Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-08-09
ouTRAGEs AT LOUISVILLE, KEN



lucky.
We cannot do better than give the following
article from the Iateligsneer Of yesterday upon
the q Election riot at Louisville" 1t is so much
more calm and dignified than anything we would
have been likely to say on this subject, that we
with great pleasure transfer it to columns.
There is nothing so deservedly reprehensble to
our view, as the infusion Of violence and blood
shed into the free, full, rightful and guaranteed
exercise of suffrage.
The ballot-box is the chief, the main, and most
important feature in the charter of our liber-
ties To make approach to it, even, matter
of peril to those who have the right to go, is
simply revolutionary, and unless punished by tho
law, and, what is far more effective, by public
opinion, must sooner or later bring our insti-
tutions into disrepute, demoralize our people,
and give anarchy in the place of peaceful and
respectable Government. Well do our neigh
bors Of the InteAigencer say, it matters not who
did il, who commenced it. The public journal,
which, for partizan or other purposes, at
tempts to justify PALATE or excuse such
outrages is partceps crimiais to those outrages
itself. Nay, more, if public journals be the re-
fiex of public opinion, as they should be-for that
is their rghtful mssion-it is criminal if they do
not denounce in the most unmeasured terms
friends and foes, who may have been parties to
these horrible atrocities. The press is said to be
the palladium Of our liberties;'' and from what
source, then, should more fifty come the severest
reprobation of such outrages upon those liberties
We propose TO our contemporaries everywhere
in our country, of whatsoever political faith, to
unite, and, by the power of the pen, if its infiu-
ence and power be not wholly lost in the infuriate
spirit that seems to characterize latterly our po-
tical contests, to crush out ''while it is yet to-
day." this worst of all evils that has sprung up
among us--an evil, which, if not blasted in the
buds like noxious weed, will grow and spread
its baneful influence over our land. Good must
result from such a union, for the public mind
will become instructed to the fearful results to
which these murderous revolts against the exer-
else of the right of suffrage will lead.
For ourselves, we turn from the contemplation
of such disgracefiil scenes, in our own free and
happy land, with Indignation and disgust.
ELECTION RIOTS AT LOUISVILLE.
The evidently not impartial and we trust
greatly exaggerated telegraphic dispatches
from Louisville record scenes of riot, violence
and bloodshed, during the election held in that
city on Monday, which all true lovers of law
and order will denounce in the most solemn
and emphatic language.
1t matters MOTTO adopt the language of the
Baltimore Patriot Of last evening--it matters
not that the occasion was one of great political
ferment, il matters not who were the aggres.
IL. H., al.
deserving of indignant reprobation, since they
were both guilty of violating the law by usurp-
ing the authority of the judiciary, and aveng-
ing with their own hands their real or fancied
injuries. 1t is from such shameful riots as
these that our institutions are brought into
disgrace. 1t is not one city alone which suf-
fers from the effects of sanguinary lawlessness
the whole country shares in the opprobrium
If such outrages are continued; if the majesty
of the law is not rendered paramount to the
acts 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 frebrand, we had better close our tribu.
nails, ignore all government except that Of
force, and be prepared to try conclusions with
the first person we encounter in the street
1t is strange that the people of the United
States-a people so sensitive of the opinion in
which they are held abroad; who pride them.
selves on the freedom they enjoy, on the tole-
rance they avow, and especially on their capa-
city for lfgovernment-should suffer them.
selves to become guilty Of acts which are semi.
barbarous in their character, and so utterly
destructive of all those conservative elements
upon the permanence Of which depends the
existence Of the republic.