New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-06-11
I ! -
A GRAVE CHARGE,

The Democratic papers of Washington and the
Black Republican papers Of New York openly and
directly charge the American party Of the former city
with having imported gangs Of rowdes and bullies
from Baltimore for the purpose of controlling their
recent municipal election, thus making themselves
responsible for the acts Of violence and bloodshed
which took place on that day. No individuals are
named as connected with the affair, no specific charges
made, beyond general, sweeping allegation against
the whole party Of the city and as no reason is given
for supposing it to have been brought about through
the agency of the American party the charge will not
probably be thought worth refuting there. At dis
lance from the scene however, it is more essential
that such statements should not be passed over in
silence.
It is alleged that band of Baltimore desperadoes,
forty fifty or sixty in number, made their appearance
on the morning of the election, and in the course OF
the day murderously assaulted the " Anti-know-
Nothing voters at the polls driving them away, to-
cether with the commissioners of election, and caus
ing the voting places to be closed The rowdes it is
said then carried it with high hand until they were
dispersed by the military who, it seems in perform
ing this duty must have fired with criminal careless
ness, for number of persons were slain who had
nothing to do with the disturbances, while the mme-
date producers of the bloody escaped
| it is stated, with single exception.
The Washington Union, Star, New York Tribune,
Times and Evening Post, publish highly colored
accounts Of the disturbances and the final tragedy,
and forthwith draw the conclusion, and assert 1t
roundly that the Baltimore bullies imported in
accordance with deliberate arrangement Of the
American party, and this without exhibiting parti-
cle of evidence to support the infamous allegation
| Tho in.nr fy
lies" would have made the journey from Baltimore
to Washington unless melted thereto and paid for it
It is not even asserted in the accounts that any
siderable number Of persons Of either party in Wash
ington actively co-operated with the Baltimore ruf
| fans
1t is quite probable the the " Plug Uglies had con
federates in Washington, but to brand the American
party of that city with base crime is outrageous
| absurd-as much SO as to call community to &C
count for the conduct Of private individual There
are always two sides to a story. We have pub
lished one view Of the origin Of this unfortunate
affair and as an entirely different claims atten
ton it is just that it should be spread before the pub
lic From an account of the affair which we find IN
the Baltimore Clipper we extract the following:
Quite early in the morning gang OF Baltimore
Eighth Ward buies through Inc s.see ESQ
shots, ETC., and by way of diversion inaugurated
free fight right off, in which several hundred mer
and boys took part The immediate cause of the fuss
however seems to have been an attempt by the Anti
-Nothings to keep such full possession OF the
1 polls as that no American could approach within 6
| stones throw. For this purpose they crowded the
vicinity with Irish negroes and rufans of every hue
4 each one of whom manifested the most determined
resistance whenever voter approached who was ad
judged, in their parlahce, A follower OF the dark
| lantern.''
After several frutess attempts to deposit their bal
4 lots, number of resolute Americans concluded tc
press their way through, when the Irish, finding
themselves overpowered drew their billies and com
| menced sashing away in their drunkenness and
! frenzy knocking many of themselves down as any
| body else. In the general melee which followed PTS
| tolls were also fired Unfortunately stones, brick
bats and missiles of every description hurled violently
| pell nell, in every direction.
1t is also stated that Edward 7. Queen renegade
Whig," declared publicly day Or two previous te
the election that the Democrats intended to vote
early and that if the Americans got their votes in
| all, it would be through file of marines"
| We are advocates Of law and order, and think tia
the "Plug Uglies," and every other person who in
cited or assisted the shameful and criminal riots il
Washington, deserved to be hanged to the lamp post
of the city, but protest against saddng the crime
of individuals upon respectable and honest poh
ical Marty as any in the country