Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-08-07

upon. A continued volley of stones was kept
up. In order to terrify the misereants, and
deter them from the prosecution of their en-
terprize few guns LOADED with powder on
ly) were, at this period of the affair, diseharg
ed over their heads from the windows. The
dastardly wretches fled before imaginary dan
ger. But quickly discovering that no person
was wounded, they returned with renovated
spirits, thinking that the gentlemen within
the house were afraid to fire with ball-car-
tridges, and that they had nothing to fear
Increasing in audacity, they now broke thro'
the front door and entered the passage. The.
foremost of the assailants was killed, and Sc
veral others were wounded, few feet within
the door, by discharge of ballcartridges
from the guard stationed on the stairs.
few guns were at the same instant fired from
the windows.
The mob again retreated. The most reso-
lutte of them now procured feld-plece, and
placed it in alley, opposite to and at some
distance from the house While they were
waiting for the return of some of their number,
who had been sent for balls, captain Barney,
whose company it seems had been ordered
out, approached with few horsemen.
voice was heard to excam The horse is com
ing'-on which the courageous mob again fled.
Their fears, however, were quickly alayed
by the thrice gentle and courteous leader of
the cavalry, who cried out Stop, stop, you
have nothing to fear from me- am your per-
sonal and your political friend-I come only
to preserve the peace. and to prevent every
person from going into coming from the
house" The mob, Perceiving how friendly
the intentions of the captain were, returned
to their gun, which, however, he prevented
them from firing.
great part Of the night was now spent
when Edward Johnson, Mayor of the city,
general Stricken, and John Montgomery, at
torney general of Maryland, arrived at the
scene OF action. They sought and gained adj
mission into the house They came, they
said, to entreat the party defending the house
to leave it, and go to jail under military es-
cort Nothing. they said, but committing
the whole party to Jail, could appease the flu
ry of the people. This impudent proposition
at first met with what it deserved-a decided
refusal. "A surrender" MIR. Hanson replied
lin substance) I" implies an acknowledgment
of guilt-we have been guilty of no violation
of the laws-the civil authority has connv ed
at the destruction Of our property, it has vir-
| tuallv refused us protection-we are able to
protect ourselves-we shall take care, at the
of the laws--the right to repel lawless vio-
lence, by force, is right which no govern
ment can take away-which no government,
however despotic, has ever attempted to in
frigne. You promise US protection If you
are able and willing to protect us, give us an
evidence of your ability and your disposition
to do SO, by dispensing the lawless rabole
whose yells of rage, whose threats ofvioence
even now sound in your ears. Dispense them
and nothing re mains to be done. Ii we have
committed any crime, we are amenable to the
laws. The execution of them we shall not re-
sist. We will not conceal from you, that we
repose no confidence In your promises of pro-
tection-we have experienced too we'll the
kind of protection you are disposed to mete
out to us. live leave this house, and surren-
Ger our arms, while the mob remains undis
persed, we 20 to certain destruction"-
The negocators, finding that Mr. Hanson
Was immoveable, took aside Gen. Henry Lee.
(of Virginia) who was one Of the party, and
at length persuaded him that it would be bet
ter 10 leave the house, and consent to be COM
mitted to Jail, giving to him the most solemn
and repeated assurances that the party should
be protected on their way to the Jail, and at
the jail. Gen Lee Joined the negociators in
an attempt to convince Mr. Hanson that the
course recommended by them was the best
that could be pursued 1t was in vain that
Mr. Hanson told Gen. Lee that their promises
of protection were not to be relied on: that
gentleman said lin allusion to Gen Stricker's
solemn assurances of protection that " he
would trust to the honour of SOLDIER While
this negotiation was going on, several of the
party left the house, and made their way good
through the mob. AT length a kind of tacit
assent was given to the proposition made by
the mayor, Gen. Stricken and Montgomery
on their giving again and again the most So
Tenn assurances that the party should be pro-
tectpd aCa pst tba fnrx, &c ~ -