The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-09-12
KENTUCKY ELECTION

KENTUCKY ELECTION.
Last week we published an account of the
outrages at the late election in Kentucky a:
given IN jackson paper, and we now give The
other side Of the story, from the Reporter. ar
administration paper, which says:
Every rejecting person might have fore,
seen, at the commencement Of the election
on the first day, some Of the disgraceful
scenes which subsequently occurred. A
large party of voters, to the number of I5C
or more, with hickory leaves in their hats
were held IN readiness for the opening Of
the polis, ana were led shouting into the
yard IN military array. This company OF
men, 1t was thought, had been brought for
ward to take the door; it was understood
that they had been furnished with free
5reGfjGst; they had no doubt been we'll
pied with liquor, for nothing but the name
OF "Jackson," and incoherent blasphemv.
could be heard in the court ward after their
arrival. 1t was thought too, that they had
been brought to intimdate or to fight, for
many Of them came armed with clubs, with
out their coats, as if stripped for battle
and to give more naked exhibition OF
jackson valor, shirt or too was soon cast
aside, and the Adams men challenged to
the contest. A few fights, of course, soon
took place, for it was not to be expected
that the administration men, under such
circumstances, would, by ingloriouslv
lying" verify Jackson's Islander of the
Aentuckians at New Orleans. Some of
our most respectable citizens were insultod
by, and found themselves very unexpected
Iy engaged with, these DULLES.
About ii O'Clock, large party of Ad-
minlstratlon men, respectable farmers, on
horseback, passed the court house, bearing
sprigs OF green hemp, hemp stalks, and u
white flag with an appropriate motto but
alter proceeding to convenient place TO Sc
cure their horses, they dispersed no at
tempt was made by them to march in body
to the polls. The sight of the hemp, how
ever, greatly enraged the jackson men.
Their military flag, their free house,
their hickory leaves, and their notices,
gave no offence to the administration par
ty, who merely claimed the privilege Of Sc
lecting their own emblems and voting their
own ticket. But this did not suit the in
tolerent spirit of the jackson party. They
could not endure to look upon hemp, and
their attempts 20 trample il under foot, or
to keep the administration meH from the
polls, generally led to angry alterations OF
blows. They seemed to have like antipa-
thy to " On Manufactures" for flag with
that motto, suspended to a hemp stalk
which peaceably occupied its place at the
door of the free house on Cheapside was
violently assailed by party of Jackson
men. 1t was of course defended. While
the combatants of each party were engag-
cd at short distance from the flag, friend
10 the good cause observed to bystander.
we will remain here to prevent the Jack
son men from taking it down by statagem.''
An old revolutionary officer, who had been
an attentive observer, misunderstanding
their object, and thinking that they had
come to pull down the hemp stalk, exclaim-
ed in loud voice, at the same time -four
FISHING his stick, 81 will defend that fac
at the risque of my life-tahe it down if you
dare" This anecdote shows the effect
produced on every man of independence
and spirit by the proceedings of the Jack
son party.
The affray which took place on the last
day of the election, is easily accounted for.
The military ensign, the Jackson notices
and emblems, had been display dahrough-
out the election without molestatiae The
windows of the court house were some
times crowded with intoxicated Jackson
men, huzZaing necessarily for " jackson
h-ll and the d-l!" The hickory. boughs
were suspended at the very door through
which the voters entered. In this state OF
things, it was no breach of the peace to
erect hemp stalk by the side of the hickory
boughs, or at the opposite side of the door
But the ugly looking weed had been so
disposed of but a little while, before it was
pulled down. One of the Jackson men
within the house, whose business it was to
preserve order, said TO one of his party,
climb up and pull that thing down." He
was obeyed but the young man who at
tempted it was saluted with brick bat the
moment he put his kand upon the hemr
stalk. A few brick bats thrown among the
crowd, soon cleared the court yard. The
combatants, from opposite sides of the
square, continued to hurl stones and brick
bats for ten or twelve minutes. Some
heads, and arms, and ribs were fractured
Happily, no lives were lost. But few per-
sons on either side took part in the contest
When the conflict had nearly subsidized
Mr.. Barry, mounted an horseback rode in
TO the yard but his presence produced nc
effect on his party: they continued tc
throw, and the other party sent back tc
them their missiles, for the stones on the
side of the square occupied by the admin
istration men being soon disposed Of to the
end of the contest they had to use the am
muntion Of the enemy, as they could gel
it, After Mr.. Barry had retired, Messrs
Breckenridge and M'Calla, with white
handkerchiefs, appeared in the centre Of
the square, and the the throwing ceased
Immediately on both sides.
The Frankfort KY. Commentator, of Aug.
10, speaks of the late election of Repre-
sentatiyes to Congress, thus:
'The pertinacity Of at least one of the
Administration candidates in this district
which has not only caused the election of q
Jackson man, contrary to the will of the
majority, but, also, seems to have had the
effect of giving the Jackson party major