Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-18
The Gauazu Riota


Friday forenoon, TO consider what steps should be
taken to preserve the peace ofsthe city, and to
prevent the rec lrrence of such another meancho-
ly and dsgraceful scene as took place on Thurs
day eyeninalast.
At length discussion cnsued between the Al
dermen, who were generally of opinion that the
civil authorities could not preserve the peace
The followingis the Mayors statement
alt is necessary that l should make some ex-
plantations, asI perceive by the papers that have
been miSrepresented. l will state exactly what
took place during the afternoon. took the pre-
caution. along with Col. Ermitinger, 10 get the
troops 50 placed that at moments warning they
might be on the spot and not risk the destruction
OF life and property by being three quarters of
hour in arriving alter their presence was necessa
ny. l went to the spot early in the evening, at
about half past six o'clock, and remained there,
endeavoring with all my might and all my heart 10
keep the peace. The responsibility attaching to
me was great, and felt that responsibility. AT
length perceived that all the efforts pf tie police
TO keep the peace were unavailing and that IN the
course of few minutes there would be great
deal of disturbance, and l went at once for the
troops. ft=r some delay, the troops we.e brought
to the spot, and were drawn up, one range facing
the church, There was great deal Of noise and
confusion, and number of persons came to me,
pointing to the Hay market, and said-'Luok at the
firng-look at the people numbering one anoth-
err In this great confusion wat did, do? Tread
the Riot Act but never gave the word to fire.
The reason why read the Riot ActwaS TO be pre-
pared in case OF sudden rush. So great was the
concourse of people that had every reason TO be-
lieve that rush would be made, and SO TO be pre-
pared for it, and from motives Of prudence, read
the Riot Act. | believe that for my part never
gave authorityeither to the right or the lett 10 fire.
In reading the Riot Act beiieye-though am
not very sure-Ihat heard some one at a distance
say 'ireP The captain never came near me to re-
quest, Mr.. Mayor shall dispense the mob-shall
freq Nothing the kind was done. w hen the
yolley was fired without my authority, lcried out
at once, 'For Gods sake, wi hat have you been do
ing9 what necessity was there for fring2'' and
that can vouch for before my Maker. The fl
ring surprised me exceedingly. l could not con-
ceiye why they fred. These are my explanations,
and am ready TO appear before any tribunal and
state these facts. state them to you sincerely
and honestly. and truthlully.'
PUBLIC NJ :ETING OF CiTIz ENS.-A large meeting
of citizens leld at st. Georges Hall, ut
O'Clock, T.. NJ, yesterday, for the purpose OF cont
sidering tine safety oil the city, William Edmon-
ston Esq, IN the chair.
The chairman stated that the meeting had been
called by placard, which he read. He would
say that deputation had waited upon Father
Ga.azzi from meeting oiinfuential citizens held
that morning. The deputatlon had Afterwards
proceeded 10 the corporations. 1t was now fer this
meeting to decide whether Father Gavazzl would
be protected, aud the lives of those who chose 10
20 10 hear him, if he lectured again. II he (he
ChMrman) was rightly Informed, the Mayor had
stated that he1gould not take any responsibility.
(Hisses.l He trusted, however, that the meeting
would give the resolution about TO be proposed
calm and deliberate consideration.
The principal resolutions as follows:
Resolved. That as British subjects, this meeting
takes the opportunity of reiterating, in the most
emphatic manner, the right OF all men, on British
soil, to assemble for the purpose OF free discus
sion. that this is privilege which has never been
denied, except in times of temporal and spiritual
despotism, anu we now express our utmost abhot-
ence and Indignation al the attempt to interfere
with this privilege on Thursday evening last, in
| this city, as all outrage not TO be tolerated.
| Resolved, That this meeting cannot separate
without expressing its high gratiic"tion on the
promptltude with which Father Gavazzi has con-
sentet to deliver his second lecture, III compliance
with the wish of the meeting; but that as the con-
dition on which he thus consented is the guaran-
Tee ofthis meeting that there shall be no breach
OF the peace, and that the safety CT the lives OF
our fellow citizens shall be secured, having no
confidence in the constituted authorities OF the CT
ty, and having no time 10 make necessary prepa
ratons them elves, the meeting Is OF opinion that
the conSidelate previous resolve OF Father Gavaz-
ri to postpone for the present his intention OF lee
turing, should he yielded TO.
AreSoluticn was also adoptei thanking the mil
itaty and police for their unfinching performance
| II their duty,
The e!egraph states that two more deaths had
occurred among those wounded during the riot,
making thirteen deaths i'll all.
| View OF TIE MONTREAL RIors BY CATHOLIC
JoRRNAL.-The Montreal Transcript, Catholic
journal, discourses on the riots in the following
temper:
Father Gdvazzi seems to have come opportunely
10 enliven the newspapers. We are full of the
details f the not, which was certainly most dis
graceful one. In the piesS, and in the Parliament
there are no two opinions; the opinion is, that
lnerant lectur rs, on quasi-reIigions topics, are
Euisances, BUTT at, TO interrup; them by force, is
fragrant violation of all civil and religious lber-
| ty. No one has any right TO go and listen, unless
he means 10 listen patiently. If any one sIeaks
anything blasphemous indecent, that is thing
for the police 10 appre bend, and the courts of JUS
lice to correct. Poemic abuse has never been
considered, however degrading in the individuals,
any legal sin.
We cannot, possibly, enter into any portion of
the theological questions raised by NJ. Gavuzzi any
more than we did into those raised by Mr.. Brow n
son. Nothing is Than finging dirt; and I'M
fortunately the sins of humanity are too many not
TO leave to every unchartable man sufficient nate
rails for reproach. In saying so, we are not at
temnting to blame the merits of any religious
creed; the only opinion we wish to express is,
that reproach is not charity.