Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-13
From the Baltimore american.
REPORT


Of the Committee athonted to inquire in
10 the Causes and Extent Of The late
ComnlotionS in Baltimore.
lin the first branch of the City Council,
Aug. 6, 1872, the following report was
presented, read, concurred in and or
dered to be printed in all the news-pa
pers of the city.-By order.
S. II. MOORE, Clerk.
In the second branch, August 6, 1912, the
following report was presented, read,
Concurred in and ordered to be printed in
all the newspapers of the city-By order.
THOS. RO IERS, Clerk.
TO EDWARD Johnson, ESQ.
MAroR OF TIE err OF BALTIMoRE.
The joint committee of the two branch
cs OF the city council, appointed to enquire
into the causes and extent of the &C com
motions in the City, having, as enjoined up
en- them, requested the aid of thirteen other
OF their feilow-citizcns ten of whom at
tended In the discharge of the duties as
signed them, in pursuance thereof
REPORT, That on Saturday, the 10th of
June, publication appeared in the news
paper entitled the Federal Republican,"
printed i'll this place, Which excited great
irritation III the city--that on the Monday
following, the printing-otlice occupied by
the Editors of that paper was pulled down,
and their press destroyed. This commoti-
Oh had subsidized and the transaction was
under legal investigation by the criminal
court, until Saturday, the 10Th of July; in
the evening Of which day, Alexander c.
Hanson, one of the editors, with several of
his friends from other counties, and one
from another state, came into town, I'M
known to the inhabitants, Cor known only to
very few of them) and took possession of
a brick house in Charles street, that had
been the late dwelling of Mr.. Wagner,
his partner. The Committee further report,
that from written documents, since found
and communicated to them by the Mayor,
which are subj med to this report, it APP
pears that the plan of renewing the paper,
and of armirg for the defence OF the house
from which it was intended to be issued, had
been deliberately formed and organized
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 service-That having so ia
ken possession of the house, they fortified
it strongly, and prepared arms and ammu-
hilton to defend it that ON the next morn
inc, the editor issued from that house his pa
per, containing severe animadversions upon
the mayor, people and police of Baltimore,
which the editor caused to be circulated
through the city. In the course the same
day, it was known to many persons that Mr.
Hanson, one oEthe editors, was in the house
and from the preparations for defence that
were observed to be making therein, it was
conjectured, that he expected to be attack
ed. During the day, many other persons OF
the city went to the House, and some re
~. Sal. .a.
Towards evening many boys had collect, d
In the street, opposite the house and their
noise exciting some apprehension, neigh
boring magistrate endeavored To disperse
them, and had nearly succeeded, when a.
bout eight o'clock carriage stopped at the
door of the house, and a number Of muskets
and other articles were seen to be taken out
Of it, and conveyed through an armed guart
into the house the boys then returned, re.
commenced their noise, accompanied with
abusive language to the persons in the house
and began throwing stones at the windows
at this time, and for an hour or more
thereafter, there did not appear more thar
Ave or six men who could be supposed t.
have any connection with or control over
the boys about this period, a person on
the foot way, endeavorng to persuade the
boys from their mischief, was severed,
wounded ~ the lOOt, " something WelgHty
thrown from the house; the boys were re.
pcatediy told, from the persons within, t.
20 away and not modest them; that the,
we're armed, and would defend themselves
Tne boys still continued to throw stones
two guns were fred from the upper part ot
the mouse, charged, as 1t is supposed, with
blank cartridges, as no injury was done b,
them-Thc assembagc. Of people ~ the
street at this time greatly increased, aut
the threats and throwing ct stones at ia,
n lsc, became more general and violent
the slshes Of the lower windows we're bro
ken, and attempts made to force the door
b, coming against it. Ten or twelve guni
We, nen hred from the house in qmcs
succession, BY Yhich several persons in the