Settlers,
and who at first plead their cause earnestly, have
since forsaken their clients and are now arrayed
against them on the side Of the Decree party, has
by no means assuaged the animosity Of the Set
tiers. They cannot be convinced that the wealth
of the one party has not had much to do in infu-
encins this change to the detriment Of the other.
We only speak the sentiments of many respecta-
BILE citizens of Lee county, without in any man.
ner volunteering any opinion oil our own IN this
matter. Our fear is that there is trouble ahead
in reference to these titles, which all the inhu-
ence Of Keokuk and all the money of Decree
men, were they ever so willing to spend it, can
not avert Compromise and concession-a COM
plete cessation of hostilites-on the part of both
parties the only means left to settle this ques-
ton. This will cost something, but not 80 much
as to provoke continuance Of the present alarm
ing state Of things. Such a course may not pro-
duce universal quiet, but if properly managed, it
may leave those who refuse to compromise, in
such hopeless minority, as to remove all danger
from them out of the way. The interest Of prop
erty-holders in Keokuk and on the Tract, seems
to demand peaceable compromise, and it ap-
pears to us that the party most interested can
well afford to purchase, if they cannot conquer,
a peace, where so much is at stake.