Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-12
from the Louisville Journal.
The washington usots


The following letter. from Kentuckian in Wash.
iugton and eye witness of the terrible slaughter
there on the lst inst, conveys clearer idea of the
real state Of the case than any of the newspaper ac
counts we have yet seen. It is plain, uuvarnsh-
ed statement of facts, written by respectable and
reliable citizen of our own State, and is entitled to
iuh credence Language is too poor to express the
utter horror and detestation which peaceabIe law
abiding citizens must feel for such needless. heart
less, inhuman, and strocious conduct as is here at
tTibuted to the drunken officials, whose fierce par
tizan zeal has occasioned the indiscrminate murder
Of men, women, and children:
WASHINGTON, June 4, 1857.
Tothe Editors Of the Louisville Journal:
GENTLEEEN: Not knowing what report YOU NAV
have received Of the terrible tragedy which occur
red in this city on the LIST inst, feel it my duty.
as spectator of the whole affair." to give you SIM
pie statement, which can be sworn to by hundreds
OF the most reliable and responsible citizens.
B The statements OF the papers OF this city 1.-THE
grave lnteligencer" not excepted) represent the
mournful degradation to which American born citi-
| liens have been reduced by the nod and concnr-
renee OF our Chief Magistrate, by the applause and
approval of the foreign population and by the hope
of gain, rapiue, and plumber, freely INDUCED in
by the party in power at the Federal Metropo-
4 lis. There has not been TO this Gate single true
statement in regard to the important fe lures
of the affiir by paper from this city though pos
sessng every Rvautage to gain the whole truth
there has not been statement but has been in d.
rect antagonsn TO the evidence elected at the Cor
oners iuquests, held on the bodies of the unfOrtu.
nate victims Of our drunken Mayor and his abettors
The facts in the case imply as follows: A
| large crowd Of Irish voters collected around the
polls of the first precinct of the Fourth ward, be-
tween the hours Of and o'clock the morning
ing Of the day Of the election, and forming line,
two and two, filling the little avenue through which
| the voters passed and extending back some 10 pa
ces along the sidewalk. As is usual in times of
| election, crowd of men and boys assembled in the
street about the polls and raised some excitement
| by crying fight, fsht, rushing from side of
the street TO the other in the direction of the cry.
| A Justice Of the Peace, by the name of Goddard,
Inter fered with the boys and insisted their keep
ing the peace, when there no signs of Disturb
| ance, and only a little sham fighting. He endeaV-
ored 10 make arrests this incensed the boys,
! aud the consequence that a stone thrown
at some one and then another followed and anoth
err.
The Irish in the line becoming alarmed took to
their heels and were followed by shower of stones
and few pistol shots were exchanged by the par
ties, though no seriously damaged. The
polls then closed for about Is minutes, but
not exceeding that time, when order was restored,
aud the receiving Of votes resumed.
The Mayor arrived on the ground anout the time
when the polls were re-opened and was aware that
perfect peace had been restored, but notwithstand
ing this fact, finding that the lrsG had been driven
| off, he determined on vengeance and Immediately
dispatched messenger to the President, imporing
bin to call out the Marines. The order
promptly and willingly given by his honor and the
Mayor proceeded to have the marines brought
from the Navy Yard Some three hours or more
elapsed before the arrival OF the Government troops
aud during that time there had been no disturbance
but the beating OF one Irishman, who had attempt
ed to vote Illegally. When il was announced IN
the streets that the military had arrived; numbers
OF the most respectable citizens followed them TO
tue Fourth ward polls TO observe what action should
be taken when there was no riot going
Very fortunately for the plans OF the Mayor and
his abbettors, the boys had brought to the ground
a small brass cannon which, although loaded was
wet, and could not have been tred; the Mayor o.
dered the military to charge the gun-they made
h brave charge and took the gun, the boys retreat
ing in all directions. Incited to more daring deeds
by this victory, he gave the word Fire, to the
officer 10 charge-the officer raised his sword and
the slaughter began
The cltizeus retreated precipitatey in ell drec
lions, but were fired into while retreating. The
|
dead and dying and wounded slrewed the ground
The piercing cry of GOOD God l am dead!" fell
with heart sickening sadness on the ear OF the be-
holder Ola men, women, children, aud negroes
all Jared alike One old man was killed in the Sc
cond story of his own housa, one or two children
were shot at a distance OF two or three squares A
few pistol shots fred by the boys as they re-
treated, aud two OF the Marines were wounded.
These are flcts-there was no rioting, and nc
disposition TO riot; there was no warning given to
the citizens to disperse; there was no riot act read
there were no blank cartridges fired that have been
ascertaned; but reckless and diabOlical order for
an udiscrminate slaughter OF harmless and inoffen'
sVe citizens. There is great excitement here, but
not the spirit that should be manifested. When
martial aw is resorted TO for murderous party pur
poses and ctZ are shot down in their own houses
aud the perpetrators of the deed horrible and black
as 1t is are Landed the skies and their crime pro
tected by the Chief Magistrate OF our country, tDeu
iorbesrance ceases to be a virtue, and outraged
public should rise and blot out the serpents iron
our midst. The time has come when IL is a dis
grace to be American born citizen and when the
foreign party dare to shoot US down arounC
our own hearth stones, and that too by the hand
Of their hired slaves. Respectfully, Z. NJ. A.