Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1850-11-22
The Disturbance at EaneuiI Hall.

Edmund Quincy, the chairman of the lhomp- !
500 reception meetng," in Faneull llal, has writ
ten letter TO the editor of the Post, in reply TO the
statement made in some Of the papers, that 1t was
in his power, at any moment, by calling upon the
chief of the police TO have secured order, and obtain
ed for MIR. Thompson quiet hearing, and that the
disturbance was IN great measure OWING his
neglect of duty Mr.. Quincy denies the truth of
this alegation-and to substantate his position
tends, FIRST, that it the duty of the City Marshal
with the police force under him, to have nterlered
and preserved order without the request ofthe Pres-
dent He contends that the law passed in l849, i'm
posing fine of thirty dollars for wiful disturbance
or interruption of any lawful assemblage, was sul-
cent authority for the Marshal act in the premises,
and that it in fact made it his duty so to do.
In the second place, Mr. Quincy contends that he
did make sufficient ntmatlon that the assistance
ofhe police required, and all the request neces-
sary to satisfy the exgency ofhe case, suppos-
ing the law to have been different. He complains
that neither The Marshal any of his force report
ed themselves to him, but on the other hand ''avod
ed him as scrupulousy as if he the Presidency had
been rloter himself" As soon as he learned O
their presence he left the chair and taking the plat
form said, 81 have to inform the audience that the
City Marshal Is present with strong force of po-
lice, tor the purpose of preserving order This i.
our house for the night. You are here on our in.
vaton. If you do not like our entertainment there
is the door, and you are free to retire. fyou re.
main, you must cease these disturbances or con.
tine them at your PERIL This he conceives to be
sufficient appeal to the Marshal or the police tc
protect the meeting and prevent further disturb
ance.
In relation to the character of the disturbance Mr.
Quincy Is of the opinion,
'Flrst, that the rioters, though mostly young men
were not 6oyS, but mostly, apparently, clerks in shops
or mechanics apprentices; secondly that they were
organized and az plined, if not paid thirdly, that
though sufficiently numerous to be permanently an.
moving, they might have been removed, and the ring
leaders arrested by the marshal and police assisted
by the orderly part of the audience
In passing, Mr.. Quincy states that the only rea-
to the subject for the non-nterference of the police
was that the rioters were too strong and numerous
tor the police to contend with From this opinion
Mr. Quincy differs, and contends that the Marshal
"lf he had not, like prudent man, seen the evil
aiar off and hid HIMSELF" might have routed the
rioters IN fifteen minutes, and swept them from the
Hall. In conclusion, MIR. Quincy states that the
Mayor and Marshal, in admitting the above state
ment, virtually acknowledge the supremacy Of the
mob, and h asks, evil the citizens confirm it?''
Mr. Quincy and some of his friends have taken
measures 10 lay formal charge against the Marshal
before the city government. The matter will then
doubtless be fully and fairly investigated
In a supplementary letter to the editor ofthe Post
published Wednesday morning, Mr.. Quincy states
that the City Marshal was waited on by Rev. Theo-
dore Parker at his (NIr Quncy's) request, and ask
ed in the name Of the President to restore order.
MI Quincy states that the Marshal replied 81 dom
care anything about your President