Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-08-17


men:
Z" Ii matters not that the occasion
was one Of great political ferment; it
matters not who were the aggressors,
the assailants and the assailed are a
like deserving of indignant reproba-
ton, since they were both guilty OF
violating the law, 10y usurping the
authority of the judiciary and aveng-
ing with their own hands their real
iancied injuries. !, rs from such
shameful riots as these that our insti-
tuiions are brought into Disgrace
IL is not one city alone which suffers
from the effect Of sanguinary law
lessness, the whole country shares in
the opprobrium. Ii such ouirages
continue if the majesty OF the
law is not rendered paramount to the
act of individuals; if in broad day,
and in the midst of crowded city,
we are TO settle our quarrels with
the bowie knife, the revolver and
the frcbrand, we had better close
our tribunals, ignore oil government
except that of force, and be prepared
10 try conclusions with the first per-
son we encounter iii the street.
II is strange that the people Of U.
States, people so sensitive of the
opinion in which they are held abroad
who pride themselves on the free
dom they enjoy, on the tolerance
they avow, and especially on their
capacity for self-government, should
suffer themselves to become guilty
Of acts which are semi-barbarous in
their character, and so utterly de
s,ructive of all those vative
elements, upon the permanence of
which depends the existence Of the
Republic"
The only additional intelligence
we have in regard to the riots, is
contained in the following dispatch
TO a New York paper. 1t is no, ma
terially different from other accounts,
but il gives some new facts. The
dispatch is dated Tuesday, ~ NJ:
% In the First ward about nine o.
clock yesterday morning, while the
election was going quietly on, some
disturbance arose at the polls. Mr..
Burgc, an American, was insulted,
stabbed and beaten until it was sup
posed he was dead, by party Of
Irishmen. The assaulters were i'm
mediately arrested and lodged in
Jail. In the afternoon, three Ameri-
cans were fired upon while quietly
passing German brewery, several
squares from the polls. One gentle
man, who was riding along with his
wife, was fired on at the same time,
several squares below. A perfect
shower Of shot and bullets was rain
ed from the windows OF German
houses, and many people were
wounded. The foreigners seen in
the whole vicinity were armed, and
attempted the ind.scrimate slaughter
of Americans. An immense crowd
OF Infatuated Americans assembled,
and were fired at from the windows,
when they burned the German brew
cry and sacked several houses.
The most serious rioting occurred
in the Eighth Ward. About 6 PM,
as three Americans were quietly pass
ing along Maine street, they were
set on by ten Irshmen, and fifteen
shots were fired by tho latter. One
American, named Rhodes. was kill.
ed, and both the Others wounded. -
The Irish then took refuge in a
house on the corner of Chappel and
Market street, whence they fired and
wounded several Americans, and
killed two, named Graham and Hold.
son. The firing from the houses Wa,
continued for half an hour, until the
Americans procured arms and rein,
forccments, and broke open iii,
house. They succeeded in captur
ing the murderer Of Graham, ant
Immediately hung him. A police
man cut him down while still living
but he died this morning.
In the meantime the was a perfec
fusilade from rifles and guns from I
row of Irish houses on the corner O
Eleventh aud Main streets, on al
passing Americans, several Of whom
were BADLY wounded. The Who'll
row was filled with Irish, all armed
A crowd of Americans assembled
and failing TO dislodge them, fire,
one of the houses, and sent for rein
iorcemenis, which soon arrived will
musket and cannon. Several Irish
men in the burning building wer
shot and others captured. Report
were heard in the buildings, but n,
attempt was made TO put out the fire
and two or three blocks were burne,
down. Several other fires also oc
Cured last night.
On leaving the Eighth Ward, III
Infuriate mob marched TO the Time
office, which was only saved frou
demolition by the efforts of MI
Prentice, aud others Of the Ameri
can party.
This morning there were rumor
of more disturbance, and lara,
crowds were assembled in the streets
About III o'clock a mob started /.
the levee and attacked a row of IrisI
houses, whence it was reported shot
were fired this morning. The crowd
however, were restrained, aud ever,
effort is being made to restore peace