The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-01-21
NOTES BY REPORTER

Upon assuming his duties, the Chairman, G..
II. Wnlwor'h. Esq, observed:
understand the object Of this meeting to be
| simply TO elicit an expression Of opinion con-
corning the effect Of the law relating to trespass
upon The public lands. 1t is not designed 10
bring contempt upon the law, or any officer or
the law. certainly would not oficiate if
supposed that any disregard of the law or of
the Court now in session was intended.
Resolutions (as given above) were Introduc.
cd at this stage, and read by l.. II. Langwor.hy,
ESQ, who desired the opinions of gentlemen
on the subject.
U. S. Marshal (sheiledI.-1 wish to correct
an erroneous impression that has gone abroad
| respecting Tic prosecutions for trespass. !, By
permission of the meeting, will state their
ground and origin. There has been letter
written to Washington this matter The
first indctable offence within my knowledge
came from Boone county a committee was
appointed, and at puslic meeting, to visit me,
and request that l dispcrse the cutters For
information, ] wrote TO the Secretary at Wash.
ing:on, who advised the course which has heen
pursued. These prosecutions originated with
the people, not with the Government officers
Crowds rushed forwards, and asked to be sum-
moncd as witness. Ny duty is an unpleasant
one. spent twenty days in visiting the peo-
pie, and reading my instructions, as received
from Washington. No one complained OF
them at that time Nj duty is to carry out the
law. As said year ago, in public meet
ing, shall, do my duty, or cease to be an Off
GER. see nothing in this meeting to resist
the law. The Marshal had previously placed
the stationary of the Government at the dis
posa of the meeting. The law is oppycs ssiye,
as now enforced. / sympathize with the set
tiers ! know about pioneer life. cniggra-
ed to Indiana in l0G, and improved a claim, Then
went TO Illinois, ard thence to Iowa. | myself,
have h,en trcspasscr.
l. H. LsagHorthy Esq 1t is an assumption
Of The Washington officers 20 con..rue as they
have, the law on this subject The Solicitor
has transccndtd d his duty. Therefore. we ask
his removal. We wish t, be relieved from the
imputaton of trcspasscrs and felons The
law, as intended, is well enough, but the con-
s.ruction placed upon il is INV arraniable.
Mr.. Wairorta. Il differ from the gentleman,
(Mr. L.) do not believe that the law is well
enough in itself. consider it oppressive 1t
is not in accordance with the policy of the Gov
crnment in reference - the West. differ
also from the gentleman in another particular.
| do not consider that the Sclcitcr has passed
beyond his duty. The law should, indeed, be
modified amended, but object to- the pass
may meet the case.
B. H. Samuel! Esq--I endorse most heartily
The sentiments Of the last speaker should
be glad to see this law repealed as it now ope-
rates. SILL this meeting is ili-timed. The
remarks Of the gentlemen (Mr. L. inprop-
er, because IN presence Of witnesses ar Jury
men, and during the session Of the Court.
Timothy Daris, Esq Il say nothing to pre-
| iudice any officer Of the Govcrmc NJ, but am
opposed to the general features OF this law.
object to the law that it was passed before the
requirement Of the Indian tlct {, this State, and
is not adapted t. i's condition that the country
has been settled end gr ,wn up in violation OF
the provisions Of this lrw and, in truth, in the
agricultural counties :here are not men chougl
who have not violated lis provisions, to max a
Jury to try the guilty. cii"ct, further, to this
] law, that by its tcrm1 it is to be enforced
at the discretion Of tho Secretary of the Navy;
and that it is against the spirit of our institu-
tons tin. highly penal acts should be placed in
the discretion of any orc, 10 be applied as favor
or prejudice may dictate.