Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-09-12
THE HARRISBURG RIOTS.

Every American gust feel deeply hutniliated OF
the recollection Of the scenes which occurred at the
capitol of Pennsylvania, in December last. A law
less mob took possession Of the legislative halls,
dove the senators and representatives of the people
by force from their seats, called fercely IN their
desperation for the blood Of political opponents, and
erected themselves into what they termed a Com
mittee Of Safety arrogating to Themselves, as near
" as their wild and wicked purposes could be un-
derstood, a right TO dispense with he constitution
and laws OF the State and their lawful ministers,
and take upon themselves the burden Of govern
ment. The act was entirely without parallel or
precedent in this country; and its palliation was Ut
tempted by some, as the hasfy ebuiition Of party
real and passion. The history Of the affair, os sinee
developed, and other matters connected with ~ and
following ia It's train, distinctly show, however, that
the whole scheme Of revolution was deliberately
concocted and, Of consequence, that there nfe
abroad in Pennsylvania a spiti, of riot and revolt,
and a contempt Of law and the restraints Of clYii
government, which portepd the most unhappy cor
sequences to Pennsylvania and the Union.
Whatever Of violence, mischief, OF destruction Is
committed by mobs, their greater evil consists 10
the influence which they exert upon the eommoni-
". With the vicious, they induce a contempt OF
law with the well-disposed, a loss Of conhdencein
the ability Of the laws to give them security and
protection. When courts ofjustice are polluted by
corruption, and are used by a party to punioh op-
ponents and protect favorites-when the minis.
tiers Of the law are seen carrying out the principle
in the very temples Of justice, of Furnishing enemies
and rewarding friends-when, as in the case OF the
PENNSYLVANIA riots, the courts show a determined
design to protect the actors in those scenes OF VIC
lence from punishment the inevitable consequence
must be, that The people of n community despaifing
of seeing public outrsges and private wrongs aven-
ged by law, must look for protection TO the means
which the God Of Nature has put into their honds.
It is much to be feared that such a state Of things
will arise in Pennsylvania. All who desire the per-
mancncy Of republican government should look with
anxiety to the result Of the trials Of the Harrisburg
rioters. If the civil government and the courts are
too week or too eorrupt to punish the offenders II Is
unquestionably an indUccment, a sort oflicense, to
the vicious and violent, to require AVID compel by
force their will to be done. Judge Blythe, who was
President of the Court of Daulhin county, in which
the rioters were indicted, resigned his Office, We be-
lieve, soon after the initlatory steps were taken for
bringing the offenders TO justice. Governor Porter
appointed TO the vacant office his brother, James
NJ. Porter and it was charged nj the time ,hatthe
appointment was made with the express view OF
screening the rioters from the penalties of the law
1t seems to US that the charge IS abundantly veri-
fed by the report of the trials, which we have seen
in the Harrisburg Chronicle. Tue Indictment was
quashed; and in a long, sophistical and very un-
dignifed paper, which Judge Porter delivered as an
opinion, it is remarkable that while be takes an
opportunity OF abusing and censuIing all parties
connected with the riots and the trials who are or
posed to him, he ~justiies and sanctions the most
fragrant breaches of duty on the part Of his friends,
and ut,ers not a whisper Of disapProbation against
any Of the actors in the December mob.