North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-07-15
The Invasion of Falls.

and has given rise to many eXagerations and
exciting rumors, we purpose, briefly, to give,
to the public fair and impartial statement
all the material facts in the affair. We will
premise what we have to say i'll re-
lation to it, by asserting Gas we have done
beGorc,) that no attempt had been made to
enroll The citizens Of that Town ship, by any
one-no mans residence, name or age, had
been asked. Assurances Of the most posi-
tive character had been given to all inquiries,
10y prominent men of the Township, that
the enrolment coull be made, by any sober,
qniet, unarmed man, without a shadow Of
quaintance with the people Of that town, and
from an almost daily intercourse with them,
we had stated To persons high in authority,
here, that such was our opinion. Our read
ers viii rec"llect that this opinion was eX-
pressed through the columns of this paper.
, We asked, what the people of Falls had sad
or done, to justify the foul SANDERS heaped
upon them by the lying and INSCRIPTIONS
editor of the Republican. And we now say,
as we then said, that the assertion made by
this abolition lickspttIe that the marshall
was driven from that town by armed ruff
fans" is base falsehood, got up Cor the
basest Of purposes by the basest Of all the
serv!le tools and puppets of the present alb
clifton dynasty-a man who lies from
chronic habit, when the truth would serve
him better. But, to the story of the nvas-
ion.
With all the facts before them, with all
these assurances ringing in their ears ; the
authorities, for a purpose best known to
themselyes-,he motive we can only infer
ordered an armed force of thirty three men
into that township, " for the purpose" it was
alledged of enforcing the enrolment in
Falls ~
The Lieutenant in charge of these men,
was met just in the edge o. the town, where
he Quartered his men, by prominent and in
huental citizens, and was told that an arm
ed force was entirely unnecessary, to the en-
rollment- that they would accompany him
and Mr.. Wells, the enrolling officer, through
the town, assist him in his duties. and guar
anty his exemption from insult or injury
that the presence of an armed force, after al
that had been said, was likely to exasperate,
rather than intimidlte the citizens. He {the
Lieutenant expressed himself satisfied with
the proposition, but wished until the next
morning Saturday to consider with and
consult Ais superiors. In the meantime he
was despatched to Scranton. At the appoint
he had arrived from tho former place and
| Immediately upon his heels, followed an ad-
! Qitional force Of fifty-two armed men ac-
companied by Captain, Lieutenant, and
two MaTshals frcm Luzernc county. With
( this additional force at their backs, the mar
| shals proceeded to enroll the township, in
! their own way and manner anl in spite Of
! the entreatles ofnumerous highly respectable
/ citizens, who expostu.ated with them against
| the disgraceiul imputation, against their f.
dellIy TO The laws, thus attempted to be cast
upon the people Of the township. Paying
/ no attention to these, the enrolling officer
/ with possee Of about a dozen men with
/ loaded arms and fixed bayone;s, visited
few houses, within "e&sy supporting dis
Tancc' of tae encampment. Tbese for tie
| most part, we believe, were locked up and
! entantIeSs, or only occupied by women and
children. All negotiations had ceased. The
/ citizens and the so!l'ery,--or rather the
persons who controlled them, had each con
! cludcd to go their own way.
Vt this time, De- J. Y. Smith and myself,
who tad been advised by citizen of an ad-
ioininstownship (Overlielt) that our pres
ence might prevent collision, drove by tie
pckets, without hindrance, and got into
camp.
| We stated to those there in command. the
utter inutiiity and folly of their mission, that
their way o! proceeding might provoke oppo-
sition which might result in a collision. We
proceeded into the other end of the town and
upon consultation with the tnraged an, ex.
cited citizens, found that our suppositions
were not g:oundcss. They felt that their
! wishes and feelings had been outraged, as
their homes might be'-that their good nten
tons and generous confidence, had been requit-
ed by dullicitv and trckery. and that as men
who loved justice and liberty, and hat ed
wrong and oppression, they were called up
od to resent and resist insult and injury
They were prepared to do it. More pacific
and as we thought better councils prevailed.
Dr.. Smith and myself were author
ized to agree again that Mr.. Wells, the
Deputy Marshal, accompanied by unarmed
citizens should proceed and make the en-
rolment. We returned accompanied by cne
Of tie justices of the Peace, of the Township.
to the camp of the invaders On o sort OF
quasi, flag oftru:e" expedition. Approach.
ing the o1ter pickets we were met with the
usual military salutation and charge bay onets