The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-19

GRAND MASS MEETlNG.--1HE ELECTION or COL
BERRET

of the democratic and anti know nothing party in
the city OF Washington held last night Capitol
Hill. There large crowd in attendance and the
meeting was exceedingly enthusiastic Bonhres
knded and AN excellent band at times relieved by the
stirring of the fife and drum lent its aid In increasing
it. loud-mouthel cannon occasionally beched forth,
mngng It's thunder with the cheering OF the excited
dence In short there great enthusiasm, and Cap
tol Hill seemed 10 be nous for Berret In addition to
this there transparencies with notices each indca
tive of the unamity OF the people in favor Of law and
order.
The meeting was organized by calling TO the chair
Captain Chas. w O. Huntington. and the appointment
OF Mr. Smawood and Mr. Marceron to act as secretaries
GOVERNOR BROWNS srsEcm
Hon ALnRar G. InowS of Mississippi was first in
troduced He remarked that the citizens OF Washington
were the a most important election election
only important TO themselves, but important to the
whole country. The election of Mayor OF the city of
Washington all times looked to with interest by
the whole people Of the United States but this it
would DO looked to with special and particular interest
because Congress had within few days past closed up
controversy which the nation had watched with
anxiety and the result of the election in this
city would therefore be regarded the verdict of the poo
pie Washington against the settlement of that
controversy and for against the ucton of the national
democratic party In this view the approaching election
il of vast consequence not only to the people Of
Washington, but to tho whole American people The
future of Washington city wrapped up in the future of
the Union for without the preservation and the pepetu
ity of the Union, Washington must become
road town Break up tho Union, and her stately
sons must become batroosts and homes for other ill
omened birds. With the Union going on the high-road
of prosperity, Washington must continue to prosper
IL has prospered in days gone by.
The question rested with her citizens to whether
the election should be conducted became Amer
citizens whether it should be marked with blood
she'd as the election of last year He would repeat
what he had said previous occasion, that long
| acquaintance with the people of Washington had
satisfied him that nineteen twenteths of themand he
did not know he should exaggerate if he should say
ninety nine hunCredths of themwere devoted to law
aad order But there disordery element in their
midst nevertheless Congress had been appealed to for
protection The Senate voted to give the citizens po-
lice paid by the government to keep the peace in this
city but the House of Representatives. acting under
what he thought at the moment, and still thought
mistaken view of the subject had refused to vote for
| that police force. Washington menaced with
the disorderly and bloody which occurred
last year. and what to be done9 Congress had done
nothing and will do nothing Then what must the c
| zens of Washington do! Every Of them must
solve himself for that day into policeman matter
whether he be democrat, American, republican. If
he has the heart of man, and Is true man. let him
dedicate himself that day to the service Of his country
and the peace of the city [Applause Lot those act
thus who love law and order, and riot and bloodsed
must be put down.
Hero delegation from the nayy-yara approached
with music which forced the speaker to suspend his re-
marks for few moments
Mr.. b. resumed by saying that the most effective
Of keeping the peace election day would be
close up every drinking establishment, for when liquor
got into the head mind went out. The grogshops
the most fruitful sources of the mischief which occurred
on election days they the hotbeds in which
engendered the riot, disorder and boodshed that
had heretofore brought disgrace upon the good of
the CITY, Let the mayor and city council order them
be closed election day. and let the great of the
people stand by them to enforce that order cost what
may [Cheersl That was the starting point, and the
next thing to organize strong police force and
| at the head of it he would place such 10.
Gales and Peter Force, and William w. Seaton, md
Philip r. Fcndall not because they fighting men,
but because Of the moral force and influence they would
exert They old men, who had something at stake
| in the community, Why, let Jo Gales up upon
his crutch weak that child ten years old could re-
sst him, and let of the rowdies offer him any vio
| lence, and hundred would be ready to ayonge
him in instant Applause. The presentation of such
would bring to their support every spark of chiva
ry in the whole city. He would liketo Plug-Ugly
from Baltimore dare insult old Jo Gales, any Of
that class. Was there man in that crowd who would
not strike him down as he would the erces tiger that
| ever roamed the junglesa Cheers If they would
adopt such this there would be quiet and
peaceabe election and that all that they desired
that every could vote according to the dictates Of his
judgment and not upon compulsion force, fear and
the result would be that their banner would wave in
triumph on the evening when the polls had closed
Mr. b went on to make remarks especially adj
dressed to those who might belong to the American par
ty He did not intend to lecture Them to say harsh
things to them, for he hoped there many among
them who had real American hearts FACILITATING in their
bosoms But he wanted to present to them sober
truths and to convince them that they pursuing
| erroneous and fatal course. There noin-
nay in this country three parties democratic party
the American party and the republican party but how
| big the American party In the Senate, ont of
sixty four members there but three Americans and
in the House. out of 234 members, there fourteen
all told That was the strength of Americanisrn,
| know nothingism
There great contest going in this country !;
but it not between the democratic party and the
American party it between the national democratic
party the SIDE and the black republican party
which sectional party the other He said the
national democratic party because that party existed in
Maine New Hampshire, Massachusetts,, New York, and
also in Virginia. South Carolina Mississippi and all the
States to California was party whose existence
broad the Union ITSELF and Of which he proud to
be called humble member But the republican party,
twenty odd members in the Senate, exclusively
from section of the Union, and had existence ut
all south of the river which ayes the western shore of
Washington. Then when the citizens of Washington
oppose the democratic party, when they vote against the
democratic candidate they aiding and abetting the
black republican partythey suffering themselves
be the cats paws to pull the chestnus out Of the fire.
| laughter
What then ought those who favor the principles of tho
American party to do in this contest Their first duty
to the Union, because, no had already suggested
blotted out Abolish the Union let the Southern States
establish their seat of government Mt Atlanta in Georgia.
Montgomery in Alabama and let the Northern States
establish their seat Of government at New York. and
what would Washington bci Why, in ten years, Bla
densburg would be glorious city compared to il !