Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-06-03
THE GREAT MEETING OF THE WORK
ING MEN.
From the New York Eaqui rer.

which more resembled the revolutionary assem-
blages Of the Partisan mob during the reign Of
terror in France, than that which might have
been expected in the comparatively quiet city of
New York. 1t was, probably, without excep-
ton, one Of the widest, most singular scenes
short of personal violence and blOOdsked-which
ever took place in this country. The toOd-gates
Of mad enthusiasm were broken up-prejudice,
fanaticism. and sheer charlatanism, stalked a
broad-irreligion and infdelity tore away the
mask from their hideous features-the harpies
of a corrupt lobby that hangs around our '~legisla-
ture, mixed in the throng-and the miserable sy-
nod Of politicians, who In 1928 dlsgraced the
Arcade and the city with coffin hand-bills, were
mixed up with the living mass OF anarchy and
revolution, on that famous night. The contend
ing factions of the political club, called the Exc
cutiye Committee, had called the meeting at va
rious hours. They called the spirits from the
vastly deep; they came-but to lay them was be-
Yond their power. The hurricane ragged uncon-
trolled and uncomfortable.
About : O'Clock, a set of the coffin hand-bill
section of the Executive Grand filed into the
room. They were soon followed by the other
half, and a long train of the originals, the
agrarians. the Owenites, the infidels, and all the
rank and the file Of the six thousand" The
EOlSC ~ Jill "Si " NhS ph't-
ing of the pitiless storm, some one of the origin
ais proposed +. Ford, Esq. Workinsman and
member of the last legislature, as Chairman. 1t
was seconded by a hundred voices, and carried
amid a thunder storm ofayes.
He was placed in the chair and a body guard
Of fifty chosen men surrounded him. Then,
were the Secretaries chosen, MIR. White and Mr..
Clannon one of them members OF the Executive
Grand, amid equal noise. A motion was made
10 adjourn. THAT comes from the Cook party:
the coffin hand bill r~ascals," said some one
s'Down with them,' said another. The mo-
ton to adjourn was put down overwhelmingly.
There was 4 series of resolutions then read,
strongly advocating Fanny Wright's republican
system of education, liberty Of conscience, &c.
and denouncing the ''twenty-fve" dictators of
the Executive Committee, the Cook and Guyon
parties. the Christian party in politics-the coffin
hand-bill men, sc. sc. They were violent and
revolutionary in the extreme. The question
was put. 4 member of the Sixth Ward object
ed. down with him. said the education
men"-" away with Cook"-''pasS the resolu-
tious." They were then passed amid the most
deafening shouts, Glamour, noise and denuncia-
tons. e.
The m>eting Of the originals then adjourned
MIR. Ford left the chair-the two Secretaries
mixed in the crOwd-but the same noise contin-
ued-the crowd became thicker & thicker. The
originals did not bulge an inch from the ground
the kept chosen band around the chair, and pre-
vented any ether section of the party from making
any movement. One Of the committee on the
other side of the question made an attempt to get
up a counter meeting at 8 O'Clock. GuyOn the
chairman of the Executive Grand, got into one
end of the room and was preparing to organize.
S,oa,S tba DrtoinalS S.,, HIN anl hnlInuuaI ont
- down with the down with the
aristocrats'-" down with the Coffin hand bills
men, Turn him out, said one fierce look
ing man. Il will put downSshe Sentinel par
ty," said another, sat the risk OF a civil war. =
"Away with the coffin hand bill pedlars." Guy
on was surrounded BY fifty or sixty men-taken
from the bench-dragged or pushed thro' the
centre of the room, and ordered to leave the hall.
He begged hard-"I will go out quietly" said
he. The noise and uprOar increased. "Traitor"
and "aristocrat," were sounded and he was
pushed rapidly along the immense column of orr
ginals. There was a cry raised for Noah Cook
:. Where is Cooke where is Cooke Search
the corner" said a number of voices-' down
with the coffin hand bill man-'away with the
traitor, the pedlar, the politician-''d down with
the Evening Journal" Cook was pushed from the
side Of the room by the solid column, and hustled
by about q hundred OF them down stairs. "Away
with the twenty five traitors" shouted out ma
ny Voices" Cook is out" said one. "Three
cheers cried another. They then raised a shout
that made the whole neighborhood ring again.
sHurra! hurra! hurra for republican education
equal rights and liberties, '@'' Where is par
son Bates: Shouted another-''down with him.
Where are the rest Of the twenty-five traitors"
cried out another. "Put out that man, he be-
longs to the tract society" Away with that
fellow he is a Tammany man." Down with the
Church and State men-Liberty for ever! A
the twenty-five traitors QUIT" 'All gone
..Down with the down with all
the mischief mixers" This is the expiring
efort of priestcraft," said another where
is there a Tammany MANI" There is too much
good sense in this aye, to listen to priests, aris-
tocracy and politicians"
About this time word was brought that Guyon
and the coffin hand-bill section Of the Executive
Grand were endeayoring to form a meeting down