Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-11-14
aslection Riot In Baltimore.

riots Away ACCOM- Know Nothing
victories in the cities. 1t may seem harsh
to accuse the Know Nothing Mayor Of.
being accessory to these riots. but thefolts
lowing facts Enthusiastically indicate such
to have been the case. We copy from
the local column of the Baltimore paper
published sbefore theseiection s
AN IMPoRTANT few days
since meeting composed of alarge mum
Der of our most respectable and we'll
kown citizens, was held with the view OF
effecLing some arrangements for the pro !
lection oflohr'citizens in their rights upon
the dayiof The coming important Presi>
Dental election, and to prevent a recur-,
renee of those scenes which so disgraced,
our city on the occasion Of The late elec-i
tiOn. The meeting was organized by the
selection of Charles Howard Esq., as
chairman. and VIM. Hy. Norris. Esq, as
secretary, and the result of their delibe-
rations was the appointing Of a committee
to communicate with The Mayor, which
committee addressed him the following
letter:
BALTIMORE, Oct. 90, 1856.
Hon. s. Kinks, Mayor of Baltimore
SIR: We, the undersigned, acting on
behalf and in the name OF number of
our fellow citizens. respectfully request
that you forthwith convene the city coun-
Gil in order that effective measures may
be taken by which the municipal au>
thorities may be enabled to preserve the
peace of the city. especially on The day
of the approaching Presidential election,
and toprevent illegal distractions at any
of the polls, and secure to every citizen
protection in the exercise oG his legal
rights. 50
We have the honor to be respectfully.
your obed't serv'ts
.[Signed Charles Howard, John w.
Garrett VIM. A. Hack. William E. May
hew. Moore n. Falls, Francis Burns, Ro-
bert Hough. Lambert Cuttings.
At Il subsequent meeting they received
from his honor the annexed reply:
MAYORS OFFICE. CRY HALL,
Baltimore. October 23I, 1856.
GENTLEMEN-After the most mature
consideration l have concluded that to
comply with your request dated the goth
inst.,) to convene the City Council, &c.
&c, would be inexpedient, and for the
following reasons:
FIRSTLY have been unableupon care
full inquiry to obtain any information to
justify sne in anticipating recurrence of
the scenes which recently disgraced our
city.
Secondly cannot believe that any
considerable portion Of my fellow citizens
contemplate violence on the ensuing cleo
ton day.
Thirdly-I have made such arrange.
ments, as regards the civil and military
force, as will, believe, enable me
promptly and efectuAlly to quell any dis.
bance that may arise. and protect every
citizen in the exercise Of his legal rights.
Fourthly-l believe the well disposed
and peace>loving citizens Of all parties
will cooperate with me in my determine
min alton to preserve o. der.
am, gentlemen, with the highest re-
spect your obedient servant (Slpned, \
SAM'L. Kinks, Mayor.
To Messrs. Charles Howard, William
a. Hack. and others, committee.
Alter the reading Of this reply Of the
Mayor, the meeting adopted series of
resolutions. among which was the follow
my anu Lnen ADJOURNED
RESOLVED, moreover, That in order tina t
nosmere conception may arise from the
dlScontlnuance by this body Of citizens OF
further importantly with the mayor, that
we hold it due TO candor respectfully to
state TO the mayor that. in the Judgment
OF this meeting. the present police force
is not sufficient to insure peace and legal
rights without resort to the military.
and that it was from this consideration we
had desired that the councils should have
an opportunity to comply with the duty
imposed by the act of 1854, chap. 46 for
the authorization of the competent police
force.
Mayor Kinks did nothing to prevent
disturbances on the day Of the election and
the most bloody riots consequently occur.
red in which several we're killed and a
large numbers wounded In speaking of
the election, the Baltimore Sun. neutral
and reliable paper. says:
" 1t is hardly news to any OF our rea-
ders, that the city was disturbed by the
most Glsgracetul riots during the whole of
yesterday. In some part or another from
the time the polls opened until thew clio.
sed' disorder and riot prevailed more or
less and firearms of every description
were freel y used. 1t is equally certain
that fraudulent voting was practiced al
most without restraint and SCARCELY dis
gulsed while great numbers were depri-
we'd OF their franchise, either by force and
violence ut the polls. or intimidation from
the reports current of what yas Cro;,r, ~,