The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-06-25
Meeting of the Evansville Guards.


who has Just returned from Clay County after
protecting the workmen whilst repairing the
damage recently done to the works of the
Wabash and Erie Canal.
Judge Baker in the chair.
Cap. ]. Smith Gavitt being called upon
highly recommended the Volunteers exem-
plary conduct while under his command;
every one did his duty, and to Lieut..
Mosely, particularly, he was indebted for
very efficient aid. Gen. J. w. Dodd deserved
great credit for so ably filling a most difficult
office, as the position he occupied between
Governor Wright, the CanalTfustees and the
people, was one which called for great cir
cumspection to be exercised so as to do JUS
tice to all parties without still further inAam-
ing the passions, already sufic iently excited
of the latter. The inhabitants themselves of
the county surrounding the Reservoir, gave
every credit to the Evansville Guards for
their mild and gentlemanly conduct through
out their stay.
Lieut. Mosely made few appropriate re-
marks nd was followed by
Hiram Reid, who considered that Terre
Haute and the upper cities did not feel much
interest in supporting the lower section of
the canal which was of so much interest to
Evansville. He considered that Gen. Dodd
had well and ably filled the difficult post and
had displayed much discretion throughout
particularly in delaying the arrests of sus
pected parties till he was fully prepared with
his witnesses.
/ Charles DENLY described the condition OF
the Reservoir, which is certainly nuisance
in its present state. The Trustees had acted
in bad faith in not clearing out the timber
before letting in the water, and nearly every
, one in Clay County justifies more or less the
cutting of the bank of the Reservoir, while
on the other hand they greatly condemn the
outrages and wanton destruction of dwellings
and the aqueduct, and also the lynching men
and turning out IN the woods at night de-
fenceless women with threats of violence
if they ever dared expose them. The Res
ervoir ought to be cleared out without delay
at any cost; it is better that the State or the
Canal Company should lose any sum how
ever large than that one individual, however
humble his circumstances may be, should
suffer wrong. The secret band known as
the "Regulators" should be broken up; these
men have carried on their lawless deeds with
) IMMUNITY long enough. They poison cattle
and COUNT other such cowardly crimes oil
darkness. They have even had the holiness
% to enter Terre Haute in the day time ant
. outside of the town and lynch him, beside:
{ committing other lawless acts. Much credit
= is due to Capt. Gavitt for the planning the
- arrests and also Gen. Dodd for his able con
duct throughout. At first some of the com
pany felt inclined to censure the General tc
, what they supposed was for want OF firmness
of purpose, and dilatoriness, but they now ap
!, preciate the able and prompt manner he
ordered the arrests when he bad all pre-
- pared.
w. X. McGrew in very excited speecl
blamed Terre Haute for not having sent
d force to the assistance of the Guards, eVeI
81 when requested TO do so by private citizen
u and he went on to describe his sleeping ar
20 engagements, &c. He offered some ironica
aJ resolutions which he afterwards tore up.
Several of the company then replied t
n Mr.. McGrew, stating that as no requisitio
as or demand for men was made upon the cit
it of Terre Haute by the legal authorities sh
up could not have been expected to have organ
It'll lied a military force, and further that tn
he citizens of Terre Haute were in constar
at communication with the Guards and say thI
ne they did not at any one time hear that the
,se were placed in any extraordinary peril, c
that company would have immediatel
ew gone to their aid even without being legal
tut called out.
The following resolutions were then prs
ne posed and adopted
,a- Resolved, That the Evansville volunteer
H. who were called into military service b
Gov. Wright, to protect the public works.
IA" Clay county, and to bring to punishment tn
bis persons who had committed various outrage
ay- against the law and against individuals, re
az turn thanks to the citizens of Evansville fc
- the liberaty with which they were furnishe
Ae. the means of equipment, and for the gene
md al expression OF kindness which has WELDON
er, ed them back.