Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-09-16
THE INTERRUPTIONS RIOT
IN BALTIMORE.

IN BALTIMO ORE.
The Baltimore Patriot has the following
sound remarks on the breaking up ofthe Repub.
Iiican meeting in that city on Thursday even
ing.
When Mr.. Francis P: Blair. on taking his seat
attha Pittsburgh Republican Convention, claim
cd 10 represent the political complexion of n
considerable number of merchants ofwealth and
standing in Baltimore, we denied emphatically
the imputation and our denial was subsequent
| IL endorsed by a meeting at the Exchange,
composed wholly ofour most eminent CONNER
cial men. But while we felt authorized to re-
I luke Mr. Blair for an attempt to compromise
gentlemen whose convictions were utterly oppo-
sed to his own, we did not call in question the
right ofany body of citizens to assemble, in q
peaceable manner, for the purpose of giving ex-
preston to their peculiar political views. The
| few Republicans in our community who called a
meeting at Temperance Hall last evening, simply
exercised pFisilegc which no citizen who res
poets his own perogatiyes could justly deny
| them. We may dissent from the principles
they avow, and we mry regard their assembling
at all as an act of folly, after they had been dis
dncty forewarned that unpleasant consequent
ces might flow from it, but whilst we regret that
I public opinion had not been cOnciliated by the
adoption of more prudent course, we cannot
4 but regard the breaking up of the meeting, and
the personal indignities offered to q couple of
| its prominent members, as utterly disgraceful
10 the parties concerned in perpetrating these
outrages, and as deserving fthe most unquRli-
fed censure.
We do not know whether those who were
guilty of this lawless act were members Of one
or both of the opposing political organizations,
nor do We care to enquire. A free discussion OF
topics of general interest is accorded to every
citizen The subject of discussion may be OBJ
noxiouS to the community generally, but so long
as it infringes no law, and is restricted within
proper bounds, all outside interference IS dero-
gatory to the genius of American institutions.
Violations of the public peace are at all times
Idisreputable, and il conntenanced at the com
nencement Of political canvass, which threat
ems to be Of moro than ordinarily exciting char
acter, what can we expect, before the close of the
campaign, but renewal Of scenes similar TO
which ut last municipal election resulted in the
shedding of human blood
We may and do, object most heartily TO the
political tenets of the Republicans, but We can
not injustice to our own opinions, deny them
that right which, under other circumstances,
might be refused 10 ourselves. If a set of reck-
less men can put down with IMMUNITY Repnb.
lican meeting, another set, equally reckless,
might End in that precedent justification for
routing Wing, or an American, or Democrat
Iic assembly. We may call the Republicans
AOI DA9Fo pOPu7
lar sentiment, but solong as they are American
citizens, they have perfect right to a free dis
custom of their political belief, and the only
mode by which VIC are permitted to practically
condemn their views is through the medium Of
the ballot box Certain kinds Of weeds grow
the faster by being trampled upon. All creeds,
whether false or true religious political, grow
stronger under persecution. Every blow that
| is struck is followed by arebound. TORY, who
died in our Jail while undergoing his sentence of
imprisonment for the abduction of slaves, is re-
verenced rs a martyr by the abolitionists Of New
England and has had costly monument cree
ted to his memory. Yet this man suffered on
lily the legal consequences Of his acts How
much more worthy of sympathy would others
be who suffered violence or death while conduc-
ting themselves in an orderly and lawful man
ner. Let us ponder well these things, for grave
issues IRE involved in their solution, inasmuch
as every violation Of privilege is an attack upon
the reserved rights Of theindiyidnal