Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-03-17

A KNoW-NOTHTNG CITY.

The three cities in which know nothingism estab
hshed omnipOtent sway are spectacles Of warning
to the rest Of the Union. Baltimore, New Orleans,
aud Louisville have been the victims Of m0bs ever
since the know nothing order obtained the control
Of their city governments. The Baltimore Sun Of
the 10th, has an article on the terrible roWdyism
that is dominant In the city Of Baltimore. The
Sun remarks that if Baltimore will compare favora.
bly, with other cities as alleged in some quarters it
sincerely commiserates those cities, and profoundly
sympathizes with them. The Sun says that its re-
porters have recently furnished records Of outrages
innumerable, which, though well authenticated, in
the absence OF legal action it has withheld from
publication. The persons who suffer from these
outrages have nothing to gain by an appeal TO the
law, as that is administered by the partzan friends
Of the rowdies, and there is " every thing to lose
and nothing to gain, by pursuing offenders to JUS
tice" The Sun states"
Justice is itself dsarmed by the want Of cooper
alton Thus there exists an impuuity l0r 0tieuscs
Of the most henous nature, which daily and nightly
irritate and iniure, and degrade the citizen wound
the peace Of the city darken Its fame and put life
itself al discount
These things are true, absolutely. They may be
denied but is needless to discuss them. They are
known to be true 20 tne masses Of the people from
observation and reliable information; ana 10 vast
numbers by personal experience.
What is to be done, the Sun does not know or pre-
tend to say. The style Of outrages that make BaIti-
more disreputabIe is thus set forth:
The question is repeatedly put TO us, what is TO
be doue'Y We decline the use Of communications
which only state wrongs and utter complaints hope
less of remedy. We have no answer TO the inquiry,
what is 10 be doneg'
off no mn oYT p nT nr
tons ofthe diab0lsm which pOssessesthe city consists
Of wild. Wauton and desperate tOTays of miLlIs up.
on public houses In any and every part Of the cry.
Houses of every sort which are open 10 the pubic
for refreshments Sare exposed TO occasional iuup-
tiOns from these hldeous surprise parties" The
effect of this has been very seriously interrupt
and impair this branch of business. Persons en-
gagged ma it are under constant apprehension from
such visits. They occur, as usual without premO-
milton. Sometimes word reaches one portion of the
city that gang is out and may be expected; .hus
forewarned, proprietors Of public houses are meas
ursbly f0rewaued, but in some instances rre best
security is deemed 10 be the closing of the house
Some prOprietOrs have res0red to cUuCIal0Tr means
FOR the preservation Of their business, and have
tualIy purchased a sort Of armIstICe, under which
they manage to get along.
Many quiet, pe8ceablc citizens who have been I'm
the habit Of visiting restaurants for Refreshments lE
the day and the evening, hsye Discontinued the
practice, or occasionally crafty their inclination al
sense OF RISK ana inconvenience II not from expo
sure 70 attack, TO the necessity of Witnessing scenes
of outrage and violence, and The probability Of be-
ing called for attendance NJ court The advocates
of total abstinence, may find in all This remedial
process for what they must be willing TO deem
greater evil. We, however, regard the matter from
that practical and rational point of view, which
quTes that every man shall be protected in lawful
pursuits and innocent indulgence, byLue public au-
thorities against the wantOn, violent bloody, and
diabOhCal laWlessness which veNCs the city like
curse It is not possible that so griev1us al evil as
this can be tolerated or cOnniyed az az amy degree
without fostering its growth And though its frs.
effects may be felt upon houses of public entertain
ment, it must gradually extend its baetul influence
into other and more important channels of trade,
commerce, and industrial pursuits. Nay, we hear
from many quarters The ulerauce that sit is there
alrapdvn