, 1858-01-29
Mass Meeting Of the Citizens Of Washing
ton Territory,
HELD AT OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TERRITORY

HELD AT OL1hflAI WAShlNGION IEhduTOhI.
On Friday evening the 22d, inst, about
two hundred citizens Of Olympia and other
parts Of Washington Territory, assembled
en- mdsse, at the public school house in said
town, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the unprecedented proceedings
Of the civil authorities Of Pierce county,
and the Military stationed at Fort Stella
COON; in relation to the culprit "LEscHI,"
who was to have been hanged in the afore-
said county on the 22d inst, between the
hours of 10 O'Clock, A. NJ, and 2 o'clock,
Pm.
The meeting was organized by the cleo
ton Of Hon. LEWIS VAN YLEET, Chairman,
and ]. 7. TURNER, Secretary.
On motion Of j. W. WILEY, Capt.
JAS. NJ. Hunt was called upon to state the
object of the meeting. In response to the
call Capt. Hunt arose, and in brief and
pertinent manner, stated that the object Of
the meeting was to investigate the cause Of
the non-fnliment Of the sentence Of the
Court in the case Of the murderer "Lsschi,"
who was under sentence of death by the
highest tribunal of Washington Territory;
but through tho high-handed outrage per-
pCtrated by the civil authorities of Pierce
county-the connivance of the Military
officers at Fort SteilacOom, and particular
ly the disgrnceful conduct of one james
Bachelor, U. S. Commssioner-he the
culprit "Leschi," had escaped the ends of
Justice.
Capt. Hunt moved that the meeting re-
quest the attendance of Hon c. II MASON,
adopted; and upon request the Chair up
pointed Col b. f. Shaw, G. II. Armstrong
and b. f. Harmed, Esqrs., as a committee
to wait upon him and make known the said
request.
On motion Of Major Maxon, committee
Of FIVE were appointed to draft resolutions
expressive Of the sentiments Of the meeting
and report the same on next Tuesday eve
ming, 26th inst. Whereupon the following
gentlemen were appointed said committee:
Hon. II. ]. G. MAxoN, Hon. CRuMLINE LA
DU, Hou. J. w. WILEY, b. p. ANDERSON,
and B. F. HARMED, Esqrs
Hon. G. II. Mason now appeared and
addressed the meeting as follows: That
upon his arrival at Steilacoom, and before
reaching the garrison, 10 which place be
Immediately repaired, he was met by a
messenger who informed him that the Sher-
iff Of Pierce county was in theceustody of
the commanding officer at Fort Stsilacoom; /;
whercupon he used all despatch in reaching
the Quarters Of Col CASEY, when upon
finding that officer the following converse
tion took place: "Col understand that
the Sheriff Of Pierce county is under arrest
and that by your order ?" To which be re-
pld "he is not, sir" May l ask you sir,
if it is true that you refused to furnish a
guard to be present at the hanging Of
"Leschl?" Answer-''it is not true; on
the contrary, had ordered guard Of
twenty men to hold themselves in readiness
to assist the Sheriff, il demanded, and that
he stood ready to surrender the prisoner
"Leschi," upon demand of the proper Off
Ger, with AlegOl warrant from the Court"
"Can you give any information of his (the
Sherif7s) whereabouts 2" Ans. 81 can
not" Are you cogDizant Of the fact that
the Sheriff is under arrest, by any authori-
ty whatever" Ans: 81 have been inform
ed that he was arrested by civil process" :"
The above together with brief outline
Of the whole transaction, was the substance
Of Mr.. Mason's communication.
Upon bis taken his seat, Maj. Maxon
moved that Gov. MCMULIIN be called upon
to address the assemblage
The Governor responded to the call, and
in brief and eloquent speech, to the fol-
lowing effect:
FELLOW CITIzESs:-The majesty Of the
highest courts Of onr territory have this
day been trodden under foot, by the under
ground Vaccinations Of the civil authori-
ties Of Pierce county, land if what / have
learned be true, also by the officers Of the
United States Army at Fort Steilaeoom
The acts of these officers, both civil and
military, fellow-citizens, call for your un-
mittigated and unqualified condemnation
Active steps should be by you taken 10
ferret out and Sift clearly the causes that
have led 10 this singular and extraordinary
usurpation of authority, in preventing the
ends of justice being meted out to one, who
has been sentenced to death by the Supreme
tribunal Of our Territory. would suggest
gentlemen, that the Legislative Assembly,
now in session, be requested to take such
steps and adopt such measures as the ext
gencies of the case would seem to demand
at their hands, in bringing this unprece-
dented and unparalleled procedure to the
notice of the proper department at Wash
ington City.
Felow-citizens: 1t is your duty to SEQ
that the laws of your country and the i'm
mutable doctrines of your sacred Constitu-
ton, are upheld and sustained at every
hazard. In my official capacity as Execu-
tive of your Territory, 1 shall spare no
means that may be able to bring to bear
in preventing this q fair in an unprecedented
and an impartial light to the Secretary of
War. There has evidently been a trick
perpetrated upon the majesty of the law,
worthy only Of the petiifogging brains that
concocted it, to the end that condemned
criminal might go unwhipt of justice, mere
ly to secure to certain unprincipaled per-
that which otbarpien p,io,ht boya