New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-22
THE ELECTION RIOTS.

Mary persons in this city have read with pleasure
and surprise the statements Of Republican" in The
TRIBUNE OF the 18th inst, regarding the shooting OF
citizens by marines election cay. The facts war
rant ali his assertions but they have been carefully
suporessed by the newspapers here, whose duty it
was 10 publish them aud the body of peaceable cti
zens. VINO feel that great outrage husS beencom.
mit,ed had despaed of finding any authentic coura-
dictop Of their partial and unjust accounts. This city
lies at the feet of the Federal Administration. It
breahes only Though its patrons nostrs. Herein Is
the explanation of the general silence and the official
approval of the late terrible massacre.
The allegation of dangerous riot as the provo
cation for calling cut the Government troops was
mainly a pretext. 1t is true that some hours pre-
vously serious, but not very alarming, disturbance
had occurred at Of the polls. but 10 that instance
o. the Administration paper, The Star, asserts, the
citizens of the vcinage armed themselves, sailed
"out upon the rioters and drOce them 0tcay."
This city bas good volunteer militia, and Major
General commanding but Mayor Magruder was % in
for fight" and chose very different tools from the
District militia. Mr.. MagTuder is bimsef very dsor
dery character On the evening after his election, in
barapg q delighted crowd of Democrats, he is
reported to have sad "rhey call the Butcher of
The First Ward; will next Monday show them !
am butcher, indeed" referring to dlSniSsas from
Office One year alter that same MOnuay tne poaSt
was literally fulfilled.
II is said and il is probably true that Pug ges,
O. rOwdies and vagaboDds, from Baltimore, were I'M
ported on Know Nothing account on the morning OF
fbe election 1t ia not proved that they committed
.ny outrsges Opposing and corresponding gangs
were probably introduced by the Democrats from the
same place, and for the same purposes Inc hrhg o'
fighting characters in eischops has oeeh cEnlnon
DTactice with both parties for some years; 1t Is an
outtaoe and ought to be stopped. Inc dlsorder NJ
and near the polls the lst of June was no' nearly
20 great or SO dangerous as on the night on mr.
Rucbspsn's Inauguration when the Baltimore Demo
Eats bod ont with their friends in the midst oil
t}epae crowd on Pennsylvania avenue, during wDcn l
saw thirty pistol shots fred and the National iiotel
WAS peppeitd with balls aud buckshot. NOoouy
Thought of appealing 10 the military for protecton.
The troops were ordered out not only without ne
cessitv but without authority that can be safely re
coppized The Secretary Of the Navy gave the oruer
The cannon brought out by young men OF W ash,
inptoD not Baltimore Plug. Ughes, III consequence o.
fbe mastering Of the marines. III was captureu ny
fhe latter without anything nearer struggle t1ah
boyish scuiile. The savage spirit IN wa'ca capt
Tyer executed the order shown in his testimony
II Is manifest that if he did not give the order TO IRE.
he would have done so had he been IN command OF
Cant. Maddoxs company which did ire, because nc
very severely that officer Tor moi giving the
order Capt. Tyler has since Deeh promo'eu'o 'o!
valuable office.
George w. Riggs, elected Alderman on the day OF
the tragedy was Chairman of the Committee which
reported resolutions thanking the resident Inc SET
of the marines and the made Of them. These res
olutions were passed This same Alderman was Tore
ran of the Grand Jury which presented to the Cnmi.
inal Court most partial. incorporate ana unjust
abatement of the melee OF course he could no moth
ing else, having his own Ader@anic consistency to
support But was it not shameful that the conduct oil
a grave preliminary judicial investigation should be
inTusted to politician and partisan who had just be-
fore committed himself in formal and official manner
10 q presided view OF the murderous affair! &c,
cent respect for the opinion of the community should
have Kept CIV. Riggs from sitting on the Grand Jury
But the great lesson taught by this tragedy IS the
tendency OF the ruling party in this country to resort TO
physical force and the of arms to put down all op
position to their will. OF late years, terror has be
come q most important and favorite instrument with
the Democratic party. 1t il the principle Of military
government, as opposed TO law. The massacre by
the marines in the streets of Washington Oh the st Of
June was part Of the came system by which Kansa:
has been governed for three years In that unfortu
nate Territory ShannOns and Wo0dsons Border Ruf
fan leyies were simply mercenary auxiharies of the
United States army. 10 Kansas ard this District tn,
Federal Government is supreme. What is done by it
authority in those localities will be done il
the States Pitt said that had the Kings subjects il
America submitted to the tyrannica measures of thu
Rockingham Administration, they would have been fl
instruments to make slaves Of all the rest. The appli
raiion IL ohyious.