Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-10-03
POtOsi Vigilance C0aRa saaitsee--
Their Object and Trans actions
"a Case in POinf-E2e marks.

AEACIA O0GSSA AhAh
"A Case In POint-E2e marks.
Our readers are aware that a large mum
Der ofthe citizens of Potosi have a~ssociat
ed themselves into a company or commit
tee, the object being to rid that vicinity 0
wrong doors, by legal means if posi-
bic, but if impossible, then by such powe.
of offence and defence asGod furnishes anc
which we shall call physical force. They
have been organised several weeks and ii
that time have aided in arresting a large
number of alleged criminals many of whom
are now inljaif awaiting trial. It is claimed
that, but for the vigilance organization, few
perhaps no arrests would have been made
and the alleged criminals in jail would yet
be running at large-stealing, robbing,
burning property-single handed,in bands,
DC. The Potosi Vagaants have aimed to
do only a legal business, as aiding TO de-
tect, arrest and bring to trial such known
criminals as infest that vicinity and the
county at large. But there are cases where
all the testimony and circumstances against
a villain cannot or will not be brought be-
fore court, yet the person and the crime
ere as clearly known and seen as sun light;
in such cases the Vigi2ants assume to ad
minister mild puuishment-less regarding
law and more regarding the protection of
life and property. As a case in point,
sometime last spring a landlord discharged
bis tenant as he had a right to do; the
tenant maliciously set fire to the landlords
house and burned it; tenant also a few
days ago fired the hay and grain stacks of
his teDant-successor; tenant was suspected
Of firing the house-in fact the circum-
stantial testimony was clear, but he was a
poor mama Dutehman and pity saved him
from legal prosecution. The burning of
stacks was still more clear and ANNOYING;
tenants boots had peculiar features and
made tracks, such as no other mans boots
could make. His boots were tracked over
ploughed ground in rear of stacks; the
tracks were made about the time of fire.
The Viga2ants took tenant to the Missisip-
pi put him aboard a skif, rowed him to
Iowa and forebade his return under a Sc
we're penalty. Tenant had friends Who
urged his return; being a cat belle, relig-
Gus persecution was urged as a cause of his
b~anishment, and it is rumered the priest
ordered his return last Sunday and urged
men to go and assist him in returning
FigilantS protested, threatening annihi-
latlon. Parties armed, one or two hund.
red strong on each side. Reason prevailed
and both sides d~isbanded. Work was re-
sumed shortly after by the friends of ten
ant, and warlike movements We're set on
foot against the people of Pleasant Valley,
but order was soon restored. Thus ends
accounts to Tuesday last, and we hope
a final close of accounts has been made
We pass no opinion upon the Punishment
0 ftenant while We dare not approve we
are not prepared to condemn the action
OF Tigaaats-their motives being doubt
less good, their actions of doubtful proprie-
ty.
Without ~presuming to %critieise upon the
object or action of the Potosi Tigi1ants, we
remark that they are composed of as good
men generally as the country affords
men who understand their business, duties
and rights-men whose GOODNESS, purposes
and calculations entille them to respect
Their transactions do not prove them to
be dlsioyai to law; on the contrary, their
chief ain is to enforce the law and their
secondary purpose is to protect themselves
and nelghbors against a lawless set of
scamps in that vicinity who have for YEAR,
swayed things for the worst. They can
hardly help lettering affairs, while il Is
impossible to make them worse. A law.
less and diseased condition of the moral
body requires a desperate remedy, just as
in,,he physical body. The question was
how and by whom shall hat remedy be
applied. After due consultation, leaders
were selected among the bess men.of po.
tosi, and their remedy is operating for the
better we hope:
similar associations are formed in othe,
parts OF Grant County, ready to act a;
necessity may reqeire; they are aiding
atneers IN their duties and watching sus