The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-06-08
The Canal Meeting.

AC OAAA1A N1cetAn&s
Last Wednesday evening a very large
meeting of the citizens of Evansville was
held at Apollo Hall, to take into consideration
the recent outrages OF the mob in Clay coun-
ty, in breaking the reservoir and canal,
burning the aqueduct, &c. Apollo Hall was
crowded, and but one feeling seemed to
pervade the mass, that of strong Indignation
against the course of those men, who taking
the law into their own hands, and to remedy
mere imaginary evils, have for time by
their lawless acts rendered almost useless
that portion of the Wabash and Erie Canal
below Terre Haute, and thus struck heavy
blow at the best interests of this and other
communities, and thrown out of employ ment
a large body of worthy men. What wonder
that We particularly feel indignant, when
body of not two hundred men, thus sacrifice
thousands of dollars of business, and at
very important time of trade and commerce
too, throw hundreds of better men than them
selves out of employment, and destroy the
usefulness of a great public work, the full
benefits of which we were but just beginning
to realize Still less grows the wonder
when it is recollected how long and grievous
delay we experienced in getting this canal
into practical operation.
But warmly as every man at the meeting
seemed to feel, the whole proceedings were
marked with dignity, but with firm de-
termination to see the law prevail, and the
outrageous proceedings of the Clay county
mob stopped at any sacrifice, and the Grim
inals brought to punishment. Messrs. Row
ley, (Canal Collector( Ingle and Carpenter,
made strong speeches, the latter gentlemen
dwelling particularly upon the effect abroad
on the honor and credit of the State, if these
riotous proceedings were not at once and
promptly quelled. We should much have
liked to give an abstract of these proceedings
but our space is limited. 1t is enough tc
say, that they made those present feel thi;
is not merely a subject in which this com
munity, and communities along the Canal
have warm interest, but tho arhoLe Slate ii
directly implicated so far as the preservation
of its honor and credit is concerned.
We regret with others, the course of MFR
Coffin, of Parke county. He made speech
against the resolutions offered, and from thu
very apparent motive alene, of injurlng TIT
trustees of the Canal in public opinion here
This community has already spoken its FREE
aud can did OPTIONS on those in authority, 81
far as this canal is concerned, when our PEG
pie felt aggrieved by their dilatory action il
former times. But our citizens have no dis
position now to listen to the repetition O
either individual or general grievances, so ia
as the trustees are concerned. There wa
no such ailusion made in the resolutions eth
er to the bond-holders or trustees, in lauda
ton of them, as to justify Mr.. Collins e.
ce-d!ngly coarse charge yf fdLsehood on th
part of certain statement of the resoIl
tons. And at all events, the considerable
of their action, good or bad, had nothing
do with the object of the meeting. We d.
sire TO treat stranger with courtesy, esp
cially gentleman who has done good ar
laborious service in our State Legislator
yet we beg leave TO say, that his remarks
this meeting, though we'll spoken, had muc
better have been omitted, both for the cred
of the speake. and the harmony of feelr
which pervaded the meeting. They we
out of place, ill-timed, and the suggestion
Of motives and prejudices with which II
meeting had nothing to do. No better ey
dence of this need be given, than the ia
that the resolutions were passed without
single dissenting VOTE
Our community how iInpatiently await Il
action of Gov. Wright. We are pledged
lend him any aid he may demand, to carry O
strong and prompt action on his part as tt
executive officer of the State, in this affai
He has but got to make his desires know
We trust there will be no delay on his pal
We assure him there will be none on Il
part of our citizens when the proper tin
comes.
MAN MIssING.-A man named Reuben
Harper, engaged in the shoe business