The true Democrat., 1856-09-09
pub,ic Meeting in Prairie County.

called to the chair, who in brief but forciblt
 manner explained the object of the meeting
 On further motion, Col. P. A. Thomassor
 was requested to act as secretary.
 On further motion,it was resolved that a com.
 mttee of five be appointed by the chairman
 of this meeting to draft suitable resolutions
 expressive of the sense of this meeting, and
 that they report on tomorrow at 12 o'clock
 NJ The following gentlemen were appoint
 ed on said committees: Dr. w. c. Hagen, P
 L. Anthony, Jacob s. Bradshaw, Col. John
 Hardin, and Pleasant A. Thomasson; and on
 further motion E. M. Williams, esq.,, was ad-
 ded to said committee.
 The meeting then adjourned to meet in the
 court house, on tomorrow at 12 M, at which
 time it was requested that Capt. Bradshaw
 and others address the meeting on the subject under consideration at the present time.
 Wednesday,, l2 o'clock M., Aug 27, '56
 The meeting assembled in the court house pursuant to adjournment, and were called to order by the chairman.
 The committee appointed on yesterday to draft resolutions, reported the following pre- amble and resolutions:
 WHEREAS, It has been made known to opr citizens, that the Memphis and Little Rock railroad company, acting under the direction of the commissioner of the general land office at Washington, have now their agents in the field throughout this and adjoining counties on the llne ot said road, examining and reporting the situation of the swamp and overhowed lands that have been confirmed and certified to this State; and in view of the fact now that the lands that have been confirmed and certified to this State, have been so confirmed by the au. thorities at Washington, not on the report of the State authorities of this State, or on the se- Iectlons of her agents, but on a report of the same by the officer of the government of the United States, the surveyor general of Ar kansas, based upon the information furnished by the field notes and records of the public surveys, made by her own sworn agents. And in view of the further fact that the authorities at Washington, after having directed this State to go on through, and by her own agents to select and report her swamp lands, and having run this State to many thousand dollars of ex- penSc m selecting the swamp lands, laid aside those selections and directed her own officer the surveyor general of this State to select the swamp lands by the record evidence in his of fee, which he did and they have long since acted on said report and confirmed and certified tue same to the State, and the State through her agents have gone on with the assurance that the State would receive patents from the general government for said lands, to sell the same to her citizens and innocent purchasers, and acting upon the further belief and assur- ance that the government who were so ready to suspect the State of bad faith, would be the last to commit a breach on good faith herself; as she refused to act on the States selection, but based her action alone upon her own selection; and in view of the further fact important and of allabsorbng interest to our community at large, that the people of this county and throughout this land district rely- mg and depending on, and having all confidence m the good faith of the general government and Ot her agents, have gone on to make large Outlays and investments in these lands; some have even expended their little all to procure their homes and have incurred large outlavs of labor and money in making mprovements; and Tn view of the further fact, that the railroad company are having these lands examined at the dry season of the year, when the very beds of our bayouS are dry and the true character of lands cannot be ascertalned; and in fact in many cases swamp lands have been taken up by our citizens, who have gone on to settle and improve the same by clearing up and drying the lands, and in that manner retaining them since they have been certified to this State and now if the action of the agents who are now claiming these lands Is suffered to prevail, are at least liable to be thrown out of their homes when at the time of taking up their lands they were of that character and description contem- plated by the grant, but have been reclaimed by their own labor. And if the examination of these lands is never to cease the liability of our citizens to loose their lands and their homes even after taking them up and retaining them will never cease. Therefore, be it
 Res0lrei That we do most Solemnly protest against the action of the government in per hitting such re-examnatons, when they will be frought with so much injury and injustice to our citizens, who have, in good faith purchased these lands, and that on the plighted faith of the general government, and we do further, most respectly suggest to the Memphis and Little Rock railroad company the propriety of deslstlnS from the further urging of this mat ter, as we believe their interests will be more promoted by permitting our citizens quietly to enjoy their homes, and rights acquired under the plighted faith of both the general govern meut and of the State government. If they desire to cause the unconfrmed swamp lands examined, we have and interpose no objection, We cOncede them the right and concede the same right to the government, but do most posi- lively deny the right of the government or of the railroad company, to interfere with our ves- ted rights, acquired on the plighted faith of the government.
 ResO{Uei, That we believe the recent action of the department at Washington, in requiring or permitting a re-eXamnation of these lands, has been brought about by the interference of the railroad company, their agents or strikers, and believing so we will neither lend aid nor comfort to the enterprise, either by subscrp- tons of stock, or granting right of way or otherwise, and we recommend a similar course to all our sister counties interested unless they withdraw and abandon further interference in this matter
 Resolyed, That we are the friends of the rail- road, and would otherwise lend all our ener- gies in pressing forward her interests, but we cannot submit to sit down quietly and permit them to take our property, to some of us our oH, without the shadow of right or justice on their part, as we humbly conceive they have no right to demand from the government re- examination of the lands that have been confirmed to this State by the action of the go- yernmert and that on the best of evidence, te recOrd'' of the original surveys.
 Res0lUed, That we hereby call upon and re- quest our Senators and instruct our Representa- tyes in Congress to use and exert their influ ence both in Congress and out of Congress to procure final and lasting settlement and quiet d this matter, and especially to urge an obser- Vance of good faith on the part of the general government, in at least giving to us all the lands that have heretofore been confirmed to the State on the part of her own agents, and not permit the private rights of our citizens to be treSpassed and imposed upon, after having had the assurance from the government that they would receive an unquestionable title to their lands.
 ResolUed That we are fully persuaded that under the railroad grant of land by Congress, not more than one third of the grant per lineal