Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-08-07
@ee @a5ette.
Martinsbugh, august 7.
To the Editor eftae Martinsburgh Gazette

tic source, of the disastrous events which
lately occurred in the city of Baltimore.
NARRATIVE, &c.
1t is within the recollection of every one,
that the rabbe of Baltimore, on the 22nd of
June last, entirely demolished the office of the
Federal Republican" together with all the
printing apparatus and furniture which the
house contained. 1t is also known that they
had in view, not merely the destruction OF
property, but personal outrage on the editors
OF that paper, perhaps assassination. Them
tentlon of the mob was so we'll known in the
city before the outrage was committed, that
Mr.. Wagner, one of the editors, by preci-
plate flight escaped from the polluted sphere
of their power. MIR. Hanson, the other edi-
tor, was fortunately absent No attempt was
made by the police of Baltimore to arrest and
bring to condign punishment the abandoned
perpetrators of this unprecedented outrage,
altho' the mayor and all the principal officers
OF the city were present at the preparation of
1t, and of course knew the names of those who
were most active and most guilty. Meeting
with no opposition, these lawless miscreants
reoe FL their outrages Tae houses of the
most respectable citizens were repeatedly en-
tered and searched by the viiest of the rab-
ble-violent threats were uttered-the sailing
of vessels laden with the produce of the coun-
Try was arrested-nothing but silent unmur-
muring submission saved the lives and pro
perty OF the federalists who remained in Bal
tinore from destruction. Liberty of speech
was at an end -Tne only federal paper which
remained in Baltimore, after mentioning in
terms sufficiently moderate the demolition of
the Federal Republican" press, was obliged
to maintain the most profound silence con
cerning the subsequent outrages This paper
was indebted for its security TO its being more
commercial paper than political one
For several weeks this state of things con
tnued. TIE mob iumphantA-exercising its
power when and how it chose-the civil au-
thcrity wickedly conniving at its outraees-
the liberty of speech and OF the press at an end
Meanwhile the editors of the " Federal Re-
publican" procured new printing apparatus,
established their press at Georgetown, in the
district Of Columbia, and determined to re-
establish it in Baltimore, and publish their
psper in bosil'piaces.
No honest and intelligent man can hesitate
to admit that the determination of the editors
10 re establish their paper in Baltimore was
worthy of high minded freemen--was an eIn-
enatlon OF that spirit which prompted their
fathers TO resist British oppression, and sus-
tanned them in the arduous contest which led
to independence
Passive obedience to- and non resistance of.
tie despotism OF a mob, tho enrolled among
the cardinal virtues oy certain class of spu-
nous modern republicans, which, thank God,
Is as small in numbers as contemplate in
princ pie, was not written In the political
creed OF the editors. They still adhered to
an old-fasAioued and almost exploded notion,
that resistance to lawiess violence is lawful
and proper-and they determined, If their
printing house in Baltimore should be again
assaileu by a lawiess ia bbie of mIscreants, to
resist force by force. Tney had too much
reason to believe that an attack would be
mace on their Office, and they therefore pre-
pared force sufficient to resist Insufficient
IL protect their lives and property.
On the Goth Of ally MIR Hanson went to the
city of Baltimore, and, with about twenty or
thirty of his friends, took possession of the
house which had been occupied by Mr. Wag
nef, the other editor, and in which the fur
nlture of that gentleman still remained Sc
veral of the citizens of Baltimore, learning
Air Hanson's intention of commencing the re-
Publication OF his paper Joined the party as
sembled for the defence OF his person and pro-
perry. The whole number assembled for
TINS object was between thirty and forty. AS
an attack by the mob was almost certain,
arms and ammunition were secretly procur-
ed-and on Monday the eth of July an edi-
ton of the Federal Republican, which had
oeen printed in Georgetown, was published
In Baltimore
The mobocracy of Baltimore, enraged at
Mr. Hansons presumption in daring to shew
ms devoted head within their dominions, and
" unparalleled audacity y to pubIisha news
paper within their limits without license, as
semoled as was expected to avenge the affront
ouered to their dignity The street before
me house was filled with the mob at an early
hour IN the evening-an its number continu-