The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-06-19
Washington City Riots.

= We taks the following account of the riots
at the Washington City polls at the late cleo
ton, from the Washington Organ 1t Will be
recollected that while the Americans secured
,naiorities in both branches Of the City Coun-
Gil the Democrats elected their Mayor by 10
majority. This is very readily accounted tor.
Since the election previous to TINS, the extern
sion of the Treasury, and the extension Of the
Post Office buildings have been commenced
on which are employed some 600 men, nearly
all of whom are foreigners and Democrats
The aggregate vote Of the city last year was
5219. This year it is 5841. Increase 622, or
near the exact number Of the laborers employ
ed upon the Treasury and Post Office extern
sions So far, therefore, from the election of
a fusion Mayor being a cause for surprise it
is in the highest degree surprising that the
American party has been able to preserve its
organization in this city at all The whole
power and patronage of the Federal Govern
ment has been arrayed against it, subjecting
its members to the most ruthless prescription.
The patronage of the Senate is arrayed against
it, aud the patronage of the House has not
been exerted in its behalf Under these I'M
favorable circumstances, the Americans of
Washington may we'll be proud of the result
of the election, and congratulate themselves
that they have not been thoroughly over
whelned and utterly routed by the foreign
troops of this anti American and unprincipled
-;.,;-+..+:oo rrI,o O-ca,, cr;Vac tho f,TlaIr
ing account Of the riot on the day Of election:
The scene that disgraced the Fourth Ward
Yesterday is unparalleled in the history of the
city. At preconcerted signal the Irish at
tackled the Americans with a volley of stones,
and by force of numbers drove them from the
polls and held possession of them for long
time. Our friends rallied and returned but
they were resisted with sticks, stones and pis-
toll shots in quick succession. The Irish fired
from the windows overlooking the scene, and
the women even sailed out One woman was
laying about her with the fury of a fiend with
stone in the foot of long stocking. which
she used as 'slung-shot." The Americans
finally dislodged the enemy and then surren-
dered their charge to the police, who did their
best to keep the peace. During part of the
time pistol shots and reports of muskets fol-
lowed each other in quick succession. Even
after the battle had ceased, many aged gentle
men were kept away from the polls from fear
of personal violence. In fact, it was hardly
safe for any one to approach the neighborhood
so many missiles were flying in the air
Throughout the afternoon disturbances
were rife throughout the city. We know o.
many cases where respectable citizens could
not get near the polls on account Of the rioters
by which they were surrounded. Force was
not sufficient Fraud was carried on to such
frightful extent that it seemed as though al
sight of law was lost. Many of the Commits
sioners when a young American would swear
on the Bible that he was twenty-one years o
age prior to December last, would require other
proof; while the same Commissioners would
take the oath Of Irishmen that they were duly
qualified residents of the city, when men were
near by ready to swear that these same Irish
men were residents of Maryland; but it wa;
sufficient for these W7se-men to know thai
they now slept in the city. In some cases The
, oath of age was administered to bearded men
Besides this, government clerks voted by
scores, some ofwhom are suspected and Others
known to have voted in the States during the
last six months. We are happy to say tha
the Commissioners are now e-canvassing tht
votes, and that in all probability those ope1
violations Of the law will lead to contest 0
of the election.