The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-09-27

or two Of the houses in despite of the at
tempts made to check them. A black
person was arrested and thrown into
prison on suspicion of being one OF the
offenders.
To prevent a recurrence of similar
outrages, and to preserve the peace and
quiet Of the town, the Town Council
doubled the usual number of Watchmen,
and called out Constables, ordering them
to arrest all persons committing open
outrages upon private property. The
Sheriff with his officers, and the Governor
of the State with the members Of the
Town Council and many of the most re-
spectacle citizens assembled also at the
same place. The utmost exertiOns Of the
civil authorities to maintain order proved
inadequate. The mob assembled and
carried on their attacks systematically,
with implements of various kinds. Sew
eral ofthe riotous persons arrested by the
Sheriff, were openly rescued by their
companions, and taken forcibly from the
custody of this officer. In this situation,
with all the power ofthe civil authorities
set at defiance, the Governor of the State
at the request of the Sheriff of the county,
called out one ofthe military companies
to aid In suppressing the tumut! The
order having been issued at hate hour
of the evening, only about thirty-five
members Of one company could,be col;
lected. Under the orders of the Sheriff
these few spirited men proceeded to the
spot where they were assailed by various
sorts 0fmissi1es, and several ofthem were
wounded by large stones. One indfvid-
ial of the Company was so severely in;
jured as to faltef and leave the ranks, and
another was bathed in blood, from a
wound cut in his head, which was the
blood first drawn by the offensive attacks
Of the mob. Thus ussailed, they con-
tinued firm in their ranks, under show
er of stones, until it became evident that
no alternative remained but instant re-
sistance or retreat. Unwilling to resort
to fire arms, although exposed to being
manned, or even to the loss of life from
the weight and impetuosity of some ofthe
stones discharged at them whilst stand
ing forth openly, to sustain the laws ofthe
land, they patiently bore their attacks
and finally retreated by order of the
Governor. The mob went on steadily
until nearly morning with their work of
destruction, in open defiance and deris-
ion of all the constituted authorities of
the town and of the State. A few of the
rioters were, however, seized and secure
ly lodged in Jail.
On the subsequent day, notice, it is
stated, was given by the Sheriff, to the
Governor of the State, ofthe intimations
thrown out of premeditated attack up
on the State Jail, by the rioters, to res
cue their companions confined there, and
also to repeat the same scenes of destruc-
tive violence as had taken place on the
previous evening.
! Upon the communication of this offic-
ial information of threatened attack a
gainst the property of the State, as well
as in open defiance of its laws, the re-
sponsiblity developed upon this supreme
executive officer to sustain the due course
of public justice, and the execution of the
laws, as bound to do by his oath of office.
To effect this object in the most overaw-
ing and determinate manner orders were
issued to the several independent Com
panies to hold themselves in readiness to
repress any recurrence of riots that might
occur.
As had been contemplated, the mob
again assembled at the approach ofeve-
ming; but intimidated by the vigilant and
energetic measures that had been taken,
after some Intellectual attempts to excite
to open outrages on the part of the lead
ers of the mob, one of whom was armed
with a sword, they dispersed not, how
ever, as it was openly expressed, without
determination of mastering an over
powering force to complete their pur-
poses on the ensuing evening.
To again defeat these renewed sys-
tematic attacks to be repeated for the
fourth night in succession, orders were
again issued to the bands of armed citi-
zens to hold themselves in readiness.
According to the proposed plan the at
tack was recommended for the fourth
time by the mob at an early hour of the
evening, and the work of destruction Of
buildings and other private property went
on as usual. The noise of the crash Of
falling materials, mingled with shouts and
imprecations, were on this calm night
distinctly to be heard even in the distant
parts of the town to interrupt the quiet
and excite the alarm of every peaceable
citizen, and of every man capable of re-
flecting on the consequences of living in
land which lawless rioters continued
unchecked and triumphant. The alarm
bell having been sounded, the citizens
repaired to the scene of riot, with their