The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-11
DOMESTIC
REnORr

REPORT
OF the Committee aEho;ued 10 enquire into
me Causes and ErtentT TIE lafe Con-
nio:ions ~ Baltimore
In the first branch of Tic City Council, Au-
gust 6, 1872, the following report was
presented, read, concurred in & ordered
t'be printed in all the news papers Of
the city. BY order.
III. MOORE, cie,k.
In the second branch, August 9, 1912, the
following report vas presented, read,
concurredin, and ortlered to be printed
III all the news papers OF the city. By
order,
THOMAS ROGERS, clerk.
TO EDWARD Johnson. ESQ.
MAYOR OF THE City OF BALTIMORE.
The Joint committee Of the two branches
OF the city couici, appointed to enquire in
TO the causes ANA extent of the late commo
tons in the city, having, as enjoined upon
them, requested the aid of thirteen other of
their fellow citizens; ten of whom attended
i'll the discharge OF the duties assigned them,
IN pursuance thereof
REPORT--That on Saturday the Goth
OF June, publication appeared IN The news
paper entitled the Federal Republican, %
prin ted in this place, which excited great
rritntion III the city--that on the Monday
ip'i"" 'iRS III -obiNt OCNuplSu Nv
editors OF that paper was pulled down, and
their press destroyed. This commotion had
subsidized, and the transaction was under le-
gal investigation by the criminal court, until
Saturday the Goth of July, in the evening OF
which day, Alexander Z. Hanson, one of the
editors, with several Of his friends from o.
Their counties, and one from another state,
Came into town, unknown To the inh abitants,
(or known to very few of them) and took
possession of brick house in Charles ST.,
that had been the late dwelling of MIR. Wag-
ner, his partner. The committee further
Report, that from written documents, since
found and communicated to them by the
mayor which arc subjoined TO this report,
lit appears that the plan of renewing the pa
per, and of arming for the defence Of the
house from which 1T was intended to be is
sued, had been deliberately formed and Or
ganized some time previous, in the country,
without the knowledge of the citizens of
Baltimore, and all the details settled and
adjusted by persons who must have been
acquainted with military scrvice.-That ha =
wing so taken possession of the house, thsy
fortified 1t strongly, and prepared arms and
ammunition TO defend it: that OH the next
morning the editor issued from that house
MS paper, containing severe imadversions
upon the mayor, people, and police of Balti-
more, which the editor caused to be circu-
lated thrsugh the City-In the course of the
same day 1t was known to many persons
that Mr.. Hanson, one Of the editors, was in
the house, and from the preparations for
defence that were observed to be making
thei EN-, 1t was conjectuIed that he eXpcc
ted to be attacked. During the day, many
other persons OF the city went TO the house
and some remained there associated with
those within q: towards evening many BOYS
had collected in the street, opposite the
house, and their noise exciting some appre-
heDsion, neighboring magistrate endeavor-
ed to disperse them, and had nearly sue
cecded, when about o'clock a Carriage
stopped at the door of the house, and
number OF muskets and other articles we're
seen to be taken out of it and conveyed
through an armed guard into the house -
the boys then returned, recommended their
noise, accompanied with abusive language
to the persons in the house, & began throw
ing stones at the windows; at this time, &
tor an hour or more thereafter, there did
not appear more than five or six men VIII.
could be supposed to have any connection
with, or control over the bows about this
period person on the footway cndeavoring
to persuade the boys from their mischief
was severely wounded in the foot by some
thing weighty thrown from the house the
boys were repeatedly told, from the per.
sons within, to go away and not modest
them. that they were armed and would
defend themselves; the boys still continuing
to throw stones, two guns were fred from
the upper part OF the house, charged, as it
is supposed, with blank cartridges, as no in
Jury was done by them the assemblace OF
people III the street at this time greatly in
and the threats and throwing of
stones at the house, became more general
and violent; the sashes of the lower win
dows were broken, aud attempts made to
force the door by running against it. Ten
or twelve guns were then fred from the
house i'll quick succession, by which several
persons III the street we're wounded, some
about this period Applicant
on was made for military aid TO prevent
further mischief; whilst the military were
assembling in pursuance of AN orde" from
The General, issued in compliance with a
Iequisition from the legal authority, fire.
luent hiring took place from the house, nd
three guns were fired at it some short
lime afterwards a gun was fired from the
house which killed a Doctor Gale i'm the
street about twelve feet from the house
-hls circumstance greatly increased the IT.
rItatiOn of those in the street, who soon af-
er brought field piece in front Of the house,
)ut ny the interpretation of several citizens
we're restrained from firing upon the house.
under an assurance that the persons i'm il
would surrender themselves 10 the civil au-
hority the military soon after appeared.
md placing themselves in front Of the house
10 farther injury occurred negotiation
ook place with those within the house. and
lpon being assured that military guard !