The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-09-07
MISCELLANY.
The Louisville Riots.

BELOW we give letter, written to the
editors ofthe spartanburg Is. C) Spartan,
detailing the particulars Of the late riots in
louisville, kentucky. The Spartan thus
speaks Of the writer of this letter:
"a friend in Louisville, formerly living
i'll this State, who was cognisant of the facts
writes US letter on the riots. From our
knowledge Of his sympathy, and his own
'avowal of connection, with the Know No,
thing party, we presume he furnishes an i'm
partial statement We know him to be a
native, and one who served his country in
the Mexican war, and therfore not easily
scared by gun powder, and this may ac-
count for his being in the midst Of such
scenes as have disgraced Louisville"
The Know Nothing papers Of the coun-
try have iabored to place the responsibility
Of this disgraceful affair upon the foreign
population; but this writer, it will be seen,
tells quite q different tale; and from the
above remarks of the Spartan, as also
from the corroborative testimony given by
a correspondent of the New York Post, we
believe it is the true one. Indeed, when
men prepare themselves TO rob their fellow
citizens Of political rights on the pitiful pre-
text that because Of their religious notions
or place of birth they are unfit to exercise
them, we are not surprised if they forget all
law and all humanity. Know Nothingism
has the elements Of as relentless despotisln
as ever cursed the world. It has only to
possess the power, (Which God forbid it ev-
er may,) to prove it beyond question. We
ask every one to read the letter, aud Judge
what would be the reign, if absolute, of
such DICTATOR
LOUISVILLE, Ky, August 10, 1855.
Dear Friends: Thinking that the state
ment OF an eye witness to our election ri
OTIS of last Monday would interest you,
hasten to lay before you what I saw. You
have often accused me Of belonging to the
American party. Well, until last Monday
did, and felt proud Of the association.
But now L beg leave to differ in opinion
with them as to the mode of "ruling Amer
ica." At 8 o'clock a. m, I took my station
at the first Ward polls. I had only been
there some fifteen minutes when a crowd of
bullies, armed with bludgeons, took their
station likewise. An Irishman came up to
vote. He was asked who he intended to
vote for. He answered "Clarke;" where
upon ono of the "chivalrous Americans
gave him dreadful blow with his club.
Thepoor fellow ran, the crowd after him.
They caught him aud beat MIN nearly to
death. [ endeavored to stop them from Kill
ling him, but was told by friend "to hold
my tongue" Several foreigners had by this
time been chased away from the polls and
dreadfully beaten. In company with sew
I eral went down to see if no means could
Be devised to stop such disgracefu proceed
<lnga when met crowd of 400 or 500,
}hayiAg about half their number armed with
guns and dragging with them cannon,
eehing up. They said "the Dutch had ta-
Ken possession of the polls, and killed 60
Americans" We told them we had Just
come from there, and that the rumor was
false. But they did not heed u.s. so we
turned back with them. On arriving at
the polls not foreigner was to be seen.
Some bullies had went out to the Dutch
part Of the town and broke into house,
J: when one Of them was shot. The mob be-
!. came infHriated at this, and went out there.
I. Then Sommenced the massacre. They shot
down all they saw, and when the poor Dutch
took refuge in their houses they set fire to
their buildings, shooting them as they at
tempted to escape from the flames, thus lit
orally ROASTING THEM ALIVE. Just think
Of it! Helpless woman, innocent children.
and even babes burned to light the great
American party on to their glorious destiny.
There was large brewery in which great
many of the fugitives took refuge. This
became the centre of attack. The mob
8 rushed in, dragged out the poor wretches,
shooting and manning them. They gutted
the brewery as we'll as the house of the pro-
prietor, Just adjoining it, and then set fire to
the whole block. About moon it was ru-
mored that some Americans had been killed
in the English Ward. Invent down town,
and there I witnessed scene that battles
description. Two squares were on fire, and
the Irish were being shot down in cold
blood, and roasted in their houses. An l.
fishman was caught, badly beaten, and left
for dead. His wife came out of q house,
tried to raise him up, when one of the mis-
creants went back and struck herewith a
club. Iaso heard from good autto,;sy--
one who will testify on oaM-that q woman
came out Of one of The houses with little
bsbe in her aymEs Dneof the mob went up TO
heryplaceds tho fnassle nf, his gun 10 the
b Head of the iitt1ss innocent, and scattered
y its brains, on the pssemsnt The fighting
Hss.-..of, rather hunting The Isissh confinned
IN Ssskf os,.I fl1SSi iakv tss; ;l;nhS AZ.