Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-02-07
Public Meeting in Stsilacoom.
STEiLACOOM CRY, w. T..
Jan. 3lst. 1863.


Ep. WASHINGTON STANDARD; Siy:-I
am instructed to forward to you. for publ
cation in your journal, the proceedings Of .
mass. meeting Of the Citizens Of Pierce Co.
w. r.. You will confer . favor on our COM
munity, and the world At large. by giving
them . place in your valuable paper. M
Pursuant to call for I meeting of the cleo.
tors and tax payers Of Fierce Co., w. Il, At
the court house iu said county, at the hour Of
one O'Clock P. M. on Saturday, Jan. 3lst
1868, for the purpose Of giving all concerned
an opportunity to express their views and SEN
timeilts in relation TO the execution Of the
laws under which we live, and the enforce.
ment Of just punishment for crime, the citi.
gems of said county assembled at the specified
time and place, and transacted the following
The meeting was called to order by f. A.
was called TO the chair, and J. N. r. Spin
ming was chosen Secretary. On motion Of
+. \. Light, committee Of FIVE was appoin-
ted to draft and present resolutions, express
sive of the sentiments Of the convention
The chair appointed; +. A. Light, A. j.
Burge. w. r. Downy, ID. w. G. DAVIDSON,
and rhos. Blackshar, said committee. The
meeting then took recess of several minutes.
after which the committee ON resolutions re-
ported through their chairman, Mr.. Light, the
following preamble and resolutions, which
were adopted: .~-; ~ ~
WHEREAS: The people Of this, Pierce Go.
w. T., feel themselves called upon to con-
veine in public meeting. to give expression
to their sentiments, relative TO the violrn Death
of one Of their most worthy and esteemed
citizens, and.
WHEREAS: We feel that crime is most
deplorably on the increase in our midst and
a reckless and vicious sentiment is gaining
ground with portion Of our community. and,
WHEREAS: An improper and unwarranted
defence of criminals in our courts Of justice y
is fearfully apparent; therefore,
Resolred: list, That we deeply deplor- the
death OF our worthey companion and fellow
citizen, Andrew F. Byrd; that We most sim
cerely regret the violent manner Of bis death,
ut the hands of his neighbour j. Is. Bates. with
out provocation.
Resoiced: I'd, That Andrew +. Byrd. in
his inoffensive manner, irreproachable conduct,
and high moral character, WINS worthy ex-
ample OF Limitation, in life.
Rcsolred Sd. That We do hereby tender
the family and relatives of the deceased, our
sincere sympathy and condolance.
Aesolred: 4tl,, That the growth Of crime
in our midst; is in part, attributable to the un-
werrantable means employed by some attor-
neys and counseleors, to shield palpable crimi.
mails from merited punishment contemplated
by righteous laws.
Resu(rcd: 9Th, That no member Of the
Bar is justified in seeking. nor is he entitled
to respect who does seek, to obtain for his
client, who is charged with pslpable crime }
more than the true spirit Of the law garantees.
ResOlrcd: 9Th, That in view Of tho fact
set forth in the last clause Of the second para
graph OF the foregoing preamble. We believe
that some of the causes of the sentiments
therein mentioned are, LIST, an undue sentiment
and misdirectrd sympathy has often been tx.
tended to criminals on trial in our courts. 2d,
that lawless people have become more bold
because of the manifest absence Of sure retrl-
button for crime. Sd, that the public are
listlcss and careless, and there exists want
Of that out-spoken public sentiment against
the abuses as practiced. both in and out OF
courts, tavoring criminals.
Resoired: 9TH, That the known character
Of members Of tho Bar, and officers Of the
peace, exerts great and decided Influence for
good or evil in a community, and it sA0m|d b.
OF that high moral standard which deters
crime and gives no hope to the lawless.
Resolred: S,h, That the ineffciency Of
our courts and their various appliances to Ell.
force the punishment for crime has been
byword and u rrproach to our community.
Resokred: 9th, That however little the
transaction accords with our views and de-
sires as law-abiding people Of a proper
enforcement ofjustice, nevertheless in view OF
the most cruel provccation. and the circum.
stances as set forth above, We can not in this
particular instance. gainsay the propriety Of
the action which brought about the execution
of j. Is. Bates, without due process Of law.
Re.olred: 10th, That Stephen Judson,
present Sheriff Of this county has tue full con.
tidsnce Of its citizens, as an officer OF integ.
rity. 90, ,
Of Hon. b. f. Kendall (of the adjoining coun'
ty) at the hand Of tho assassin. as one in
whose professional and official integrity We
repose high confidence. . s.s.
Rcsolced 18th, That the assumed provo
cation to the murder Of Andrew +. BYRD, pre-
sisted in by the said j. b. Bates. the assas'
sin. is indicated in an advertisement which
appeared in the Puget Sossd Herald Of Jan.
let, 1863. in the following words:
/. F;0v DOllass Reward. Strayed or SCI.
m.-Alight red Cow, years old. branded p
ON left jaw, dulappsd, RID roam in the forehead.
small white stipss on inside Of each hind leg
on gamble joint, raised on tho range near J.
Il. Mesker's claim. When last heard Of was