The Washington union., 1857-06-10
KNOW NOTHING RiEsPoNsIBIfITY FOR THE MIL
TrARY BEING CALLED oUT-oPRIoNs OF THE

TrARY BEING CALLED oUT.-oPNIoNs OF THE
PRESS
A very important fact is disclosed in the pream-
bic to the resolutions adopted by the Board of Com
mon Council on Monday last, which is, that the re-
sponsbility for an appeal to military force on the
day of election rests almost entirely the know
nothing members of the late board. appears that,
after the commissioners of election for the first pre-
cinct of the Third ward and the first precinct of the
Fourth ward, two of each three of whom were know
nothings had established the polls of their respective
precincts near each other and near the Northern
markethouse, apprehensions were entertained that
in consequence of which apprehensons bill was
offered on the last day Of meeting of the late
Board of Common Council authorizing the mayor
to appoint fifty extra policemen the day Of the
election A majority of that board were know
nothings and here was proper occasion for them
to show their aversion to a resort to the mill
tary for police. There are only two regular police
to each of the wards of the city and four
auxiliary guards, which, with the chief Of police and
the captain of the auxiliary guard make total force
for the whole city of Al There are fourteen voting
precincts in the city, each Of which required two
policemen, total of %; leaving only sixteen po-
hcemen to repress disorder in other places through
out the city The mayor, by law, could only
appoint ten extra police. If the know-nothings
in the late Board of Common Council, or even
two Of their number, had voted for the prop
oston to authorize the mayor TO appoint fifty
extra policemen there is little doubt but that the
-, ,slt ,,.itb call
ing out the military. But the know-nothing mem
bers to man lone being ABSENT voted against this
moderate proposition, while the anti-know-nothing
members to Zone being absent) voted for it. 1t
is clear, therefore, that the know nothing members
of the Board of Common Council-carrying out, it
may be, the behests of their secret clubs-created
necessity for bringing out the military in of dis
urbance by their refusal to ALLOW the small increase
of the civil force which asked for and needed on
this occasion.
From the tone of our exchanges-and they include
papers of all political denomnations-th explana-
ton would seem almost uncalled for for public opn-
ion everywhere, with unexamped unanimty, has set
tied down into the belief where the real respon
sibility rests. The New York Express, the leading
organ of the so-called Americans, says:
f there is anything like Justice in about Washing
ton il is to be hoped it will overtale the diabocal
wretches whose dsacefu conduct converted the muni
cpa election there Monday into scene of riot and
bloodshed We that it is charged in some quarters
that the rowdies who took leading part in these dis
urbances know-nothings in other words, 'Amcri
cans Now do not know what the plug uglies call
themselves; but know that they arc not Americans.
Americans do not disgrace themselves in that way We
have heard of the short boys here and the killers in
PHILADELPHIA figuring in such scenes in order to sway or
determine elections; but Americans never, never,
never III these Baltimore rowdes, then, went TO wash
npton to smash balotboxcs drive voters away from the
polls and establish regular Reign of Terrorwe say If
they have done all this in and under the name OF Ameri
cansm-then they have been stealing the livery Of
Heaven to serve the devil in
The New York Mirror (Fremont) says:
s.The promptness with which the President of the
United States ordered out the military TO put down the
election riot in Washington and the decided and vigor
GUS instructions given to the federal authorities in Ohio,
are cheering indications that have government over
U.S. and live Executive at the head otit Let every vo
lation of the laws be met Napoleon met the mob in
Paris and there will be less rebellion spoutcd from pull
pits poured forth in the columns of newspapers DEM
onstraed by the smashing of ballotboxes In the midst
of lawessness and dsorganization bordering upon alb
solute anarchy glad to find in the head of the
ton man who like the ndomitable jackson, is not
afraid TO take the responsibility of enforcing the laws of
the land .....
The Baltimore Sun independently says:
"The late election riots at the national capital dis
graceful they were in their character and bloody in
their consequences will there is to hope, be
fruitful of good results With scarcely exception the
voice of the press is universal in its stern denunciaon of
the outragcs which led to the final terrible for their
suppression And although the of city is dis
tincty associated with them, yet find generous dis
elimination prompt to attach the blame to that class of
population to which it unquestonably belongs The
lesson is severe for 1t admonshcs of the
great danger to which civil and social reputation is
exposed and the injury which may be inflicted upon
commercial prosperity, should we, as community in
any grow tolerant of such ouges of those who
commit them"
BLACK REPUBLICANS DO NOT WANT KANSAS A