Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS

At meeting of the citizens of the town of Pocahontas, held at the court house on the evening of the l2th of January, A. D. 1858. to give public expression of the views of the citizens of said town, relative to the killing of Franklin Leach by William A. Brown, the fol- lowing proceedings were had:
 On motion, Lewis Hanauer was unanimously called to the chair, and Mr. Robert A. Oakes appointed secretary; and, on motion, the Hon. w. R. Cain explained the object of the meet ing. Alter which, on motion of the Hon. w. E. Cain, committee of the following gentle men were appointed to draft resolutions, ex- presslve of the sense of the meeting, to-wt: Hon. w. R. Cain, Jno. c. Marvin, esq, Drs. John A. Thompson and M. II. Kibler, MT. James, and w. Proudft, who, through their chairman, Hon. w. R. Cain, reported the fol- lowing preamble and resolutions:
 WHEREAS, William A. Brown, a citizen of the city of Memphis, Tennessee, who has been guest ln our town for a few days, has shown by his gentlemanly department, his ready com pllance when called upon by an officer duly a,l- thorlzed, to assist ill the execution of public law and by his fearless action while rendering such assistance, that he is gentleman Lot only m appearance. but in feeling and action, and as such IS ready to perform such duties as are due the public from such good citizen. And uhere- ds, he law ot self preservation is and of right ought to be, the first law of nature win, h 1t is our prerogatlve as well as duty to use when needtul. And Whereas, The said William A. Drown was on the morning of the present inst, duly summoned by an officer, fully authorized. to assist as one of posse, to arrest one Frank In Leach, by virtue of warrant issued against and charging said Leach with burglary. And Whereas, The sad Leach resisted the efforts being lawfully made to arrest him. and while So resisting, made all attempt to take the life of our esteemed guest William A. Brown. there by forcing Mr. Brown, in order to preserve lis own life, to take that of said Leach. Therefore be It resolved by the citizens of said town of Pocahontas, en masse assembled--
 lst That we deeply regret that it had be- come and was necessary for Mr. Brown. in his own necessary self-ieence, to take the life of hlS fellow man, more especially while amongst us, but at the same time, by a sense of duty not only to MT. Brown but ourselves and State. we are prompted to say that in doing what he has done, he was prompted by no less than life it. sell and Tn our estimation he has violated no law, even morally, but on the contrary, has ex. ercISed the right and performed the duty of a good citizen.
 2d. That we believe it to be the duty of all good citizens fearlcSsly to assist in apprehend- lnS vlolators of public law; and in the part per formed In this lamentable tragedy by Mir. Brown, we are unable to discover any act or deed out of the pale of duty, which should and as we believe, did prompt him as a good cltlzen, but at the same time we lament the stern necessity not only demanding but con- mandlng hlm,to perform the part he so resolute- Iy yet tearessly has performed.
 Sd. That Mir. Browns department while with us has been such as to entitle him to our es- teem, and that if any thing in these proceedings Is susceptible of being construed into censure. no ceusure Is intended but on the contrary we commend and approve his noble course but with hlm lament the stern necessity that forced hlm to perform part in a scene that we sincere ly hope may never be demanded of him in life.
 4sh. That copy of these proceedings be sent to the Arkansas True Democrat, Memphis Appea aud Brownsville Weekly Journal for publication, and that the secretary furnish a CO., py of these resolutions to MT. Brown.
 w. R. CAIN, Chm cf Com.
 Which, on being read by the secretary, on motion ol Hon. w. R. Cain, were unanimous ly adopted.
 LOUIS HANAUER, Chm of Meeting. ATTEST:
 R. A. CAKES, Sec'y.