The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-07-10

Civil War In Philadelphia.
After serious and sanguinary conflict, attendet
with more boodshed than one OF the revolutions il
the South American States, quiet is partially re-
stored to Philadelphia. This fearful outbreak ha.
arrested the attention OF every person in this com
munity, and throughout the country.
Everywhere you hear it asked" What is the
meaning of all this!" "What has occasoned al
this?'' "What can be wrong in society IN Phila
delphia?' " Is there no remedy?"
Now, IN investigating the causes of the frightfu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS alarming supremacy of vio
lence and disorder in Philadelphia, we are struck
in the outset by the fact that in Philadelphia,
tain class Of the population, known in all large
cities as 'rowdes," "soaplocks," loaiers,'' ''fre
boys" have attained most formidable strength
The system OF volunteer fire companies has been
the means Of creating and organizing in Philadel.
phia class of desperadoes, who have neither re-
hgion, morals, principle, honesty anything but
a hatred Of all law and order, and an insatiate APP
petite for plumber and blood We have samples of
the same class here, and in all our large
cities, although the evil has not grown into
such fearful magnitude as in Philadelphia,
where the greater nefficiency of the local govern
ment has permitted it to attain such a strength as
to put the law completely at defiance. 1t is very
true that the riots originally grew out of the con-
test between the 'Irish" and the sNatives," hut
the last conflict was entirely between these despe-
radoes of the lowest class and the military auhor-
ties called out by the civil power.
The conduct of the Rev. Mr.. Dunn has been
very justly reprehended by some of the papers
The demand Of that Priest to have musketry and
ammunition placed in the Church, because it had
Al
pliance of the authorities was most preposterous.
This, no doubt, set fire to the smoudering elements
of discord and affords another illustration Of the
foolish, absurd, and dangerous conduct of the cer-
gy when they attempt to go out Of their own line OF
business
But the broad and dark feature still remans-the
peculiar condition Of the lower classes in Phila-
delphia, which have been completely demoralized
by the want Of proper local government. If there
be any good sense remaining in Philadelphia, or
patriotism in Pennsylvania, petitions should at
be forced in upon the Legislature, imploring that
body to come together, and entirely re-organze
the government Of the icity Of Philadelphia. In
stead Of having three or four sectional local 60
vernments, the whole city should be placed under
one, strong, united municipal government, which
should Immediately abolish all volunteer fire COM
panies, and put the whole community under the
strictest Surveillance throughout the immense dis
trict of the city at Let an efficient police be
at once organized. Let the Aldermen and Assist
ant Aldermen be paid. Let every one connected
with the direction of the city government be paid,
and rowdyism be extinguished by the arm Of the
law.
These views, however, merely suggest local
remedy for local disease. The original andradi-
cal evil would still remain TO be eradcated-that
is, the infusion Of religious passions and sectarian
anmosities:into political contests. And we are not
without hope that this evil has already received
efectual check. After the fearful warnings we
have seen, there is not much reason to fear that
any clergyman Of any denomination will soon
again venture to interfere with political affairs, and
employ the religious prejudices of any portion of
our citizens for their own sectarian purposes.
MASSACRE OF THE MORMON PROPHET AND HIS
BRoTHER-FATE OF MoRMoNIsM.- to the
last accounts from the west and those most to be
relied on, Joe Smith and his brother were actually
massacred in the midst of civilized community.
The first accounts from that quarter came from
sources hostile to the Mormons, and hence repre-
sentation was made that an attempt was made by
Joe to escape and that in this attempt he was des-
troyed But it appears from other and subsequent
accounts, that mob, disguised in all possible ways,
entered the prison. and actually massacred, in cold
blood, the Mormon chiefs Such brutal, bloody
and dark tragedy perhaps never before took place
in any civilized country.
Instead of sealing the fate OF Mormonsm, we are
now rather inclined to believe that this revolving
transaction may give only additional and greatly
increased strength TO that sect Joe and his brother
will be regarded as martyrs to their faith, and but
little knowledge of human nature and the history
of the past, is necessary to inform us of the fact
that violence, oppression, and boodshed strengthen
instead of subduing fanatcism.
The bitterness with which the war against the
Mormons has been waged, appears to us, at this
distance, altogether unaccountable We have
Mormons here, and Fourieres, and all sorts Of
fanatics who exhibit themselves in variety of
phases ridiculous, impudent and foolish but they
never have excited this intensity of hatred, produ-
cling MURDER massacre and assassination. There
must be something not yet revealed behind the cur
tain, and we await with great anxiety, further in
felgence from the scene of these melancholy and
revolving transactions for more insight that we have
yet obtained into their origin.
CAUTION TO NEwsBoY RIOTERS, FIRE ENGINE
RowDIEs, &c.-On Sunday last, two youths, news
boys of the Sun paper, of the of Daniel DAILY
and James Edmonds, were apprehended by order
OF Mr.. Justice Lutkins at Hoboken, near Mr.. Per-
rvs house, for creating disturbance, and throw
ingsones Shortly after, theywere brought up before
the worthy magistrate, and the charge being fully
proved, they committed to Jersey prison until
they know how to behave, or ample security is given
for their better conduct in future The Justices of
this district, we are happy to hear, are determined
to enforce the laws against all disturbers of the