Arizona weekly citizen., 1888-09-08
The MeCreary Resolutions.

WHEREAS, beretofore snd on eOLusIJ 2b. 1888, the Bar association or fIms county, Arizona Territory, adopted reso- In,ions recommending to Congress the rassage Of an Act establishing court or tribunal for the investigation ana dateruIuation of all claims to land m This Territory asserted under Spanish and Mexican grants, which resoluhons were as follows:
 Whereas. there are in the Territory of Arizona vast tracts of agricultural lands which are covered by Spanish and Mexican grants; and
 Whereas, the prosperity of this errl- tory is dependent upon sotlon oy the United States whereby the tltle 10 said lands csn once and forever be deiermin- ed and adjudicated; Therefore, be It re- solved, That the Bar of Pima County, Arizona Territory, earnestly recommend 10 Congress the passage or an Aet es- tablishing a court or tribunal to deter mine all claims to such land and land grants. such court to hold sessions, take testimony and hear arguments ID the Territories where such grants are sltuat. ed; with the right to appeal from Inc judgement of such court or tribunal to the supreme court of the United States.
 Resolved, That copy of these reso- lutions be forwarded by our secretary to Hon. Mark A. Smith. our delegate to Congress, and to the respective commit tees on territories and private land claims of the United States senate and house of representatives.
 Passed by unanimous vote
 WM. II, LOWELL, President. s. NJ. FRANKLIN,
 Secretary pro tempore.
 And whereas, the Hon. Mark A. Smith, delegate to Congress from Ari- Eona, did m the house of representa- tiyes of the United States, on July 10th, 1888, Tn reference to sHId resolutions, make use of the following language. as appears in the Congressional Record of that date, to-wit:
 Just as l told you, gentlemen; there 1t is, between the land grants and the lawyers. There IS little cOterie of law yers in Tucson, able men, good lawyers, and if this bIll should pass they would get very rIch ought to be amongst them getting very rich too, becsHse If this bill passes, think l would prob ably have tine pleasure of being enl- ployed in some of these land grant cases. The passage of the bill might be benefit to me, just as 1t would be to those lawyers. But did the gentle man ever hear of ether petitions that have come up from that country! Did you ever hear that from the hot plains did you ever hear that along the desert track; did you ever hear that from wherever the sweat was rising from the toiling masses in that territory there came petition after petition, telegram. after telegram to me crying out. as wal dore in days of old, for Gods sake, come over and help us against the land thief and the lawyer"
 And whereas. to the above unjust and unoalled for imputation the Hon. J. B. McCresry, representative from Ken lucky, made reply as follows:
 Il had that letter read from the Bar association of Pima county, Tucson, the county seat of Pims being the largest city in the Territory, to show what the Bar association of that city desire, and to show further that sn association of able and honorable attorneys Iudorse this bill. l want to say in this connec- .ion that l do not believe the Bar asso- oIstion of Pima county would deiber- stely petition the Congress of the UDIt- cd States 70 do a thing that they be- lieved 10 be unwise and commend It ID order to put fees in their pockets. put these statements on record ID answer to the statements of the Del egate from Arizona in regard to the law yers of the Territory which he repre- | sents."
 Therefore, be it resolved, That the Bsr association of Pima county express to the Hon. J. B. McCresry I,s high sp- precistiOn of his manly confidence in SD honorable profession, and m those mem. bers thereof whom destiny has placed in the Territory of Arizona and the County of Pima; and that it further eK. press to him its grateful acknowledge ment for his manly reply to the sstound- ing imputstions the Delegate from Ari- zons, himself 6 member of the bar of Arizona, deemed it Co make.
 Resolved, That Q copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the Hon. J. E, Me Cresry, representative from Kentucky, and to the Hou. Mark A, Smith, del egste from Arizona
 WILLIAM u. LOWELL, President | SELIH M. FRANKLIN,