The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-23

he exults in the name Democrat, extolls the party
and its principles, though once he denounced
everything that was directly or indirectly Deno-
cratic His sole object is public plumber and office,
and TO secure it, will act upon the principle, that,
the end justifes the means. Men who have spent
their lifetime in the service of their party, who
have rendered it signal service who have adhered
to 1t in adversely and in prosperity must now give
away, and surrender their well funded pretensions
to this new proselyte, of scarce six months pro.
tracted service. The dissatisfaction in the Demo
cratic ranks in this city, will manifest itself on
proper occasion, many Democrats having already
declared their determination to cooperate no
longer with their party in the event that DR.. Ma
gruder receives the appointment of marshal
The conduct of Mayor Magruder has, however,
to undergo another most searching investiga-
ton before the criminal court in December, pre-
iminary to the presentation of his name before the
Senate for confirmation as 143F .sl4
AMERICANUs.
Mr.. EDIToR Knowing you to be friend of
law and order, permit me to ask space in your
valuable journal to lay before the people OF Wash
ington an evil which now exists among them. There
has lately been organized or banded together,
in this city, a body Of men known and designated
as the United States Hose Company"
Now, Mr. Editor, Hose and other Fire Compa-
MES are valuable and useful institutions when Or
ganized, and menbered for the legitimate and
laudable object Of protecting the public and pri-
vate property of the city from destruction by that
dread element fire. t iaa
But, sir, when these bodies are organized and
membered for the purposes Gas seems to be the case
with this company of banding and linking together
certain portion Of the young men of our city,
together with a goodly sprinking of others from
Baltimore, who not even residents Of our city,
in political brotherhood, they are calculated to
produce infinitely more harm than they possibly
can accomplish good. About o'clock on the
evening Of the 2lst, while this Hose Company
were proceeding up Pennsylvania avenue to an
alarm Of fire, they were passed between Sixth and
Seventh streets by young man, a member of one
of our regularly organized, efficient and valuable
Engine Companies, who, without any other offence
or provocation, than using the ralyng cry or name
Of the company to which he was attached, was
their coadjutors with brick, and, after being
knocked down was set upon and most inhumanly
and outrageously beaten and kicked until he had
to be helped upon his feet.
His face presented horrible appearance, being
literally covered with blood, and being split open
from just the left eye to the edge Of the left
cheek bone, the cut extending the whole length
of his face.
Not satisfied with this bloody act, Mr.. Editor,
Democratic bullies, stationed themselves on Sun
day afternoon, on the corner of ~ street and
Pennsylvania avenue, and there attacked and
stopped peaceable quiet citizens, who were pas
sing hither and thither business or in quest of
pleasure threatening to cut their hearts out shoot
them, &C., and boasting Of their being Democrats,
Baltimore Democrats, &C., &c. One young man
was stopped by one of those rowdies "a clustering
Irishman by the way and asked if he had seen Nc
Graw. He answered he did not know McGraw, when
the Irishman remarked, "the hi you don't"
Being determined upon having difficulty with
this young man. the Irishman still persisted in tell
ing him he knew McGraw, and after some CONVEX
sation, the young man having made some good
humored remark, mot caring to raise the ire of
such vilainous looking being,) he jumped back,
and smacking his hand around his waist under his
coat, discovered to view revolver and bowie
knife, with the remark, "You - Of a 49,, I'll
cut your heart out"
What the consequence might have been, Mr..
Editor, no one can say; probably coldblooded
murder might have been perpetrated in our streets
in open day, had it not been for the interference
of another party from Baltimore, of whom il seems
this cowardy Irishman was afraid
At later hour this same party attacked num-
Der Of quiet peaceable young men, who were pro-
ceeding down the avenue on business, and while
in conversation with them, member of the aux.
iliary guard was observed by one of the young men
who had been attacked, sitting across the street,
making motions with his fists 10 those rowdes rs
If he desired to see them beaten. ] suppose, had
they commenced 10 beat those young men, he
would have sat and looked quietly ON until he
thought they had enough, and would then have
rushed valantly in and arrested the attacked par
ties, and would have let those rowdies walk off
about their business, to attack and beat others.
No other inference, think, sir, could be drawn
from his conduct on that occasion.
Mr. Editor, il such characters are allowed TO
come into Washington from Baltimore, or any
other city, where they cannot live on account OF
their open violation of law, and transgress all
bounds Of propriety, decency and virtue, and set
the laws of Washington and its law officers at de-
fance, and even be encouraged in such actions, in
some instances, by those having the preservation
Of the peace Of the city in charge, think it high
time for the citizens TO look round for some more
\ potent remedy than may now exist IL there is not
sufficient remedy for such evil and rid the city of
| such Infamous pests as quickly as possible.
| Besides those attacks upon inofensive human
beings those .rowdies having thirst for blood,
caught, as / am credibly informed, harmless pig,
on Sunday afternoon and literally cut il 10 pieces
with their bowies, thus displaying meanness and
baseness of mind that would bring the blush Of
shame to the cheek even Of the inmate of lunatic
| asylum,
By publishing the above, Mr.. Editor, and calling
the public attention to facts they exist in regard
to this crowd, you will confer benefit upon the
public, and oblige
An OLD FIREMAN AND Tax PAYER.
| For the American.
| Mr.. EDIroR The local editor Of the States"
has Of late been making great fuss about
Il AZ III. tats rar