The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-06
[RepOrted for the Journal
TRE ARMSTRONG TROUBLES.
Meeting OF the Citizens OF Armstrong
Township, FandeFbuPgh County,
and Smythe Township, 20 ey
County.

Ia pursuance Of a call of numerous
citizens of all political parties Of said
townships, a large assembly met at
the Baptist Church at Cynthiana, for
the purpose of considering the recent
troubles which occurred on the prem
ises of Mr.. Geo. Finch. The meeting
having been called to order, Mr.. a.
j. Patterson was chosen Chairman,
and Mr.. Geo. Eaton Secretary. On
taking the Chair, Mr.. Patterson made
brief and pointed speech, stating
the object of the meeting to be for
the purpose Of considering the Arm
strong Township troubles. which oc-
CURED on the oath day of June, 1870,
on the premises Of Mr.. Geo. Finch.
He regarded the affair as being of
no great consequence, but that efforts
were being made by Mr.. Finch to
give It prominence. He stated that
he knew most Of the parties who were
charged with committing the otfense,
and that theu had been law abiding
men and good citizens, and he felt
sure from their past good Conduct
that they never visited Mr.. Finch for
any unlawful purpose whatever. lie
also stated that had Mr.. Finch's negro
laborers been driven from bis wheat
field, nothing would have been d0Ee
contrary to his (Finch's) teachings
and practices. BE thought Mr.. Finch
was acting wrong IN prosecuting the
party that visited him.
After which, on motion, q Commit
tee on Resolutions, and one to pre-
pare an Address, were chosen, and di-
reeted to retire for the performance of
their respective duties.
Whilst those COMMITTEES we're out,
discussions were free amOrg the
members of the meeting, each ex-
pressing his sentiments IN regard to
the Armstrong troubles, and pro-
nouncing the same of too little con-
sequence for Mr.. Finch to create such
a disturbance about, especially as be
had been ID the habit Of saying that
he (Mr. Fineh) would do likewise
under similar circumstances. Then
the Committee on an Address returned
and reported the following which vas
unanimously adopted by the meeting:
An Address by the citizens OF Armstrong
Township, Vanderburgu County. and
Smythe Township Posey County, 4na'
We the citizens of the above named
Townships without regard to political
affiliations or practices, feeling that 1t
is our duty TO correct some erroneous
statements that have been circulated
abroad, both By private individuals
and the public presses of Evansville
and elsewhere, would inform all whom
it may concern that, although We do
not concur with the procedures of the
committee which waited on Mr.. Geo
Finch on the Oath day of June,
1870. we feel that a great in
Justice has been done US as
a community IN these particulars, viz:
we have been represented as laWless
and riotous. which is false; but on the
contrary no community has been more
law abiding than this. 1t has been
reported that a band or mob has been
organized In our midst, which is also
untrue, nothing of the kind ever hav-
ing been formed for any purpose; and
we feel assured that those persons
who visited Mr.. Finch on the 24sh of
June. went there for no unlawful pur-
pose, but merely TO demonstrate with
him for taking negro labor upon his
farm TO do his harvesting, while he
could procure white labor-espeoially
as he denounced so frequently the re
ceiviug of negroes among Us, and VIC
feel assured that Mr.. Finch was the
first aggressor on that occasion. We
denounce as false all reports, from
whatever source. that the committee
visiting Mr.. Finch was mob, for we
know them to be good and response
Bile citizens.
(Signed) PAsCHAL BROYLEs,
j. SHOWERS,