Arkansas true Democrat., 1857-06-23
The Washin otOu Riots.

There are some facts connected with this matter, says the Washington Union, which are undeniably true:
 l. There was city election on Monday last under a law of Congress, and there were two tickets regularly nominated-the Union and the Know Nothing. That last year the Unlon party elected the mayor by a small majority, and was likely to prevail this year.
 2. That the judges of election this year were all appointed by the Know Nothings and they selected the place of voting and designated the mode and manner of receiving votes.
 3. That some forty or fifty reckless rowdies and bulles came here from Baltimore. Their fare here and back was paid by one person. That their meals here were all ordered by one person. and paid for by one person. That when here they mostly roamed about the city in a body accompanied by Know NothingS, very many of whom were congenial spirits They brought with them sundry kinds of weapons more or less deadly, including revolverS, pls- tols. bowie knives, billies and dirks.
 4. That while here the Know Nothings treated them as associates, and marched from place to place and poll to poll with them.
 5 That Know Nothing, having in his pos session brass cannon formerly borrowed from the navy yard, let Know Nothing rowdies bring it from near that place, and when the chlet oi police drew its chnrge he found 1t heavily load ed, and among other deadly things 1t con- taned eight paving stones, about sixty rifle balls, and pounds of slugs and coarse shot.
 6. That these Baltimore Plug Uglies, and their Know Nothing associates, made an as- sault upon the Union men at the first precinct in tile Second Ward, fired several pistols wounded one man, resisted the police, beat 4l, I 1lr ti,aY hn That on the leading citizens closing their stores in the vciuitv and preparing to defend the polls, the Plug Ugles and the Know Nothing bulHes left the polls, and did not return.
 [. That the plug uglies and their associates drew the cannon from Pennsylvania avenue, over a quarter of a milo, to near the Seventh street Market, where a poll was open for the Fourth Ward.
 B. That these rioters caused the poll to be closed, (but for which it is supposed the entire Union ticket would have been elected, and Emory defeated,) and they kept the Union men and all others from voting.
 g. That in consequence of the forcibe re- sistance to the execution of the laws, and pre- venting citizens exercising the elective fran chse, the mayor was induced to call upon the President for aid to sustain the laws, and was the cause of his ordering out the marines to quel the disturbances, and to protect the clti zens in voting.
 To- That the marines attended at the Sc- veuth street poll, where the mayor addressed the rioters, and urged them to allow the cleo ton to proceed, and read the law to them That the plug uglies and their friends, instead of yielding to the law and request Of the mayor, eudeayored to fire the cannon, and one sought to shoot Gen. Henderson with pistol, and was prevented by blow on the arm from . marine.
 II. That by order of their officers the ma riues, with fixed bayonets, drove the plug u5ies and their friends from the cannon, and took 1t from them; that thereupon they fired their re- volvers and pistols, and threw stones, brick bats, and other missiles upon the marines, cit- zeus and whoever ght be in range, and killed some and wounded others including persons who were quietly in their own houses; and that, under this g.llng attack, the marines fired one yoIley upon the rioters and they seat tered, iruL aui throwing missiles as they went Whereupon peace and order were re. stored.
 F. That not single Know Nothing is known to have said one word or did one thu 7 to arrest the acts of the plug uglies and ther rowdy associates, though many were present, and among them several who have hitherto been regarded as respectable and inHueu tlaI citizens, and who could at almost any stage of the riot have put an end to the disorder, and prevented the eilltson of blood and the closing of the poll.
 F. That the Know Nothing party here, iu- cuding their leaders, instead of aiding in de- tectiug and punishug the criminals, secrete whoever they can, and approve the conduct of the oiIeuders, and condemn those who upheld the laws; and the leading men of the party are getting up public meeting to approve of the conduct of the plug uglies and the other bully rowdjes, and to deuouuce those who sought to prcserve the peace, upheld the laws and protect the eector in giving his vote.
 Other facts will soon be developed But we submit these to the thinking and well meaning and ASK them to reflect and express their opiu- ions upon them. Can peace and order-loyiug men, who believe in government of laws, in protecting the innocent and puu>hipg the gull ty, approve the course of the Know Nothing leaders, a- developed in ,he.rnotorious and ill., di-putabie acts? Are such means to be resort ed to Iu M parts ol the country to "re-ulatc elecuou,' whenever it iS found democrats or Union men will triumph?