The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-16

could befall our city. 1t would be better for
Louisville that she had no representative in
Congress, better that she should have no Repre-
sentatlves IN the Ssate Legislature, and better
that she should have no voice in the election of
the State ticket, than that she should, on the
DAY OF the election, be the theatre of such a
mortal strife as some of our opponents profess
to anticipate. Every man who shall encourage
or provoke strife, will be acting the part of a
traitor to his country and her institutions. Let
us bear in mind that every human life sacrificed
to spirit of political violence or ferocity may
involve the misery and restitution Of large
and innocent family.
From the Louisville Courier. Aug
We passed yesterday through the forms of an
election. AS provided by the statute the polls
were opened, and privileges granted to such as
were right upon the goose" with a few excep-
TONS to exercise their elective franchise. Never,
perhaps, was greater farce-or, as we should
term 1t, tragedy-enacted. Hundreds and thou
sands were deferred from voting by direct acts
OF intimidation, others through fear of conse-
quences, and multitude from the lack of prop
er facilities. The city, indeed, was, during the
day. In possession of an armed mob, the base
passions of which were Infatuated to the highest
pitch by the incendiary appeals of the newspa-
per organ and the popular leaders of the Know
Nothing party.
On Sunday night, large detachments of men
were sent to the first and second wards, to see
that the polls were properly opened. These
men the American Executive Committee -
supplied with requisite refreshments, and, as it
may be imagined, they were in very fit con-
dltlon on yesterday morning to see that the
rights OF freemen were respected. Indeed they
discharged the important trusts committed to
them In such manner as to commend them for
ever to the admiration of outlaws! They open
ed the polls they provided ways and means for
their own party to vote; they buffed and bullied
all who could not show the sign; they in fact
converted the election into perfect farce, with
out one redeeming or qualifying phase.
We do not know when or how their plan of
operations was devised. Indeed, we do not care
to know when such a system of outrage, such
perfidy, such dastardy, was conceived We only
blush for Kentucky, that her soil was the scene
of such outrages, and that some of her sons
were participants in the nefarious swinde..
1t would be impossible to know when or how
this riot commenced By daybreak the polls
were taken possession of by the American party,
and, in pursuance ofthe preconcerted game, they
used every stratagem or device to hinder the
vote of every man who could not manifest to the
guardians of the polls his soundness on the
Know Nothing question. We were personally
witnesses to the procedure of the party in GER
tain wards, and of these we feel authorized to
speak. AT the seventh ward we discovered that
for three hours, in the outset in the morning, it
was impossible for those not "posted y to vote,
without the greatest difficulty. In the sixth
ward, party Of DULLES were masters of the polls
We saw two foreigners driven from the polls,
| forced to run gauntlet beat numerically,
stoned, and stabbed. In the case of one fellow,
the Hon. VIM. Thomasson, formerly a member
of Congress from this district, interfered, and
while appealing to the maddened crowd to cease
their acts of disorder and violence, Mr.. Thorn
asson was struck from behind, and beat His
gray hairs, his long public service, his manly
presence, and his thorough Americanism, avail
ed nothing with the crazed mob. Other and
serious fights occurred in the sixth ward, OF
which we have no time to make mention now
The more serious and disgraceful disturban.
ces occurred in the upper wards. The vote cast
was but partial one, and nearly altogether on
one side. No show was given to the friends Of
Preston, who were largely in the majority, but
who, in the face of cannon, musket, and revol
vers, could not, being an unarmed and quiet
populace, confront the mad mob. So the vote
was cast one way, and the result stands before
the public.
In the morning, George Berg, carpenter liv.
ing on the corner of Ninth and Market, was killed
near Hancock street. A German named Fitz
formerly partner at the Gulf House, was
severely, if not fatally, beaten.
In the afternoon, general row occurred on
Shelby street, extending from Main to Broad
way We are unable to ascertain the facts con
corning the disturbance. Some fourteen or fif
teen men were shot, including officer Williams
Joe Sewage, and others. Two or three were
killed, and a number of houses chiefly German
coffee-houses, broken into and pillaged. About
clock, when the vast crowd, augmented by
| accessions from every part of the city, and arm
ed with shot-guns, muskets, and rifles, were pro
ceeding to attack the Catholic church on Shelby
street, Mayor Barbee arrested them with
| speech, and the mob returned to the first WARD
polls. Presently large party arrived with 9
| piece of brass ordnance, followed by a number
of men and boys with muskets. In an hour
afterwards, the large brewery on Jefferson street
| near the junction of Green, was set fire to.
In the lower part of the city, the disturbances
were characterized by greater degree O.
bloody work. Late in the afternoon, three Irish
men going down Main street, near Eleventh
were attacked, and one knocked down. Then
ensued a terrible scene the Irish firing from
the windows of their houses on Main street re
peated voleys. Mr. Rhodes, river man, wa,
shot and killed by one in the upper story, and q
Mr.. Graham met with similar fate. An Irish
man, who had discharged a pistol at the back o
a mans head, was shot, and then hung. He
however, survived both punishments. Johr
Hudson, a carpenter, was shot dead during tn,
fracas.
After dusk, row of frame houses on MAR
street, between Tenth and Eleventh, the prop
erty of Mr.. Quinn, well-known Irishman, wa
set on fire. The flames extended across tn,
street, and twelve buildings were DESTROYED
| These houses were chiefly tenanted by Irish
and upon any of the tenants venturing out t.
| escape the flames, they were Immediately sho
down. No idea could be formed of the number
killed. We are advised that fire men mere roast
ed to death, having been so badly wounded b,
gun shot wounds that they could not escape
from the burning buildings.
Of all the enormities and outrages committed
by the American party yesterday and last night
we have no time now to write. The mob, HAVING
satisfied its appetite for blood, repaired to Third
street, and until midnight made demonstrations
against the Times and Democrat offices. The
furious crowd satisfied itself, however, with
breaking few window panes, and burning the
sign of the Times Office.
| At one o'clock this morning, a large fire i:
raging in the upper part of the city.
Upon the proceedings of yesterday and last
night we have no time nor heart now to com
ment. We are sckened with the very thought
of men murdered, and houses burned and pill
LACED, that signalized the American victory
yesterday. Not less than twenty corpses form
the trophies of this wonderful achievement.
From the Louisville Journal, Aug. g.
THE FIRST BLOOD.
The anti-Americans may assert and protest
and swear as strongly as they will, that the
| fearful riots of Monday were begun by the