The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-08-04
Vigilance Committee for the Detec-
ton of Horse Thieves.


is to he deprecated as a serious public evil.
But as the Law is now administered, there
are cases. like that described rs existing in
Blue Grass, where there seems To be no 9TH
er recourse for the people TO protect them
selves from depredations of the secret bands
who seem TO be organized upon an adroitly
devised system OF operations and measures,
to escape detection and defeat the law and
its agents. In several counties in the State,
they have for years delied the law and the
officers, till IMMUNITY made them too bold
and audaeiouS, and the law or popular in
dignation overlook them, and brought
some of them TO condgn punishment. We
are sorry to learn that any of these gangs
have invaded this county but we hope that
the formation of this extra body of detect
ives will be sufficient warning to the
rogues to take their departure, and that the
new Vigilance Committee will never have
occasion to act. These Lynch Courts are
themselves most dangerous institutions, and
may by abuse prove worse evils than horse
stealing, and render property as insecure
under Lynch Law as it is in den of thieves
and robbers. The law authorizing these
underlined, and permits too wide a discretion
in their actions. t..s
BLUE GRASS, Aug l, 1859.
Mr.. EDITOR ;-Sometimes popular excite
ments are like "Ocean into tempest tossed,
to watt feather or to drown fly" But
there is now an excitement in Blue Grass
which is not of that character; the cause is
real, and the consequences may prove seri-
Gus TO those who have evoked it, or who
may hereafter provoke it.
Within the last few months, repeated
robberies have been perpetrated in Scott
and Center Townships, without the recovery
of the property or arrest of the thieves
This state OF things has led the people to
believe that their neighborhood, hitherto
undsturbed by the depredations of thieves,
can no longer boast its exemption but that
there is no security to the peace aud proper
ty of its people without the adoption Of
| some extraordinary measures in order To
maintain it. ''- ~ -'
These considerations have induced large
number of the citizens OF Blue Grass to as
semble in Convention, to discuss the course
| proper for them to adopt to cure the evils
alluded to. After deliberate consideration
of the matter, it was agreed that the law as
it is, with the present organization of its
police force, cannot be relied on as pro-
lection to the property of the people from
the enterprises of these spry adopts in the
art of horse stealing, who seem to infest this
part of the country. They, therefore think
that they are justified in organizing an adj
ditional police force and for this purpose
they have associated themselves under the
name of the ''Vanderburg Vigilance Com
mittee, and have constitution and by
laws in harmony with the statutes of IN
diana.
| The following preamble and resolutions,
which were adopted by the convention, SET
forth the necessity aud explain the object
of the Association:
| WHEREAS, Repeated acts Of larceny have
recently been committed in our communi-
ty, in the stealing of horses, without the
detection and punishment Of the offend
erS, or the return of the stolen property
and whereas, sufficient reasons exist to
suspect the too-near proximity of an or
ganizcd band of these depredators upon
the peace and property of our citizens
| Therefore be it
| ResoLred By the citizens of Scott and
Center Townships, in convention assembled
that it is necessary and proper, for the fu-
ture protection ofstheir property and the
adequate punishment OF all depredators
thereon, to organize ourselves into an Asso.
citation for the suppression of horse-stealine
and other felonics, under the corporate right.
and privileges of the statute law of Indi-
ana, authorizing such associations for above
stated purposes.
Resolved, That the meeting now proceed
to complete its organization by the adoption
of constitution and bylaws, made To con
form to the law Of the State and the wishes
OF this convention.
1t is to be lamented that in this county O
law and freedom, where we boast that til,
law is the shield of every citizen, necess;
ty should arise demonstrating the ineilicien
cy of the law and its agents, and the nee,
of ertra;judicidI measures for the protection
of our rights. 1t is to be hoped, however
that whenever and wherever any similar
emergency shall arise exciting the people
to spontaneous association for self-protec
ton, the same moderation and respect fo
law and order may characterize their pro
ceediugs that have so distinguished the con
vention of Blue Grass.
The gentlemen composing the Wander
burgh Vigilance ommttee-numbcring a
present over sixty--are intelligent, discreet
: and determined men, who will prove them
selves equal to any emergency requirin,
their attention; and if, hereafter, horse
thieves and other villains, thus fairly fore
T warned, choose to place their lives and lib