Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-31
WASHINGTON CITY ELECTIONS.

place on Monday next They excite warm and
they have ever excited before. The result of the
Virginia election has given sharpness to the
contest that will no doubt make il more pungent
than pleasant. That result has communicated
an active stimulus to the enemies of Know
nothingism, whilst it has added rancor and dcspe-
ration to the members of the new order.
Among the opponents of the secret enemy are
many. of our most prominent, influential and
active Wings. Their numbers will, no doubt,
be greatly swelled by new accessions. The
shameful and riotous proceedings of Saturday
night, on the occasion of the serenade TO Mr..
Wise, will, it is believed, drive off many quiet,
respectable, rejecting persons, who would other
wise have voted the Know-nothing ticket. They
will not act with mobs, who heed none Of the re-
straints of Law, religion, courtesy, decency.
If there are any who desire to see their
tional metropolis ruled by mobs-who desire to
see distinguished strangers insulted and denied
the Inequalities of city that belongs alike
to all the States-who desire TO sec public
meetings Of respectable citizens broken up by
gangs of ruffians, then the Know-nothng ticket
will suit them. Let them go and vote it. Let
them act in concert with the men who, on Sa-
turday night, cast so bright lustre the Secret
Order. Other parties control the vagabonds that
belong to them. The Know-nothings seem to
surrender all control to their vagabonds
We believe, we know, that the respectable
members of that order reprobate the mob of Sa-
turday night. II is high time for them to quit an
order which furnishes mob of rioters on the oc-
casion Of every political gathering in the city,
and who set SO vile an example 10 the youth of
the city.
From all we can learn, we are induced to be-
lieve that the Know-nothings of Washington
will share the fate Of their brethren in Virginia
~ We publish the following letter from NJ.
II. Grinnell, esq, to Hon. Hamilton Fish, in
which certain expressions used by Mr.. Grnnel,
in condemnation of the course Of Senator Fish.
in regard TO the Passenger bills, are retracted
NV YORK, May q, 1855.
DEkR Sir: In the observations made by me at
the Merchants meeting, held at the Exchange,
in February last, on the subject of the . Pas
senger bills, then pending before Congress- in
condemnation of the course pursued by you in re-
to you iusincerity towards myself and the other
gentlemen who had recently conferred with you
in behalf Of the interests involved at Wash
ington.
My own strong impressions what had passed
between us, and my warm interest in the sub
ject, suggested at the moment, terIas of express
sion which a more deliberate judgment would not
have adopted. Subsequent reflection, and intel
lgence from various sources, Of your different i'm
pressions of our interview, and finding that
letter addressed 10 you by the committee, while
at Washington, had not been sent in season 10
reach you, have satisfied me that IL was unjust
| for me 10 assume that your view of the facts Of
the case must necessarily coincide entirely with
my own recollectons. On the contrary your
known public and private character should have
given me confidence in the uprghtness Of your
intentions and the integrity Of your conduct.
With these convictions, my own sense Of right
impels me to recall the impntations, injurious or
disresPectful to yourself personally, included in
my remarks on the occasion referred TO, and TO
express my sincere regret that ! should have
made them.
write this letter with the desire that the same
| publicity should be given to IL as was given to
the speech made by me at the Exchange meeting.
Respectfully, yours,
NJ II GRINNELL.
Hon. HAmnroN FISH.