The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-19
WASHINGTON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER l9 1851

have heard that there was shooting and hallooino
ana that pistols were fred &c. &C., but from sin
gle witness have you learned the exact time and
cause of the first affray, and when cite the eyi
dence, you will not fail TO understand both the tim,
and the cause of this melee,
MIR, Halleck stated some facts considered by tn,
unted states attorney as favorable to the prosccu
ton, and therefore, independent of his being maj
Of great respectability, the utmost reliance must b
placed on his evidence against the prosecution HI
says that some one asked naturaized voter, if h,
had a. his papers," II was proper inquiry,
Sss ss suPp9sss wss the e aassoa be challenger
NOW. 40 not stand here denying the right Of
naturalized citizen to his vote Twill 90 as far as any
man man e protect his vested rights" | would no
candidate for Office, Of equal qualifications but
would defend him in his vested rights at ai times
The question, however, was proper one: G Hav,
Son your papers and ID what was his answer Die
The inquiry proper, for it was said and believed
that foreigners were attempting toyote upon deaC
mems papers His answer was, "No; But HAVE 4
BRICK IN MY PocKEP I"
| Now, gentlemen, on ordinary occasions and unde,
ordinary circumstances, if such an answer were
made to challenger at the polls, he might reply
don't care TOR yolr drick; but this was on a day
when threats had been made towards the "Ameri
cans" which were calculated to arouse indignatior
and resentment, and when such an answer miph
well be considered direct invitation to combat
In answering, ~ haze Nick," it was equivalent te
| challenge-it was distinctly inviting an affray
what does Hal leck say followed?
He says: THE MELEE IMMEDIATELY coMasScEn
That circumstance-that imprudence of the Irish
man created the affray in the morning
Wei, gentlemen, this proof negatives dsproves
the idea altogether that it was riot got up to Oh
press the naturalized citizens Of the United States
This testimony proves directly the contrary-thot III
dtstur6dnce originated ui tile anti 4aaejicans Not
only so, the testimony is overwhelming that the nat
lralzed citizens voted as freely on that day as die
Gentlemen, there was no riot There was no con.
cert to prevent naturalized citizens from voting Je
wnen the question J., ,was.put 70 an Irishman aHave
you your papers z and it was met by the defian
general affray followed You all know what thai
man meant. He meant to bid defance--he did bid
defance-he threw down the glove;" and at thai
very instant the aftray commenced Haleck stated
Thus is the whole pretence of q preconcerted ar
rangement by the /" Americans" to keep foreigners
from the polls, scattered to the winds! venture to
say, that if that Irishman had exhibited his papers
to the judges, as he ought to have DONE no afray
would al that tlme have occurred and perhaps none
during the day. 1t is true this is only matter OF
opinions but it is certainly established that the Irish.
mans answer was the immediate cause of the dis
tlrbanee 1t is proved beyond controversy that this
ARRAY did not originate with the Americans" /
care not how many Plugs" or Americans" or
haif-grown boys were going about the streets hur-
raing. Captain Davis and others have proved that
no nc disturbance had been created by them, down to
leck. Nor have | any doubt, gentlemen, that even
this aray could have been suppressed as easily as
you could control child, had there been dozen po-
llcemen on the ground, men Of bravery, nerve and
aetermlnatlon OF purpose, who were really desrous
to preserve the peace. |
omitted to notice, in connexion with the origin
OF this afray, (what is not of much Importance ex-
cept to show that they expected. and were pre-
pared Tor general Disturbance that Mr. Southeron
saw four lrishmen that morning, coming up Mas
sachusetts avenue towards those polls, with their
pockets stuffed, with what he took from the appear
ance to be pistols 1t shows that this class of per-
should be given. F'-.''
Now, gentlemen, have given you this brief gem
eral view of the morning disturbance and you must
be satisfied, from the references have made TO the
proof, first, that IT was afray and not riot and
secondly, that 1t was got up by the ti-Americans
And now, In regard TO the evening disturbance,
may ask what was it and who began itY will state
as succincty as can the substance of the proof on
these questions.
The first important fact as TO the evening disturb
ance is that the Marines called out by order of
the President in response TO the request Of the May
or when all was quiet at the Fourth Ward and that
they left the Navy Yard. H.a a...... =.
The next fact is, that some young men (who had
heard OF the threat have mentioned, and who dis
covered that the Marines were marching up the city)
followed the Marines with small swivel, avowing
their sole purpose to be. to defend themselves and
the Americans from the Marines Their purpose
was manifest and they repeatedly said, " take away
the Marines, and we will take back the swivel
Another fact IN proof is that the swivel was not
Loaded tll after IT reached the market house in the
Third Ward-a fact which negatives the idea of any
concert with those at the polls. II was taken from
the Anacost'a engine house, unloaded and in great
haste. -
The taking up of the swivel was sudden move
ment, proceeding from the impulse of moment-it
was unloaded and las il ultimately proved) il had
been spiked some days beforel .
Inc next fact is, that the swivel passed the Ma
rlnes on the march-and was planted and loaded at
the market house in the Third Ward. some distance
above the Fourth Ward polls The next fact is that
the Marines were marched up and formed into line
near the swivel. Then followed the net of taking the
swivel by platoon of Marines with charged bayo-
nets, before single shot had been fired by even a
pistol, or single missile had been thrown by the
crowd around the swivel; and simultaneously with
this taking Of the swivel, discharge of muskets by
the Marines at the crowd the market house. and
the killing and wounding of several citizens
Gentlemen, though, under the instructions Of The
eout, the Marines were lawfully brought up 70 the
Fourth Ward polls by the directions Of the Mayor,
Il does not follow that when they had reached that
locality, they had right to do what they pleased
10 take the property of others, to shoot down
innocent men They had no right TO touch MdI
s'oi0eh no matter what were the purposes Of those
around IT. We are bound to believe, however, that
the sole purpose of those around the swivel was TO
defend their own rights and the rights Of their
fellow citizens. They 80 declared and their decara-
tons have been thus proved by the Government
There ~ no proof that they had any other purpose
Major Tyler says that he was informed nv what he
supposed was committee that unless he took away
the Marines, those in possession of the swivel would
fire upon them, but il is also proved that they
declared at the time they did not intend 10 use
the swivel except in selfdefence" here say,
then, that the attack on that swivel was the frst
breach Of NE peace, and that the commencement OF
the evening afray is chargeable to the Anti-Ameri-
cans-the Marines! In this connexion there is a
| circumstance to which must here advert ! refer
to the fact that in instant after the first platoon
of the Marines took the swivel and fired at the crowd
| above and at the Market House-n the Uery instant
following, the lower portion, or southern line Of the
Marnes-the left, or from the centre to the left
commenced firing towards Allstons corner nearly a
| square below the position Of the swivel! Gentle
men, is there the least evidence in this case on
which you can rely showing that the Marines in the
centre or on the left had the slightest cause or sem
bIahce Of Pro0ocrtioB 10 fire a gunl You cannot fail
| to remember what havoc and destruction that firing
/ caused; how that Alston, Deems, and half dozer
other peaceable citizens were instananeousy killed
| at that spot and others wounded and crippled
ask you TO refer TO the proof and respond for your
selves, whether there can be the slightest
palliaon offered for the dis hargc of those forty OF
fifty musketsg shall advert to this point gain il
the sequel, and therefore pass il over withou
| further comment ..a
have thus, in this hasty manner endeavored I,
show you that the affrays we're commenced, boil
morning and evening, by the dnti-Americans and
Is singular circumstance, that of the fourteen per
sons killed by the Marines on that day, only two
~ IL