Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-06-05

Or We give The detailed account of the terrible
election riot at Washington City on Monday last,
resulting in several persons being either killed. or
wounded. Unfortunately the sufferers were mostly an
offending citizens totally unconnected with the net
Gus transactions of the day. Had the been other
had the rioters been the only suferers-had
their crimes been visited upon their heads alone,
we could have had hut little sympathy to waste upon
them.
Baltimore appears to have more than her share OF
Towdies and know it, and she sends them forth TO
control the municipal elections of the Federal City
Those refined gentlemen, the Plug Uglies" having
already achieved a national reputation emulous
of world vide fame. They sight for the civic
disgrace 10 any party or organization to which they
are attached. and their ideas of Americans ruling
America" can never meet the appreciation of any
right-minded people, or fail to react fatally upon
any cause upheld by such agencies
Unfortunately, such gangs receive sort OF moral
or immoral aid. comfort and allotment from such pa
pers as the Baltimore Clipper and some other rabid
and wholly unscrupuIous partzan shees, whose sus'
tenance-whose hfe-blood, is drawn from civil COM
motions and heart burnings, and who, without such
would find their occupation gone.
1t is painful and Illuminating circumstance that
the Federal Capital in respects the representa-
tive city of the Union, should be made the Of
such outrsges and that military force should be re-
qured TO preserve its peace from the violence of i'm
ported rowdies. But we are pleased to see that the
authorities were promp' to meet the emergency with
the requisite frmness Mr.. Buchanan in responding
Gbo Ilof tho Xuha
had resolved to do, had such occasion arisen.
The usually COO and we'll Informed correspondent
of the Baltimore Sum- corroborates the detailed &C
count given by the Star of Washington City, which
might otherwise be called in question as an &c parte
statement, put forth by Democratic paper. That
correspondent stales hat at an early hour the pre-
sence of crowds of strangers of the toughest sort,
with firearms, dirks, Knives and forth, plainly
indicated the fact that the morning train had brought
from Baltimore gangs of rowdies. doubtless for the
purpose of interfering in the municipal elections. He
adds
The polls opened at the usual hour of seven, but
in the upper section OF the Fourth ward, where many
of our naturazed citizens reside, a demonstration
was soon made, which amounted 10 the exclusion of
almost every naturaZed voter. The poor, hard
working men were chased away, followed by ruthless
crowds fired at, peed with stones, and even hunted
down by dogs. To the credit of our CRY it should be
said that in Lese laWless gangs of desperadoes could
there be recognized of The citizens of Washing
ion. OF course, many boys were mixed up IN the
confusion The alarm in that section of the city be
came general, and The bules from hour to hour ex
tended their operations.
1t would further appear the marines were dared
to fire-that the rowdes pointed at them cannon
loaded. That Plug Ugly was seen aiming his pts
tol at the breast of The venerable Gen Henderson,
commander of the Marines, but his purpose was
frustrated by Marine, who stabbed his Comman-
der's assaiIant with his bayone, hat without doing
him serious injury. The notices 10 the rowdies TO
disperse, were responded TO by cries of Americans
rally !"-" Let them come - Do your duty "-
They are afraid 10 fIe!" etc. Surely these ale
queer "Americans," and have strange notions of
" duty"