The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-09-02
BUTLER TO THE RESCUE
Cattlemen Evoke the Assistance of General But
Ter to Stop Cattle Removals
They are Unwilling to Give Up Their No.
nOpOly, and CLAIM They are in Legal
Possession by Their Illegal
Leases.

LONG BRANCH, August 31.-The New York
Herald published recently a telegram an
nouncing that General Benjamin F. Butler
had paid a visit to Block Island, about
which there was more or less mystery.
Among the guests in Hildreth's West End
Hotel last evening was Colonel George Il.
Corkhill, formerly Attorney of the District
of Columbia. Colonel Corkhill is a sOn-in-
law Of Judge Miller probably the highest
authority on constitutional law now on the
Bench of the United States Supreme Court,
and as General Buffers call was on Judge
Miller, who passed the summer at Block
Island and rs Colonel COrkin was present at
the Block Island interview, he was asked to
explain the object of Buffers call on Justice
Miller. Colonel COrkhill said: There was
no political significance in his coming. but a
great deal Of business which Will, in the not
remote future, make things lively in
the White House and elsewhere.
don't think there is any secrecy
concerning it, nor any attemf to conceal the
real object. The real cause of the visit was
the order OF President Cleveland directingthe
owners of cattle in Indian lands in the West
TO vacate their grazing grounds. General
Butler Is himself one Of the proprietors of
large ranch and his clients and personal
friends represent many millions of dollars OF
capital thus invested. The order is, there
fore, OF very great consequence and impor-
tance to them, and he was preparing to sue the
President OF the United States, and the object
OF his visit was to ask preliminary order
Straining the execution OF the proclamation
OF the President until the question involved
could be determined by the courts. General
Buffers object was to present the matter to-
Judge Miller, Judge BlackfOrd being absent
from his circuit and not easy of access. Cen
eral Butler, as have said represents many
millions of dollars invested by his clients
and presented very cogent reasons for some
order TO protect them The desired order
was not issued and did not hear any of the
conversation with Justice MllerabOut il and
| don't know what his views upon the ques-
tion are"
Colonel Corkhil then said that there had
undoubtedly been great frauds committed.
Yet many honest men had invested money
IN the business, suppOsing everything TO be
right, honest and legal. Now the order of
President Cleveland is peremDtOry, sum-
mary and dictatOrial. He says they must 90,
and 90 at once. Now. about this order there
Will surely be fight. The cattle will not be
moved. You couldn't move a colored
picnic. let alone 100000 head of cattle, by
any proclamation, let il issue from the
IPSluenl or any one else. les the IShb
will be made. ID involves important ques-
tions-the rights OF property the power of
the Indian TO make contracts, and the power
and authority of the Government to inter-
fere. of one thing rest assured, the cattle
will stay. The fight will go on. We have
no autOcrat in this country. Ii a landlord
wants to put YOU out of his house he goes to
the courts, not TO the President. If a con-
tract has been violates we 90 to the courts,
not TO the Executive. As to what Justice
Miller decided do not know. He did not.
grant the injunction. Noovert act had been
committed. The President had simply is
sued an order. If nobody obeyed, that was
the end of IL unless he attempted TO en-
force it, and then another question would
arise