New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-03-30
From the D4lta, March -.
The Election Vio1ences.


Tor peace and order on occasions of public cleo
tons has been the theme of general approval,
should be suddenly converted into scene of
violence, tumult and bloodshed, we instituted
yesterday diligent and thorough inquiry into
the causes and facts of the lamentable occur
rences of Monday. We entered upon this exam
anatlon with minds entirely devoid of bias pas
sion, or any kind of excitement We had taken
warm interest in this election Of Monday, hut
solely on the ground of reform to establish a
doctrine which we have always maintained, that
the government of this city should be confded
to respectable citizens, without regard to party
We gave our warmest support to ticket COM
mitted to that principle, composed equally of
gentlemen OF both political parties. Having no
connection or sympathy with any association or
combination, we limited our efforts and desires
entirely to this single objsct-of procuring for
our iil-governed city an administration which
should be freed from the burdens and restraints
of party We state this in order that our mar
ratiye OF the facts may not be suspected of bias
or prejudice.
1t is well known that under the system of
grog- shop caucuses set of very low and dis
reputable characters, and, what is worse, of very
reckless demagogues, have acquired political
ascendaney in this city, which has given great
disgust and offence to the respectable citizens of
| both parties. Decent, quiet citizens have been
virtually driven from the primary assemblages
by low roWdies and bullies, and have been com
PEELED, under the ban of outlawry, to vote for
such persons as these caucuses might select
Under this system very improper nominations
have been made for public Offices, and persons
elected to responsible stations who forgot the
interests confded to them, and regarded only
their own interests and that of a party
One Of the forms of this dangerous dema-
goguery was a systematic attempt to combine
our Irish fellow citizens into a compact and dis
inctlve body, and place them at the beck and
nod OF party managers, to be employed by them
IN aid of any of their nefarious schemes. Left
to their own instincts and better feelings, this
class of our citizens would, no doubt, mingle and
merge themselves in the rest of the community !;
but, appealed to as q separate class, caioled,
fattered and humbugged by selfish partsans
they are forced into position which must Mways
excite and keep alive bitter passions and ami
mosities in mixed population like this. John
Mitchell, one of the most courageous, as well as
sagacious, of Ireands many brilliant sons,
clearly perceived this evil, and warned his
countrymen against it, declaring, that an Irish
man should, when he became an American citi-
zen, cease to be an Irishman; that he should
MAINTAIN no distinctions from the rest of the
Americans; that he should repel as an insult all
appeals to him as an Irishman; that he should
hlnk and act for himself; that he should stand
lloof from all organizations, military OF civic,
calculated to keep alive national distinctions
departure from these simple and rational
rules of republicanism and American citizen
hip, has led to the formation of associations
like the Native American Society, and like the
growing and formidable society of ssKnow-
Nothings" No true Republican could feel or
manifest any opposition or ill-feelng towards
any respectable citizen born abroad. Such per-
sons have nothing to fear. They will always
eUjoy equal rights with other citizens. But the
large class who preserve their national distinc-
ions,-who speak of themselves as an Irish
party who combine in Irish associations
take the control of caueuses, conventions, and
become the easy tools of demagogues, native and
foreign; this is the class which has produced I.
leep and widespread feeling of hostility and
and discomfort among the American born We
10 not stop to inquire into the reasonableness
or propriety of this-we are merely stating the
facts
Let us illustrate by reference to transac-
tions In our own city. First, we have conyen.
lions to nominate candidates for public offices
comprised almost exclusively of one class of our
citizens. And even this is not the worst of it,
Citizens of Irish birth, when good citizens, are
just as trustworthy as any others; but the low,
lgnorant, rowdy and debased, whether born in
Ireland, America or elsewhere, ought not to be
entrusted with the high prerogative of nomina-
ting officers for free and enlightened commu,
nity. Unfortunately, too many Of this character
have been found in a single class
Next we have a dominant party appointing
the inspectors of election exclusively from thai
party, and mostly from the class of citizens re-
ferred to- Here was one of the principal causes
Of the disturbances of Monday. In the three
wards in the very centre of the city, where the
American born and mercantile population gen
orally reside, the Inspectors were almost en-
urely lrish-born citizens Added to this, we
have police nineteen -twentieths of whom are
of the same nationality, headed by chief who,
with an intelligence which should have preserv-
ed him from such imprudenoe, seems to have
disregarded the sage counsels of John Mitchell,
and TO have concerned himself more with party
than police affairs-looking after secret political
associations, With which he has no business
instead OF for rogues and disturbers OF the
peace, who fall under his proper jurisdiction
These are the main facts which led to the dis
turbances on Monday.
We conhne ourselves to narrative of what
occurred at the Seventh Ward, the other polls
being generally as well conducted rs usual on
exciting elections. This ward was calculated to
give very large majority for the democratic
ticket The vote in the ward at the previous
elections had exhibited some astounding results
From seven hundred it suddenly rose to eleven
hundred, after very severe and destructive
epidemic. Under such circumstances, it was
natural that suspicious OF unfairness and irre
gularity should be indulged To disarm these
suspicious, to satisfy the public that it was fair
and legal vote, it beloved the party in power
first, to appoint the inspectors judieiously and
fairly; and secondly, to conduct the election
with strict regard to law and equity This
would have satisfied all parties. The most vio-
lently disposed would have been silenced and
reconciled by such procedure We regret to
say this was not done in the Seventh Ward.
The first errer was in appointing corporation
othclals as inspectors who were personally inter-
ested in giving particular direction to the vo-
ting. Next it has been represented by reliable
PERSONS, that votes were received with rapidity
n Id a disregard of the injunctions of the law
VIII. ch disgusted all beholders; challengers were
orde red off and disregarded; demands for the
swear ing of the voters We're refused on the
zrouna that the inspectors had not time, and
persons who were pointed out as having voted
before III I'd who were illegal voters, were re-
ceiyed; Gil izens who invoked the applicationsof
the legal tests, were insulted and threatened
and many other improprieties committed AL
though the average vote of the ward was but
700, we are informed by good authority that a
votes had been received at II o'clock,
lust four hours after the polls were opened.
This would be at the rate of four persons mi
mute, rate which excludes all idea that the re-
auirements of the law were. regarded.
These circumstances produced great excite
ment among the citizens, and large crewd as
sembled near the polls. In front of the Judges
stand and the ballot box was a room, sometimes
t,ll yThn h lad