The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-09
Correspondence Of the N. Y. Tribune
Trial Of the Election Rioters.


This is the third week which has been consum-
ed in the trial of the election rioters before the
Criminal Court Of the District OF Columbia. Some
of the more active participants in the disturbances
of the first Of June were convicted shortly after
ward, and are now suffering the penalty of the
violated laws. The batch Of offenders at present
undergoing the ordeal have been smoked out since
the first trial The case was submitted to the
Jury yesterday, after the examination of host of
Witnesses and very able defence on the part of
Robert 4. Scott, OF Warrenton, Va, and Joseph
II. Bradley, Of this city, assisted by Judge Ellis,
late Of The Anaerican Organ and other lesser
lights OF the law. On the meeting of the Court
this morning, the Jury had failed to agree, aud
the Court was adjourned to Monday next.
This being the first instance in our history in
which United States soldiers have been calledupon
to suppress an election riot, oraray, as the cour-
sci for the defence define it, the public mind in this
vicinity has been deeply exercised upon the sub
ject and all who are free to express their indie
pendent judgments concur in regarding it Az an
affair of grave Importance There are many not
at all tinctured with Know Nottingham and not in
sympathy with the rioters, who regard the course
pursued by the City and Federal authorities as a
high handed usurpation, marked by tho same DIES
potic and bloody spirit which has characterized the
administration Of affairs in Kansas
Let me briefly set forth the leading facts. On
the first day Of June an election took place in this
city for Aldermen, Councilmen and other city Off
GERS, except Mayor. II was rumored some days
in advance that an organized band of rowdies from
Baltimore, known as I" Plug Ugles," would be pre-
sent for the purpose of intimidatng and driving
from the polls all enemies Of the e American
party, but particularly the naturaized voters. IF
there were good reason for crediting this rumor,
or If there were reason to apprehcnd disturbances
from any quarter, the proper course to pursue was
| he, n ont VIII MI forna
with such special police as the occasion demanded.
He should have been prepared for the emergency.
But no special precautions were taken. The May
or supinely waited until an actual riot or ARRAY
commenced at the Fourth Ward polls, near the
Northern Liberty Market; and then, without call
ing upon the bystanders to assist him in suppress.
ing the disorder, as the laws require of him, he
Immediately hurried off to the President, and,
called upon MIN for the assistance of the marines
He made no averment that he had exhausted all
the resources of the civil power before calling for
the intervention of the military; and the Presi-
dent, without regard to this essential condition,
ordered out two companies Of United States ma
rines, stationed at the barracks in this city, COM
manded by Captains Tyler and Maddox. The
counsel for the defence showed clearly that the
Mayor of city or other executive officer who re-
sorts to the military for the suppression of riot
or ARRAY before he has exhausted the civil power,
is liable to Indictment for any consequences which
may follow; and that citizens are warranted in re-
sisting him under such circumstances. This has
repeatedly been affirmed to be law in England,
and, as the common law prevails here, it is law in
Washington. Judge Crawford conceded this doc
trine, notwithstanding his strong bias the other
way. he is the same Judge who fined Brooks
three hundred dollars for his murderous assault
upon Senator in his seat, and who caused Her.
bert TO be acquitted of the murder of the Irish
man Keating-both Democratic measures. He
scarcely affects mpartiality; or if he does, the
pretence is 30 bald as to amuse by its absurdity.
But, admitting the Marines to have been pro-
perly called out the recklessness with which they
were commanded or permitted to FIRE upon
unoffending citizens was diabolical can speak
on this point from actual observation, as well as
from the testimony of others. stood as a spec
tator at Alston's corner" point destined to be
long remembered as the scene of bloody catas-
trophe.
Hearing that the "Plug Ugliesn and other rioters
had killed and wounded some twenty persons at the
Second Precinct of the Fourth Ward, which turned
out to be gross exaggeration, and that they had
a cannon on the ground ready to meet and repel
the United States Marines, was impelled, partly
by curiosity, and to crafty friend, to follow the
Marines to the scene oftumult. honoured with
him in condemning the conduct Of the rioters in
the roundest TERMS and felt lively satisfaction in
these facts as evidence of my disinterestedness 10
the view take of the matter But let me say in
advance, that it has been fully established on the
trial that the swivel was not brought out until
the Marines were ordered out, although it ar
rived on the field of battle first. / will now en-
deavor to describe the place, and the respective
positions of the parties. The Northern Liberty
Market is situated in Of those large open areas
formed by the intersection of three classes of
,Iap feat IF n. z.
built in the middle Of street, which runs east
and west, and extends from Seventh to Eighth
street. But at this point, owing to the intersec-
ton of Massachusetts, and New York avenues
Zone from the northwest, and the other from the
northeast with K the latter has width of fully one
hundred yards between Seventh and Ninth streets
The polls we're in Seventh street, just south Of K
As passedup Seventh strestfrom the Patent Office,
going north, saw the Marines drawn up in or
street. just east of Seventh, and passing on took my
station at the corner above designated as Alstons
corner. II is at the intersection Of Seventh and
streets-west side. The swivel was on the same
side of Seventh, not far from the east end of the
Market, which, as have said, is in the middle of
K. Some market stalls made of wood, front on
Seventh, south Of the main building, and the
swivel stood on the pavement by the side Of these,
with the muzzle pointing down the street in the
direction Of the polls, which were on the opposite
or east side of Seventh street. Tho famous cor
ner at which stood, being on the same side of the
street with the swivel, was of course out of It's
range, and, being about forty yards from it, sup.
posed there could be no danger either from that
formidable weapon or from the Marines when they
should proceed to capture it. The latter force,
leaving their position in street, turned into Sew
enth, and halted for few minutes in front of the
polls where the Mayor is said to have addressed
the crowd, but l was unable to hear word of
vvh WINS In tha f;rna q ho haA
been moved further up the pavement, distance |
of some Eve or ten PAGES. The Marines were then |
marched up on the east side Of Seventh street,
until the right of the column was opposite the |
swivel, and the left about ten or fifteen PAGES in
advance Of our position at the opposite corner.
Immediately saw platoon or detachment of the
Marines from the right move rapidly across the