Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-23
TILE I. arEournAGE AT ERIE, PA.

We find the following card in the New York
Tribune and publisIlit Tor the benefit OF travellers
The people of Erie are worse than savages, and
tr,vsIIefs should look upon their town as place to
heshunned at Aall hazards and to the last extren-
ity" Men who, for the sake of maklnga few cop
mrs will commit the ouuages alluded to in this
card viii not hesitate TO rob and murder travellers
,beneverthey cannot get enough from them by
cheatery and extortion. 1t need not be imagined
that these outrages wer committed by the low ruff
fans of Erie only. The Mayor and indeed all the
citizens countenanced and participated in the riots
and it has even been stated in the papers that the
Governor Of the State has sgniled his approval OF
their conduct We have seen no contradiction OF
this statement, but we do hope that some of our
democratic cotenporaries in Pennsylvania viii brand
il. if false; and not false viii brand Gov. BIGLER
asa recreant to the great democratic principles of
law and order. Such conduct on the part of high
public Iunctionary, though he were the best demo
cra in the land should not escape the witherng in
dgnation of the democratic press: 4
BARBARoUs TREATMENT OF RAILWAY TRAVELLERS
AT ERIE, PA-1he subscribers were travellers on
the Lake Shore Railroad, and represent about 500
tirst-claSs fellow passengers many Of whom had
through tickets, on the faith of which and on the
,tpeated assurances oftcket agents We all expected
10 arrive without interruption at ouf various desti-
nations Nhatwas our surprise on arriving here,
at O'Clock p NJ. tOi.ad oar further progress stop
ped, no agent or officer Of the Railway Company
10 give Us any information the inhabitants in great
excitement crowds along the line tearing up rails,
and the glare of burning bridges, lit by yandal IN
cendaries. in the distance. A deputauon waited
on the President of the Railroad Committee, who
represented TO him the condition OF ladies and child
req. being obliged to sit up all night at the depot,
IA beds could not be procured. His reply that
the fault lay with the Railway Agents west, as he
had orders teleyraphed to them TO forward no more
lrassengers-that he could do nothngl He also said
all the officers were along the line and he did not
know the moment intelligence would arrive of
their being killed by the excited populace. Many
hired conveyances az eXorbitant prices far as the
obstruction but returned again to the depot being
unable 10 get forward Thus long sleepless weary
night was passed in Yanhopes Of getting on ladies
and children sharing the common misfortune, with
oat aid, without sympathy from the citizens Of
Erie. With the private griefs of the aggressorS we
have nothing to do, but we must say that If their
State laws be Just fairly administered and the Ex-
ecutiye strong enough 10 make them be obeyed, to
Lave a recourse to physical force was an insult to-
tner Legislature, a violation Of social law, and an
outrage on civilization. What horror to
see at midnight, bridges blazing IN the distance in
ceniary fires all along the line, crowds Of men
digging down entertainments and otherwise engaged
in the nglorious work of destruction and, stranger
still all these outrages sanctioned by the Mayor,
who was sworn to obey the laws he thus encOur-
aged others to violate. 1t was not the sayages of
the ancient forests but the citizens of Erie who thus
DESTROYED the railroad-the bond Of States the dis
ributor of wealth. and the messenger of civilization.
They hold the bad erninence OF being placed beyond
tue rivalry of civilized competition. Their example
none VIII imitate-their acquaintance all will shun.
Signed, on behalf of our fellow travellers.
DAVID LESLIE Lara Castle, Ireland
WILLIAM MITCHELL, Cincinnati O. /
o. j. DOWNING, Illinois. .-.
T. D. SEARLES, New-York City.