The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-02


progre: sivo city Council, at least.
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The Other Side or the Armstrong
TrOnble-MP. Finch Considered |
In the Wrong By his GeighbOEs.
We were waited upon yesterday by
a committee of the citizens of Van !
derburgh and Posey Counties, living
in the vicinity Of the Armstrong
Township trouble, who claim that
the statements published in the
papers Of this city do them an iujus-
tice, and that Mr.. Finch is not the
aggrieved, but the aggressive party.
They ask US to publish their state
ment, which will be found below.
The first signature is that OF Esquire
Tremor, who is the Justice of the
Peace Of Smith Township, and one of
the leading Democrats of the neigh
borhood in which Mr.. Finch lives;
and the other name is that of Mr..
Nisbet. one of the Oldest citizens and
most responsible farmers of that
section, and Republican in politics.
They were selected by their neigh
bors as the representative men of the
community, and on their behalf came
to this city to present a correct view
of the case.
While we cannot approve of the
course pursued by the company who
waited upon Mr. Finch, the statement
published below establishes the fact
that Republicans were in no wise re-
sponsible for the demonstration, but
| that it was the act Of Mr.. Finch's
own political friends, and the direct
result of his political teachings and
conduct In this connection tits we'll
to mention that Mr.. Finch has been
one of the leaders Of the Wander.
burgh and Posey County Democracy,
having represented them in the State
Senate, and has always been an active
politician and Democratic leader.
He is the last man who should com
plain of such proceedings, if the
statement CT his neighbors is correct.
TO THE PUBLIC:
The undersigned have been re
queste1 by the citizens of Armstrong
Township, Vanderburgh County, aud
of Smith Township, Posey County, in
the immediate vicinity of the recent
troubles, to visit Evansville, and give
an unpreiudiced and correct state
meut of the disturbances which oc-
Cured between Mr.. George Finch
and his neighbors, on Friday, June
24th, and to correct the false publi-
cations which have been made in re-
gard to them.
There is but one sentiment in that
community in regard to Mr.. Finch s
conduct, and that is that, In view Of
bis past life and political teachings,
he was wholly uDjustinable In the
course which he pursued. He has al
ways been bitterly opposed to the me-
groes and their white friends; has re-
peatedly declared that no negro should
be permitted to come into that neigh
; borhood, some Of which declarations
: being made within the past few weeks
and It is generally understood in that
community that he did inspire the
prosecution against Mr.. Bixler, in
1868, for harboring negroes.
It is not true that there was a
scarcity of white labor for harvest
ing. IF Mr.. Finch had any difficulty
in obtaining white men for harvest
ing, it was because of his past bad
treatment of white laborers. All his
neigh bors, many of whom have much
larger fields of wheat, have had no
; difficulty in obtaining white hands in
sufficient quantities. And the COM
pauy who went to his place on the
!. 9th inst, and demonstrated with him
against importing and employing the
negroes, proposed to him to come the
next day, and harvest his wheat fol
q the customary wages of the neighbor.
: hood. if he would send the negroes
I away. The men who composed the
g company who went to his place had
no intention of committing violence
were without arms, and are among the
best citizens OF the neighborhood
Q The were almost without excep
L ton the political friends Of Mr
n Finch-had been taught by him tha
negro labor ought not to be encour
aged, and only intended to remon
Z strate with him against violating thu
principles for which be had been 81
conspicuous during his whole life
: time. OF the twenty-five or thirt
= persons who composed the company
not more than three had ever vote
- the Republican ticket, and even the.
were men regarded as of doubtful
:, politics. But the movement was no
b intended to have political character
but simply assumed the form of a re
monstrance to Mr.. Finch, against hi
past political and social conduct an
!. teachings. Our community has al
ways sought to be law-abiding an
peaceful, and object to being elasse
p among the lawless and riotous.
!. JOHN G. TREMOR.
4d j. O.. INSECT
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