The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-07-31


ders and deliberately fire, turnin in different d.
reclions, at all who were walking or fastening
away from the neigLborbood apparently, as It
seemed, singing them out while another squad
OF them fired down Ssyenth street upon an assem-
blage Of men, women, and children, peaceably
and quietly standing at the corner OF the street
Here is the evidence OF man whose testimony,
uninhnenced by party bias, 10 entitledto unlimited
confidence as IRON his position in society, mo-
rality, and strict attention to the duties which he
owes to God and man, he is worthy Of the esteem
! and re pct Of all good And what ia his
evidenceY
| 1t is conclusive convincing - crushing IL
proves thar, in the first place there was no neces-
| sity for calling out the Marines.
| It proves that, after they arrived upon the
ground, there was nothing for them to do.
II proves that all vas quiet until the charge was
made upon the gun In possession Of the boys.
| u proves that the Marines did take possession
! Of the gun.
! 1t proves that after they Tad possession, they
| Immediately began 10 fire upon the people in dit.
ferent directions.
| It proves that there was not shot fred until
THE Marines, without shadow of necessity or
cause, fred upon the people.
| 1t proves that, in applying to the President for
1 United States troops TO quell riot that did not
exist Of which he was fully aware, for, in company
with one Of his aids and advisers, he rode TO the
polls on his way to the Presidents, and had ocular
demonstration that all was quiet; il proves, We
say, that Mayos Magr-der in thus acting, Was in
fuenced by motives for which the eason assigned
| was only cover
Surprising, for moment, that there was reason
able cause, (Which we utterly deny) for ordering
out The military, why did he not call upon the
volunteer force Of the city or rather why did he
not accept their offered seryicesy Why did he
not accept the services Of prominent men, civil
ans, who pledged themselves to maintain order
and the peace Of the city But pas Iris
by, the Marines having arrived oil tn ID, all
being quiet, why did they commence a disturb
ance? Why, sly you, to get possession of the
cannon. Oh, very we'll Well, then, after they
had taken the cannon from the boys, and had en-.
tire control over it, was not that sufficient Ought
not that to have suficed? Why fire upon the
people? Why main and murder themf The
cause of the ire Of the Mayor ard his foreign posse
| the cahnon) had been removed. They had pos
session oft, and the people unarmed and helpless,
were leaving the neighborhood. Why merciIessly
| shoot them down wthou. the shadow of cause or
| the slightest provocationS
| Men do not act without motive. Will 1t be said
that the Mayor acted in this matter without mo-
| tive. If go, then, in wantonness, in imita-
| ton Of the tyrant Nero who played the fiddle while
the flames he caused to bekindled were consuming
Rome---he ordered United States Marines to shoot
bis fellow citizens in the streets of Washington
Let us look into this little--perhaps a ray OF
| light from the fountain Of truth may dispel the
gloom in which the subject is involved, and make
plain the motives which influenced the Mayor, for
we are willing TO believe that he had motive, bad
| though il was but as we cannot expect the water
| to be clear and sweet which flows from muddled
fountain, so we shall be disappointed if we look for
| high and noble aims and pure motives from cor
rupt and wicked heart.
| After the murders in the Fourth Ward had been
perpetrated, the Marines were marched 10 the
| City Hall, where they remained subject TO the
der Of the Mayor. As a matter OF course, citizens
were attracted TO the spot-they had a desire to
| look npon men in the uniform of the United States
who had Just imbrued their hands in the blood Of
| American citizens-they were tn, lions Of the
day Was it not reasonable TO presume that such
would be the caseY Had they not a right 10 look
upon this band of murderers and their leaderS Is
there any law on the statute book prohibiting cit
liens Of Washington TO visit the City Hall, or any
other part Of our city, where there is anything
which they deem worthy Of seeing or hearings
| They do weekly assemble at the Presidents
grounds and at The Capitol, to enjoy the music and
each others society Have they not right to do
so9
There Is something in the sight and smell Of
blood-there is a fascination about the presence
of shedders of human bood--there is that in the
| countensnce Of the murderer, however cool aud
calculating and fearful the circumstances under
| which the deed done, which attracts humanity
they desire 10 look upon the face Of the man
who has been guilty Of murder, who has sacrificed
All immortal being-sent his body to the grave,
and his spirit into the presence Of his God without
reflection or preparation.
Upon this occasion (the lst OF June last) the
people sttractedto the City Hall by the pres
| ence OF body Of men, fresh from the commission
Of deed Of blood at the remembrance of which
the heart sickens There we're some five hundred
thus assembled, pencesbly and quietly looking
| upon these men.
What motive actusted Mayor Magrnder to COM
mand them TO dispense or he would immediately
order the Marines 10 fire upon themf There was
as much occasion for the act here, as in the first
precinct, and It is our belief and not ours alone,
for there are hundreds who believe With u.s. that
he would have given the order, had not the peo-
pie gone away, and there cannot be doubt that
the Marines would have obeyed the ORDER from the
alscrity which they displayed In selling their guns