The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-18
The Erie War.

Yesterday witnessed the lntroduotl0n OF a
new feature into the Erie war. The ladies of
that highly civilized community jealous of the
glory and renown which their husbands are
winning resolved to emulate their noble deeds,
and gallantly undertook the destruction Of q
bridge. We have no doubt that in the prose-
cution OF this worthy task they displayed all
the graces and virtues peculiar to their
sex; and that while they were abusing Mr..
Walker and pelting him with rotten eggs
they did not for moment lose sight OF maiden
" reserve or matronly dignity. With whatever
feelings, or after whatever sacrifices, they have
taken the field, we cannot wonder at the
act. 1t is but the natural consequence of the
violence and lawlessness of which Erie has
been the theatre during the whole of the past
month. For the petticoat riot there was ample
precedent in the instruction headed by Mayor
King and in breaking down the bridges these
Erie Amazons are only following the example
set them BY their fathers, brothers, husbands,
and the municipal authorities of the place. TIE
mere introduction of a reinforcement of female
rioters alters nothing ia The merits of the case
and, despite our regard for the chivalry and
valor of the ladies, we cannot think that will
exercise any very formidable influence over its
issue.
The causes of the war remain what they were
Viewed in one light, it is contest between the
State Legislature Of Pennsylvania and the To-
cal authorities OF Erie The former authorizes
a railroad company to lay track through
Erie and prescribes certain gauge To this
the latter object, on the ground that
they alone have the right of controlling
and regulating their own streets and the rail
roads within their borders, and that they will
not tolerate gauge Of the dimensions selected
by the company The latter are accordingly
arrested in the prosecution of the work, their
rails are torn up their bridges broken down
and all this by the Mayor and the municipal
authorities of Erie. This is the case viewed
on the surface. At the very outset the flaw in
the prstensions of the rioters is obvious. They
claim to be no rioters, because, say they, they
were acting under the authority and in virtue
OF the municipal ordinances of the town of Erie.
But the only validity possessed by these ordi-
nances was derived from the act of the Penn
sylvania Legislature which authorized Erie to
make them. Now, that same Legislature. by
subsequent act, gives certain rights to
railroad company; can it be pretended for
moment that. wherever these two acts may
clash, the one that is latest in date ought not
to prevail The Erie lawyers themselves can
not deny so obvious proposition. We are
aware that it has been urged that the charter
of the Franklin Canal Company was obtained
by fraud, and that the company have awaited
themselves Of it to carry through enterprises
which the Legislature did not contemplate
when the association was Incorporated. But
these are mere assertions, which have not and
could not be proved. Bribery in a legislature
is the easiest charge in the world to make,
and, except under very peculiar circumstances,
can never be proved. Even IL il were established
in this case the charter would still possess the
commencing to lay the track which has created
so much disturbance the railroad company were
careful to confne themselve within the strict lin
its Of their authority On the face of It, therefore,
the Erians are already guilty Of resisting and
rebelling against one of the laws of their State.
Their insubordination and rebelion-which
nothing can possibly justify-are the first facts
which are established by an inquiry into the
origin of the disturbance Those tell so heavily
against the Erians that it becomes very diff
cult to pursue the inquiry afterwards without a
certain shade of prejudice.
Attempting the task however, we find that,
oil superficial questions OF law set aside, the
H. II l.
terests Of Buffalo on the one side and those OF
Erie on the other. Both those places desire
that break in the liue OF railroad connecting
the coast with tie West should take place with.