Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-06-10
Washington City Riot.

Washington City Riot.
Public sentiment is very much divided in ref
erence to the cause of the late election riot in
Washington city, and especially in regard to the
conduct of the Mayor in calling out the Marines.
The anti-Know- Nothing press is bitter in its de-
nunciations of the Americans" and saddle all
the blame upon then; whilst the latter accuse
rho Mayor of drunkenness, and lay the fault at
his door, Reports also are contradictory rs to
whothe Baltimore lighting men" were-wheth-
er "Plug Uglies," "trip Raps," or, as the Balti-
more Clipper alleges, "Irish bullies, +" who re-
paired to Washington to assault and beat the A
mericans from the polls. The Clipper intimates,
moreover, that rs the Democrats originated the
practice Of employing DULLES to brow-beat and
drive off voters, they have no right to complain
if they are occasionally treated to dose of their
own medicine.
After reading the different accounts Of the
riot, we are satisfied that the Baltimore rowdies
called "Plug Uglies," had good deal to do in
getting it up. The Mayor may have acted rnju-
diciously in calling out the Marines, as the dis
turbance could probably have been quelled
By other means, and the order to fire on the
crowd seems not to have been actually necessa-
ry or justified by the strict rules of law. But
in reference to these matters, We at least, would
have no censures to pass if the Marines had hit
the right persons. Rioters are generally dealt
with too tenderly-they should be shot down
like mad dogs, without ceremony, and after a
few such wholesome lessons we should have
fewer of such outbreaks. In this instance,
however, of the forty persons killed and wound
ed by the Marines, all of them were innocent
spectators, and not one of the rioters was touch
ed; a fact which speaks badly for the marks
manship of the soldiers and the bad manage
ment of those in command.
These frequent election riots in our large cit
les mist ill every good citizen, who desires to
enjoy the blessings of free government himself
and hand them down to his posterity. with hor-
ror and alarm. We see enough in the country
of the influences brought to bear upon voters,
even without violations of law or disturbances
of the peace, to disgust every man not render
ed oallous by partiZan feeling or naturally ruff
fan; but when the bludgeon, the dirk and the
revolver are brought into requisition to decide
who shall be elected to public office, the CON-
muuity where it is prsctised had far better be
under the dominion of single master. And to
this result we seem to be rapidly tending. Far
better be under tho domination of one man than
of an ignorant and Infatuated mob. The rights
3 rfv ha M a.
cure. What is orr boosted liberty worth if ev-
cry citizen cannot exercise the simplest privilege
of freeman, unrestricted and without risk of
life or limb? We know the excuses put in by
the partizans of the rioters-One party says the
other employs DULLES and they must do it in
selt-detence; but this plea does not mitigate the
evil or diminish our fear of the consequences
If the officers ofthe law are not competent to pro-
tect all parties. including the humblest indiYid-
nal, in their persons and rights, the sooner an
absolute ruler, who can do it, shall assume con-
troll of affairs, the better.
The chief cause of these connections, besides
the wretched moral and religious training of
those engaged in them, is the innumerable and
CONSTANTLY OcCuIlHS POPu1iI clOO1iOHS WIN
which the country is cursed. Theotficers whose
duty it is to enforce order, are dependent upon
the rioters, in part, for their bread; they, and
low party politicians, pander to them for their
votes; the people are kept perpetually in state
of feverish excitement; and riot and blood
shed are the natural consequences.
One fact connected with the Washington riot
is full of alarm for the future-a majority of the
mob is said to have been boys under eighteen
years of age. Tie mob which hung the negroes
in Louisville few weeks ago was partly COM
posed of the same material and whenever a RI
OF occurs we have the same report. And these
are to be;the men who in short time will have
control of the country Where are the fathers
and mothers of the land that their children thus
run wld2 Parental authority must be called
into exercise or there will be little hope for the
Republic, and less for the miserable youths
themselves.