Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-04-10
rms ESow-yoTHING RIOTS N cIseiygArl

htss'r ueiiliuS history VI Tue HtsI, as utlaiseS
by the Cincinnati papers, ifsrread before the coun-
try, will awaken 81 good citizens to he reckless
and dangerous character of know-nothingism, as it
exists in this country.
1t win be reco'lectsd that at The election last fall
the know-nothings carried the election in Cinc;n-
4 nati--forsS State and County officers aud Members
I Of Congress--by heavy majorites, in some cases
exceeding 5000. The election last week was for city
officers. There were only two tickets in the field
! the democratic and the know notbing: the
wings of Cincinnati being fused with the know
nothings. The know-nothings determined to car
| ry the election by any means. The llth and 18th
wards being strongly democratic, it was resolved
! to destroy the ballots in those wards In one of
those wards it was charged that the =" foreigners
were preventing native Americans from voting and
this charge was used pretext for assault up.
on the polls and the destruction of the poll-books
| As though the party which was able to effect this
| destruction was not able to secure free passage
to the place of votingl At the other ward the
story started that more ballots had been found
in the box than there were names Of voters on the
poll books. Notwithstanding all the judges in this
ward were know nothings, without whose conni-
vance no surreptitous ballots could have been put
in the box, the know noihings made this rumor the
excuse for destroying the poll-boo in that ward
also. These two wards gave the democratic candi-
datesabout 1900 majority but without their votes the
know-notting candidates would have been elected
by from 400 to 500 majority. By an extract in
another place. it will be that the outrage failed
in accomplishing its ohiect-there being sufficient
evidence of the actual state of the polls in the two
wards in question to authorize the votes to be re-
turned We refer to the facts, and give the an
nexed details from Cincinnati papers, for the pur.
pose of awakening the serious attention Of the
order loving people of Tennessee to the dreadful
results which follow the institution of secret pc
| litical clubs. Riot and murder are every where
their legitimate fruits.
| The following comments are from the Cincin-
natl Enquirer oftbe 5tb
THE GREAT DEMooRArio TRIuMpn-C COMPLETE
OVERTHROW OF KNOW -NoTHINoIsM IN CINCINNATI
A DEMOCRATIC GAIN OF $500 IN Six MONTHS
| DESPERATION OF THE ENEMY. One of the most
brilliant victories in the annals of political con-
| tests was won by the Democracy of Cincinnati on
Mondays triumph which, when we consider the
circumstances attending it, will have a great in
| UueQce IN prOSlIdJlHg KNOW QObDfDg1Sm through
| out the Union. 1t was, beyond all question, the
hardest. fought and most closely contested poiti-
cal battle ever fought in this county or State
Although an election for municipal offices only,
party lines were more closely and strictly drawn
than is usually the case in the fall canvass. The
odds were apparently overwhelming against the
| democracy. The know nothings at the last cleo
ton in October, had carried the city by clear ma
| jority $780, their organization perfect, their
discipline excellent, and, in fact all the presages
| were largely in their favor. They were believed
| to be much the strongest SIDE, and around their
standard rallied the timid, fuctuating, popularity
| loving class which goes by the name of the Goat
vote, aud thither also went the mercenary and Of
fee hunting species. But notwithstanding all these
adverse circumstances and the majority of thou
sands by which they were weighed down, the de-
mocracy, with undaunted energy and resolution,
early took the field with spirit and vigor that
| indicated glorious results. They commenced the
| work Of organization thoroughly, and brought an
exceLe 1T ticket before the people.
! 1t was not long after the opening Of the polls
that the signs became apparent to the observer
| that know nothngism was doomed TO an igno.
minious defeat They were thronged with the de-
mocracy, in the best spirit and animation, laboring
diligently to bring up their votes; while the know
nothing camp seemed to be in state of lutter and
CONSERVATION. Important influences which last
Octoter were thrown heavily against us were now
| entirely employed in our favor. Our adopted citi-
| Zens especially, who allowed themselves then to
be divided by the arts aud ntrigues of the enemy,
now presented almost solid column against the
proscnptive and intolerant faction, which, in de-
fsnce of cardinal and well understood American
and Democratic principles was endeavorng to dis
| franchise them of ell their political rights and
| privileges. 4 little after noon the know nothing
| leaders and managers could not distinguish from
| themselves that their case was hopeess-inevta-
BILE defeat stared them in the face Seeming to
have some anticipation of such event, or, at any
rate, to guard against the contingency they imme-
| diatey resorted to acts of the most ignominious
| and damning character, the remembrance of which
will for long time tarnish the fair fame of our
noble city, and which will bring their order into
eternal disgrace. They had sent to Maysville, KY,
for several know-nothing councils to come to this
| city and take part in our elections. The names of
| the lodges are: Mavsvile Council, Worthington,
| do, Minerva do, johannesburg do. Poplar, do,
! Dover do, KY. Three hundred delegates from
these councils armed to the teeth with revolyers
and bowie knives, and headed by prominent
members of the Kentucky Legislature, very early
on Monday morning landed from the Boone, and
soon found their way into our know nothing lodges
We are assured by gentlemen who have conversed
| with them, that propositions were soon made TO
| them by K. N TO vote at the different polls
This offer they claim to have resented with indg-
| nation, asserting that they were brought down
mere 10 ne Up lher brother know nothipg5 preserve
peace at the polls but not to vote. The idea, how
ever, OF men being brought from Maysville to help
Cincinnati maintain order on election day, is en-
tirey absurd, since armed as they were they would
be much more likely to excite than repress distur-
bance.
We understand that this Maysvle importation
was brought here under the auspices Of ]. j. Den
MIS- the know nothing nominee fer Police Judge;
that he a chief participant in the disgracefuI
transaction. They also had other Kentucky know
nothing delegates on the ground to preserve the
purity OF Ohio eectionsl Although much rowdy-
ism and many Infamous assaults upon peaceful and
unofeuding democrats were committed during the
day, it rot until toward its close that the
know nothings executed what they supposed to be
their coup detat. We allude to their seizure and
destruction, by force, of the ballot box in the
eleventh ward their assault upon the Mayor; and
attempted seizure Of the votes of other polls where
the democrats were known to be largely in the ma
jority. That the destruction of the boxes was a
premeditated scheme no one doubts who is familiar
with the facts and circumstances. The election
Judges were warned as early as two or three o'clock
that the thing in contemplation, but could not
believe it. The know-nothiDg leaders were de-
termned to elect their ticket by force and fraud if
the people decided against them
Herelet us remark, that when last Fall the know
nothngs beat the Democracy badly in this city,
the election was very quiet and orderly, the De-
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