Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-07-24

ing that they should not until the marines
were removed, while mother person was
at the same time haranguing The excited
crowd. The mayorattemptedlto address
them, and To- inform them that the mas
rines were notlthere to attack, but to pro-
tect, citizens in their rights. But he was
saluted with cries of Drive him off 2"
"Turn him out ~ and other similar exr
expressions.
The marines, on their arrival, were
tainted by the rioters, and provoking
language was made use of with yiew,to.
irritate and insult them. During these
proceedings a message was sent by the
party in possession of The cannon, saying
that if the officer in commapd did not
abandon his position they would fire:up~
on him. 1t was then that charge was
made upon the gun by the first platoon
of the first company of marines, and after
two of the marines had been wounded by
the rioters, It 2as taken without blood
shed. Just before this was accomplished
an attempt was madetoireit. Discharging
OF pistols continued in quick succession,
and stones were thrown by the rioters as
8hey Tetreated from the cannon, and not
until then did the marines FIRE their mus
kets in the direction OF their assailants.
"The mayor did not give the order to
FIRE, nor did either Of the officers in COM
mand, according to the testimony elici-
ted; and the marines may have mistook
for an order to that effect the words why
don'i you FIRE p the language uttered by
some person unknown to the witnesses in
terrogated on that point. The marines
numbered ninety or one hundred they
were, nearly all raw recruits, and princi-
pally American born citizens. After the
first fire, in response to the pistol-shots,
the marines were ordered to discharge
their guns in the direction of the flashes
of the pistols. The fact is we'll known
that q number OF persons were killed and
wounded in consequence of the discharge
of firearms on that occasion.
alt should here be stated that the can
non, from its position, would, if fired, have
raked the polls and street; and what the
effect would have been may be conceived
from the fact that it was loaded with
about half pound Of powder. sixty or
seventy rifle cartridges, tied in a hand
kerchief.) eight large stones, and several
pounds of shot.
The marines were supplied each with
twenty rounds of ammunition the car
tridges containing, in addition to the usu-
al quantity of powder. a ball and three
buckshot.
According to the testimony. it was not
known, uutil few moments previous to
the marines being ordered out that their
services would be required, nor were any
persons in the ranks besides the enlisted
men.
I'VE repeat that the police force that
day was insufficient to preserve the peace;
and, therefore, it was deemed necessary
to apply to the Executive for a military
force, which was granted under the repre-
sentation of circumstances to which we
have already alluded. 1t should be sta
ted that the riot at the first precinct of the
Fourth ward was far more serious else
where in Washington. g..
The same party who there drove
peaceful citizens from the polls proceeded,
at later hour, and before the arrival oil
the marines at the city hall, to the neigh.
borhood of the South precinct of the Sc
cond ward. Pistols wero fred and stones
thrown from which the police and citizens
retreated. Alarm and CONSERVATION were
naturally produced by these riotous pro-
ceedings. At the Seventh ward polls
there was an exhibition, in ono respect
similar to that in the Fourth ward, viz
not only preventing persons of foreign
birth, but naturalized citizens from voting
"The grand jury considered it unneces
airy to present further statement of facts
They have endeaVored, as far as the evi,
dcncc and nature of the oath administer
ed to them permitted, to discharge thcil
duty impartially, and irrespective of what
ever individual opinions may be express
ed as to the manner in which they have
performed it.
1.-THE privileges Of the citizens arc toe
dear to be infriuged or destroyed by {
ruffian force acting in disregard of all law
and hence it becomes the duty of good
citizens to Indignantly 'frown down any
and every attempt to unjustly interfere
with constitutional rights; and 10 provide
against a recurrence of such wrongs as
those which were pepetrated on the 6rsi
Monday of June last. Were such things
to DO continued. sclf-government would
exist only in theory, and reproach be
cast upon tho city which bears. the name
Of Washington and tho institutions reared
by patriotic ancestry for'holy purposes
and philantropic ends. -
"In view Of all the circumstances. we
declare our opinion thai the. police force,
as al present organized, is not adequate
for tho purpose intended; and that the
law which created il should be amended.
so as to enable the force TO be temporari.
ly strengthened as occasion may demand.
" GEORGE RrGGs, Foreman"
| A FEMALE IN MALE ATr1RK.-Catha-
rine Craw has been arrested in Oswego,