Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-20
From the Daily Inte.ligencer.
The Riots In st. Louis.

ORIGIN OF THE RIoT.--We have seen at
least twenty eye witnesses of the origin OF the
recent tumult, and have received from them
twenty different reports. 1t is impossible to
state with accuracy precisely how the thing be-
gun, or with what party the blame Of com
mencing it lies. The fact is, that people had
been prepared to expect fight on election
day; many were armed in anticipation; the
fuel was there, and the first accidental spark
kindled it into a fearful flame.
Had the thing not been suggested, it would
probably never occurred but so many minds
were dwelling upon the sinister predictions
the preceding week, that everything was in
train to kindle the first spark of disturbance
into a flame of sedition. The spark fell, and
the blaze followed as a matter of course. This
is the plain truth about the matter, and it is
useless to seek further for the simple cause of
all the late disastrous tumult. AS we said be-
fore, there was no especial hostility TO any par
ticular nation, class, clique, or creed. The
Irish were attacked because the fight happened
to be commenced by an Irish rowdy had il
been German who struck the first blow, no
doubt the fury of the mob would have been
directed against the Germans, and SO on.
The Republican attempts heightened and
ingenious explanation Of the thing, in which it
throws all the blame upon the Irish, who, it
says, to the number of three or four hundred,
surrounded the polls, using loud, angry, and
infammatory language, and winding up by
stabbing boy. We can find no confirmation
of this story, and in the present state Of public
feeling, should not be disposed to publish idle
and unsupported rumors calculated to noursh
a deplorable and unustifed feeling of hostility
towards body of our fellow citizens, some Of
,Lo,1 .lr al
recent ARRAYS, and for whom, as the weaker
party, natural sympathy must be felt amongst
chivalrous hearted men. We have no reason
to suppose that the Irish premeditated any
riot, or prepared for one, or were particularly
riotous on election day, and though an Irish
rowdy began the fight, that was mere acct
dent to which nothing but the excited state Of
feeling amongst certain class round the polls
gave any particular Importance. Irish loafers,
as well as other classes Of loaters daily come
to blows, but not every day do their unruly
actions provoke such lamentable results.
During the riots the excitement against the
Irish Catholics was stimulated by report that
firearms were concealed in their churches.
The following card fully contradicted this false
hood:
To THE PuBLIc-His honor the mayor hav.
ing heard that many Of the citizens were under
the belief that arms and ammunition had been
placed in the College and st. Patrck's Church,
and believing that such an impression was cal
culated to produce excitement and illfeelings
in the public mind, he deemed it expedient to
appoint a committee TO ascertain whether there
were any grounds for entertaining the belief
that arms had been provided as was supposed.
The undersigned were appointed; and they
take pleasure it stating that they searched
most thoroughly the churches abovenamed,
and were unable to find any arms or ammuni-
ton, and they are satisfied that there are no
grounds for believing that any thing in the ma
ture Of arms or ammunition are concealed in
either of said churches. The reverend gentle
men in charge of said churches extended most
cheerfully every facility to insure complete
and full search.
The Committee are satisfied that the Arch.
Bishop was anxious that the investigation
should be made, and, as evidence Of the fact
attach the following letter.
THos. B. HUDsoN,
HUDsoN l.. BRIDGE,
n. j. EATON,