The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-08-03
Tresnassers upon Rock Island.

We observe ~ The Rock Island papers,
that Mai. Sibley, OF the U. ), Army, Col
Wilton, u. S. Marshal, and Capt. Nye,
Deputy Marshal haze been in that city for
some days charged with orders from Wash
ng.on City, to remove all trespassets from
tl!e island. Notices have been served upon
trespassers Ct Moline 10 remove Their build-
ings and other property by the goth OF DC.
,ober next while the railroad company aad
all connected with it are ordered to dcsisi
Immediately from further tfespasses, and
eyaeua,e the Island with their property
within fifteen days.
As respects the railroad company, II
strikes us that the officers charged With the
execution OF the foregoing orders have NJ
authority whatoverin the premises. Rock
/ Island is within the jurisdiction OF the State
| Of LIMOS, and the railroad company i pros
ecuting its work upon that Island by virtue
OF a charter granted by the State. II has
the same right 70 cross the Island under
its charter rs it had 10 cross whatever unen-
tered quarter sections OF government land
lit NAV hays encountered in building its road
from this city u the Mississippi. The gen
eral government owns The Island, 1, is true
that is to say. il has thus tar been withheld
from sale but we are not conyersant with
any power, constitutional or otherwise,
whioh overr;des State jurisdiction there
that is not equally applicable TO govern
msnt lands in any Other part OF the State
State.
The order, we understand. limits the &C
lion Of the United States Officers to the re-
moyal OF trespassefs. Is the railroad com.
pany trespasser! Upon that question the
whole matter hinges. Ii atrespasser. then
the State OF Illinois has transcribed its con-
stilutional rights, for the Company is there
by virtue oil her authority. Bot II she has
thus transcribed her powsr IN authorizing
u Company to construct road the Island
she has equally done SO in every other road
she has chartered, for the routes OF ali
oil them have passed over more or less gov
eminent lands at the time they were chat
tered
This order comes from the Secretary 81
War. Jefferson DAVIS. 1t has undoubtedly
been procured through the agency Of ST
Louis aud other S4uthrH cities which she
may have enlisted ID the subject, in cons.
queuce OF her hos tility 70 Chicago. and heI
great desire 10 presentthe bridging of the
1 4nt-sEs-] llf O. MIN irlAil. 4 us w q
prehend the secret Of the whole matter
She has already Instituted suit IN the Z
s Court for me purpose Of e0nttsting tn
right Of the Company to build the bridge
Knowing how little she his ID haae IRON
the issue OF this suit, white vet il Is pend
ing, the aid Of the q S authorities i ID
voked to retafd the operation oithe ConFa
ny.
We have not spoken With ~ elijaeT 9
the Company upon the saAI@c., and c2hss
quentIy We have no know.esga as 10 %ha
course they q sign pursuing n the ~ niises
But We venture ~ s8t the notice sgs hss
Leen served u9un them Viii h1sa5y sc-g.
them FROM their work. And We are laIz.
sure, fhat the U 5liears who harc Tia
matter IN charg1 "..l hafd'g agd ssa tbs
execution OF ;hs of~ef, IS egaiusl the cons
pauy. In the absence y anything asea 4 $
n.te en the subject from tao waf ID cqs-t
iuent. There is ~ such urg Ges In u.
matter, whasevc- may be the brG5e. - =
Louis as to warrant these officers ia tay
I ing the mseIges personally liable 70 the cam
pauy IN heavy damages tor an Illegal eject
maat St Louis vii! have 10 Try again =
Chicago Dsm Press