The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-08-17
The Louisville Riots.

We have the testimony OF all history TO bear
Us out in the assertion, that the most cruel and
reyengriul measures, when once carried, bave
often been pushed TO their utmost extremity, hy
those very men who, before their enactment,
pretended TO oppose them, in order to throw the
odIum on others. But this opposition has pro-
ceeted from th" lip, and not from the heart. and
probably would not have been made, had not
the oblector have foresren, that ms opposition
would be frutlpsS. II is said, that AUGrsrUs,
with his usual hypocrisy, pretended 10 be shock
ed at the idea of prescription bat percriving
that ANTONY and LEPIpUs were two 10 one a.
galnst him, he knew that his single voice against
the measure would not be sufficient 10 prevent
1t. BY giving il, however, he would preserve
his popularity, and not lose the pleasure OF giut
Ting his revenge. LAcTANTIus informs us. that
when the horrd huicherv commenced IN Rome,
AUGUSTUS carried it on with severity more
unrelenting than either Of his COLLEAGUES and
that whenever LEPIDUs or ANTONY were IN
clined to mercy, either from interest, ensreaty
or bribes, h. alone stood out for blood vita lus-
ty determination. From the light which now
begins to dawn upon the recent hatchery in
Louisville. We are inclined 10 believe, that SONS.
of those miserable Know Nothing ds.nagosues,
after it had run into full activity, were the very
men who counsrllpd and encouraged the act in
the Secret Lodges. Sufficient information has
reached us 10 prove, that the attack upon the
lives and property Of the foreign born citizens
OF Louisville, together with the Catholics of
American birth, was pre-arraneed in ,hp Coun-
cis of the Know-Nothing Order. Several of
the Louisville journals forcshadowed the riot
Il = 4
baSng their intmatons upon the knowledge OF
what had occurred in the Secret Lodges One
OF those journals, until very recently, was the
organ OF the know-Noihing party, and only
Withdrew IFS support, when It discovered The
Infamous designs Of the organization. A few
days preceding the election, the Democratic
party OF Louisville, appointed two we'll known
and respectable citizens from each Ward, to
confer with the Executive authorities of the
know-Nothing Councils, in reference to the
adoption OF measures to protect the right of suf
fragr from apprrhend-d interruption bv the mob
spirit which had prevailed in that City. ever
since the advent of the SECRET Ordrr. It was
believed that Committees of the two partips.
acting in concert, would exercise a moral in
iuence over persons, disposed to BE- disorderly.
The Know Nothings declined any con ference
on the SUtjeef, for the reason, not publicly ex-
pressed, but generally understood that they had
determined to carry the election By acts OF vio-
lence and intimidation. No foreign born citi-
zen was TO be prrrntted TO vote, and this was
to be carried into execution al the hazard of
life and destruction OF property. How faith
fully the reSoice OF th,. Lodges was carried out
we learn by the telegraph, in the death oItwpn-
ty persons, shot or roasted alive, and the burn
ing OF a score Of hoases containing women and
children. And such cowardly fniscrpanis dare
poll0te the name OF American, bv an assumption
OF its title The telegraph, too, is used for the
vile purpose of detanang the character of men
who only resisted with deadly weapons, when
their houses, containing their families, were be-
ing fired over their heads. Had they done less
than shot down the mob, they would indeed
have been unworthy OF being called citizpnS.-
We have seen the same resort to the telegraph
by incendiaries in orr own City. II Is the most
powerful weapon the proscrIptIve party can use
to corrupt aud forestat public opinion; and
they fly 10 it, as the criminals, in former ages,
flew TO the temple for safety.
What other party in this Union but the one
which has seized on the name OF American, on
ly to disgrace it, has resorlrd to the torch,
the stiletto, the mnsket and the cannon, 10 pro-
cure success None whatever. Whenever DE-
feat at the ballot box is imminent, the members
OF that dsgraceful party pant for carnage and
ruin with the most brutal instinct. aKill-kill
burn-burn''-ar the only wofds which their
depraved hearts force 10 their lips, and with
keen relish for the work Of destruction, no mans
property is safe from depreciation. Has an A.
meriean born citizen house occupied by for
rigner by birth, or a Catholic by persuasion, 1t
is given TO the faInes without the least hesita-
tion, and bis person maltreatrd for renting to
such persons. The mob monster may b. truly
said TO have the arms of RRiAGErS, with the