Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-06-19
IPnblIc opinion in relation 10 the Ri.
ots in Washington.

PnblIc Opinion In relation 20 the Ri
ots in Washington.
The press Of the country, almost with
out exception. speaks in terms Of sppro-
baton OF the course pursued by the pub
lie authorities in Washington in suppress
ing the lawless and insurrectionary DEM
.ons,rstion st the late municipal election.
We give place 20 few moro extracts
from journals OF all shades of party pole
tics
Ifthers is anything like Justice in OF
about washington. is is to be hoped 1t viii
oyertske the disbolical wretehes whose
disgraceful conduct converted the munici.
pal election there ON Monday into scene
Of riot and bloodshed. We see that il is
charged in some quarters that the roWdies
who took leading part in these distur>
Dances were "Know. Nothings." in other
words. "Americans." Now. we do not
know what the "Plug Uglies'' call them
selves. but We know that they are not
Americans. Americans do not disgrace
themselves in that way. We have heard
Of the Short Boys here and the Killers in
Philadelphia sguring in such scenes in
order to sway or determine our elections;
but Americans never. never. neyerl II
these Baltimore rowdies then. went TO
Washington TO smash ballot boxes. drive
voters away from the polls. and essab.
lish a regular reign of terror-we say If
they have done all this in and under the
name of Americanism. then they have
been stealing the '.livery of Heaven &c
serve the Devil mn y En-, (Aaaeri.
can
The general sentiment of the country
fully snstains the authorities of Washing
ton in firing upon the "Plug Uglies. +" and
commends the President for furnishing q
body Of marines for that purpose. What
is chiefly to be regretted is. that as usual
10 such cases. some innocent persons suf.
fered along with the guilty. 1t is quite
time that rowdies should be taught that
their profession is not entirely free from
peril.-N 7. Jour. Com.
If the Americans in Washington OF
Baltimore by any preconcerted plan pro,
yoked these scenes of bloodshed. the res
sponsibility must rest on them alone; they
will meet with appreciation from no quar-
ter; for i. is a cardinal principle of the
Americans to secure order at the polls.
that all legal voters may exercise their
rights. So far as we can judge. the ac-
ton ofthe public authorities was perfecs-
ly right in putting down the rioters with
the strong arm Of military power. and
whenever "Plug Uglies." Grip Raps,'
or other vagabond clans with outlandisl
names appear to disturb the peace or il
any manner interfere with the rights o.
the citizens. We trust they may be made
to feel the power of the law. in summa
ry application to the fullest extens.-AL
6ony Statesman. Aner.
The late riot at the national capita
presents picture that is frightful to con
template. That an organization gotter
together in another city should. by pre-
vious arrangement. attempt to interfere
with the holding Of an election in which
they were not interested. and. more thar
all. that they should use violence or AM
other means to intimidate or in any m an
ner discourage the process OF the election
should merit the condemnation of every
good citizen. The proper measures wer,
adopted and the rioters were forced to re
tire. We hold it to be one of the great.
est outrsges that can be perpetrated in
republican government when force i
brought to bear upon the elective fran
chise to prevent fair expression of the
public sentiment and also that il is tn,
most dangerous of all The evils that ma.
threaten the perpetuation Of our liberties
Take away proper respect for the law
and We are as nothing people with
nothing TO govern them, rabble withou
reason. In all such cases. then. we hop,
that the example Of the Washington su
thorities will be resorted TO. and tina
force Of the most decided character viii
be put in action to suppress mob usurpa
ton Of jussiee and righs.-Cin. 2Tmes
american