The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-23

tars TO Redh0ld. At the same time directed
Col II. n 4yner, Of the governors stat. to
IN readiness to proceed to the scene Of dis
turbance, and sent like order to the Gov
ernor's Guard, Of Bismarck, and the Edger-
ton Guards, OF YanktOn. In answer to my
call upon Gen Terry, received q reply say
the headquarters division Of the Missouri for
Instruction. and that the answer would be
! sent as soon as received Meantime. I sent
to the mayor Of Ashton, Sphinx county, whose
citizens were reported to be much excited,
the following dispatch:
Will Not the citizens OF Ashton retire TO their
| homes and permit the law to take it, course2 It
Is much better so. Please gits me this assur.
| snce.
I also asked the mayor of Redaeld to tele=
graph the exact situation After waiting si1
hours and receiving nd reply to these tele-
grams and no further answer to my call upon
| Gen. Terry, directed the Fargo companies
to take q train for Redfield The next day,
the 11th, I received telegram from the
city were not armed, and had not been, and
though indignant over the removal of the
| records, contemplated no hostile movement.
also received word from Redteld that all
| was quiet, though an attack was momen-
| tarily expected. In view of all the facts
ordered Col. Tyner and his command TO halt
at Ortonville. and sent the following to the
mayor of Redield:
lam assured by the mayor Of Ashton that the
people Of that place arc not armed; xnfl have not
lessness. Unless receive further demands from
yourself and the sheriff. shall stop the troops
now en- route, and direct them to return home In
the morning.
In answer to this received the following:
We believe that the only sure way to prevent
| loss OF life Ia to send troops at once. We are
receiving reports from reliable sources that the
excitement Is Increasing hourly; The TROOPS
[signedl p. H. HUNT. Mayor.
ARTHUR LAWRENCE. Sheriff.
In view Of this renewed appeal directed
Col Tyner 10 proceed to Redtield and report
to the sheriff. Believing that the militia
thus sent would prove sufficient. and ascer-
tanning that could promptly reinforce them,
| also telegraphed Gen. Terry that no regu-
lars would be required Later In the day I
received telegram from Adjt. Gen. Breck,
saying that Gen. Terry, temporarily absent
him to say that he could not furnish troops
lnaslnuch rs the prompt movement of the
militia seemed TO obviate all necessity for
calling further unon the federal authorities,
and as had already recalled my first appli-
cation. or inquiry. did not pursue the mat
ter The companies arrived in Redfield Sat:
day evening and remained there until set
temcnt was effected under the order of the
court Monday noon. have heard nothing
but praise of their conduct and the i'm
VI CuGl1 UCuIuk IL SVIleuCGU Nv
the fact that while In the city of Redfeld
tho citizens thanked them, and the citizens
| OF Ashton rendered them special hospitali-
ties on the eve of their departure home 1t
Is very difficult to know exactly what to do
under calls like chat received The governor
must depend for information as to the
emergency upon those more or less excited
and who are apt to inadvertently magnify
the danger and may. therefore, take
steps which the sequel proves to
nave, nave been been - unnecessary; sess On the the
unheeded would be to assume grave and
perhaps unjustitiable responsibility and rem
der him liable to deserved censure should
loss OF life and property result from his neg
lect when the danger appeared imminent
assistance In view of the reports which
reached me from unofficial sources and the
call made upon me by duly constituted Off
cials feel some measure of pride that the
necessary force was furnished without as
sistance from the general government and
that even had the emergency been much
greater the organized militia Of the territory
would have proven sufficient The bills in
CURED on this expedition will be presented
to you, and respectfully ask that an appro-
that the auditor be instructed to draw his
warrant for such demands Us appear Just and
reasonable The men composing the Fargo
militia arc persons engaged in business, and
could only leave their homes at q pecuniary
sacrifice. trust the legislature will see the
justice OF paying the officers and men for
the time necessarily spent on the expedi-
tion. transmit in this connection the
names OF those serving, the report Of Col.
Tyner, in charge of the detachment, and a
full record OF the correspondence relative to
the affair. Perhaps the general government
in view Of the fact that territories are hardly
expected to take care of themselves, may
feel disposed to assume these obligations and
relieve the legislature.
THE ROBERTS COUNTY DISTURBANCE.
Hardly had the militia returned home
when difficulty of the same general charac-
ter arose in Roberts county. l received calls
for assistance but believing the danger mag
nified l declined to incur the expense in.
volved in the sending of troops until first
satisfied that the spower of the county" was
insufficient to maintain order. requested
Adjt Gen Free. however, to proceed to
Travare and Wilnot, the rival towns, and
while ascertaining the necessity. If any. fol
assistance, to use his good Offices to preserve
the peace and secure a quiet settlement OF
the question in dispute. As q result the
sheriff's posse and those confronting or de.
flying it were disbanded, and quiet has since
reis, or the manner in which they shall be
determined, are questions which do notcoiue
before me for Judgment; but it may not be
uninteresting, in case tho legislature desires
to investigate the matter. to read the report
of the adjutant general, which is herewith
transmitted Tho correspondence in the case
will also be found with Gen. Frees report
It is unnecessary for me to say to the legis-
lature that in the organization of SO many
new counties such outbreaks Us these
are liable, and even Likely. to occur
frequently unless decided measures are
taken to put stop to them. The trouble in
almost every instance grows out of the
| rivalry of two or more towns, each of which
ts determined to become the county seat
The passions of men are aroused, they in
volve county in debt. excite animosities
that will long outlive the trouble which
inspired them, and finally lead to acts OF
lawlessness which Disgrace the territory and
lay the promoters and participants liable to
Indictment for felony. The law is stringent
enough. Its energetic and even merctless
ample, is what seems to be required Men
must be taught that it IL not an ordinary
crime to break down the doors Of buildings
wherein public records are stored, and plum
der the safes of county officers. 1t might
aeem severe to enforce such penalty
against men provoked by great aegravation
to a forcible removal of public property, but
severity is needed to put a stopto what has
grown to be dangerous defiance Of law,
and to what, if longer tolerated, will assume
dimensions difficult to curb or manage. II
ie better that majority of voters in county
J should wait even tho slowest action of the
courts than that the laws should be deted
and the official records endangered MOI
alone The county engaging in these sense
less quarrels. but the whole people of the
territory suffer because of the lawlessness OF
the few. The community must look to the
courts for protection. of course. but l wish
to declare emphatically that whatever man.
ner of duty falls to my lot i'll the suppression
of these scandalous outbreaks will be per
formed as promptly and decisivcly as is con
sistent with that care and circumspectioE
required of the executive. In the report Of
Col. Tyner the proprlety and justice of as
eessing the cost Of suppressing these riotoul
demonstrations against the counties per
mitting them is discussed After careful re
Election am disposed to submit this ques
ton to the legislature without recommends
ton. 1t is certainly unjust to ask the law
abiding people Of the territory to pay for tn,
wrongdong of less peacabie citizens. and Il
Is quite likely that the lesson given by thu
imposition OF such tax would prove salu
tary and act in some degree as prevention
Of future outbreaks The lcvying of such
tax, however. will form an important prece
dent 1t is one that must be followed /,
subsequent cases Of disturbance no matte