The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-11-06
THE SPIRIT OF LOCO FOCOISM DIS
PLAYED

THE SPIRIT OF LOCO FOCOISM DIS
PLAYED.
The outrages that have recently occurred in
Baltimore and New York are characteristic of
the lawless and destructive spirit Of Loco Foco-
ism. Such disgraceful scenes might be expect
ed from the more desperate followers Of the
spoils men, after the iniammatory appeals to the
worst passions that have been made for some
time by the Government official organ here, and
other papers Of the same stamp and after the
example of fragrant violation of law, and inva-
sion Of the rights of the citizen, set them by
Judge and Recorder, and other functonaries,
high in the confidence of the Administration
The attacks of an Infatuated gang on the Eutaw
House, the Globe Inn, and other quarters of the
Wings in Baltimore, on the night of the cleo
ing, by another violent assault on an assemblage
Of Wings in front of the office of the Baltimore
Patriot, and on that establishment itself The
p.srint says:
The object Of the assemblape last evening was to
hear, early possible the returns of the VIRGINIA
election as brought by the mails and as were expect
ell 10 Dc uHHouuCeu iTOIH an upper window the
building connected with the Patriot Office While the
citizens, doubtless chiefly friends of HARRISON
waiting quietly in the street and the pavement for
those returns fire engine from the upper end of the
town, came rapidly down Baltimore street, and, with
out hating proceeded towards the Falls. Ii has
since been ascertained that the engine proceeded
far down the ruins of old Christ Church. on the
east side Of the Falls and there the party armed them
selves with stones and brickbats. Having made this
provision those in charge of the engine turned it about
Of Baltimore and North streets where the crowd was
assembled TO hear the returns, and there first
menced the overt acts of violence. The attack thus
commenced upon the assemblage of citizens, OF
course repelled by those upon whom it made And
for time, the stones and brckbats and other mis-
siles flew rapidly about. The supply brought TO the
ground by the assailing party freely used and
the glass and lamps broken thereby gave evidence that
such destruction was their object they took toerable
good aim
The office Of the Patriot being thus conspicuous
object seemed to have become the point of attack and
the assailants sought to njure the office its in
mates, they were manfully met and repused by the
assembled Wings
Shortly after the attack and rcpulse as above mar
rated, Mr.. BRADY, the new Mayor, appeared on the
ground with view of restoring or preserving order
and that effect addressed the crowd requesting them
to disperse which they dd-and far has come to
knowledge, no farther act of violence COM
mtted, or attempted in the vicinity during the re-
naming part OF the night
The statement in the Sun of this morning that " a
number ofshots fired from a window Of the Pa
| triot Office" is unquaifedy false. There no
shots fired arms to be fired in the Patriot office
indeed any thought expectation of assault
such should render the of defence necessary
We shall take another occasion to revert to the
count of the riot and outrage in this neutra print
but think it well for the present to give its statement
positive contradiction.
1t appears from another paragraph in this pa
per that the new Van Buren, Mayor has request
ed that the reading Of the election returns at
night should. be suspended for the present, and
our worthy friend, the editor of the Patriot, has
complied with the request from desire to do
all IN his power to allay excitement. Things
have come to a fine pass, truly citizens can
not assemble peacefully at convenient place
to satisfy the curiosity or relieve the anxiety
which is felt to so intense degree by the whole
community in regard TO the results of the great
popular contest without being disturbed, inva-
ded, and injured in their persons and property
by rufians and desperadoes belonging to the po-
litical party that has ascendancy in the city go
vernment But such are some of the conse-
quences Of the demoralizing doctrines that have
ueeh 81 ionS anu dSteu upon ny
ny possessing authority and influence.
The New York Courier mentions the follow
ing occurrences of similar kinds
While Mr.. Maxwell was speaking at National Hall
a covered wagon barouche in which were seated
couple Of Loco Foco rufiians, dashing through
the crowd with violence which il impossible to
arrest. One ofthe wretches was engaged in ashing
the horses while the other lightly handled the ieins,
in order give full freedom to the alarmed and nfuri
aied animal, which much less of brute than his
masters A female the outskirts of the crowd was
knocked down, driven over, and severely injured
Many individuals more or less bruised and tram
pied IN the rush to make way for the vehicle. Here
was another instance of the lawless and violent spirit
which has been invoked by Loco Focoism to preside
over the election. The vehicle was pursued by the
multitude and the horse taken in custody, and is
still held in the hope that il will lead to the detection
Of the ruians who perpetrated the Infamous outrage
On Saturday night gang of about thousand Lo-
co Foco ruffans among whom were conspicuous the
desperadoes known the Spartan Band, made
attack upon RiIey's Hotel, next to the Wing Head
Quarters at Constitution Hall, in Broadway There
about dozen citizens in the room, whom the
rufhans made desperate assault, armed with clubs
and loaded whips. Not expecting such assault, the
individuals present entirely unprepared and
overwhelmed by the rush of Loco Focoism One gen
tleman had his mouth cut open another struck
with club the eye, and is seriously injured
third had his head cut with loaded club whip, and