Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-09

marches 70 the ground. In the mean time, perfect
peace, perfect quiet, perfect orer, was prevailing
here With single exception Of an ailray with
one lrishman, uninterrupted peace prevailed
during the entire period after the morning affair,
When the Marines started from the barra ks, a
parcel Of boys from the Navy Yard followed them
with an unoaded swivel. The Marines turned of
to report TO the Mayor at this place. and the boys
got ahead OF them with their piece. On the
ground in Seventh street they got powder and
material, with which it is proved they charged it.
But on getting on the ground they interfered
with no one there; they made no riot; they
ca lsed no ARRAY; and the voting went on. They
took their station along the Market House. and so
little at ention did they attract, that think one
or more than one witness who passed on the
opposite side of the street, came to the place of
voting without noticing them. They were under
The shelter Of the Market House-a parcel of boys
with swivel. My friend Mr.. KEY, asked why
the Commissioners did not complain OF the pres
ence of those boys He might have answered his
o sn question. FIJI, had put on pair of cromatic
asses, by which he could have seen them in a
proper light, he could have answered that they
did not con plain because the boys did not annoy
them; they betook themselves to another place;
they assaulted no one; they commit ID no dis
~ ba1ce; the voting went on; ard tnat is the
re 80 they did not complain. They had no cause
lie Of march, and the Mayor conducted them to
the corner of Seventh and streets, where they
were drawn up in line. The Mayor proceeds in
advance OF them to the polls, and he tells US that
he found the polls closed; that he knocked at the
window, but received no reply. He was informed
that the Commissioners had absented themselves.
He also tells us that he was received with deris on
and scoiling, and his attempts to address the
crowd were unavaling. Well, suppose they
derded the Mayor-suppose the persons about
there scoifed at him--does that make riot?
Suppose George Wilson and William Wilson both
said that III. Commissioners had closed the polls,
aud that they should not be opened until the
military were taken away, would that make riot?
They did nothing to resist the Mayor. What they
said was expressive Of their own feeling, their
indignant feeling, think justly indignant feeling,
at the presence of the military. Did that consti-
tute riot? Why, the Commissioners were not
there to respond to the Mayor IfMr. KEY could
make riot out of it, he must show that the Com.
missioners were there to be acted upon by what
the Mayor said, to have their conduct influenced,
because unless it was so it could not be
SAID that these remarks were Obstrucilg the
Mayer. But the Commissio lers were absent;
they were not present to hear the Mayor,
and they were mac cessib'es to h ! appeals
Because George and wi liam Wilson said the polls
should not be opened, ~Mr. KEY sys they are
guilty Of riot by obsructing the Mayor / having
them opened, when the Mayor tells you that he
had no power to open them. Now, that is a Curl
Gus sort OF riot 1t was riot in which there was
nothing rotous said or done. Can you charge US
with that riot? And was it not distinct from the
morning riot? Had it any connection with the
morning riot that directed against the Irish
legion-the unenlisted legion? This was directed
in opposition to the Mayor in his attempts to have
the polls opened. There is no connection at all for
as long as the polls were closed, no man could
vote, Native, Wing, Democrat, or Know Nothing.
If it riot he could not allege it here, for no
has not charged it against u.s. But, he SAYS, this
was not only riot on the part of George Wilson,
who standing up on an elevated pla form
where he could really take no part in the affair,
where he was expanding his force upon the free
air; it not only riot on the part of George and
William Wilson, but of those, also, wno were in
charge Of the swivel. The parties at the polls had
nothing to 80 with the swivel. George Wilson
had nothing to DO, with it. He was not near
it. He had nothing to do with the riot, foc
that was taking place up above. This was sepa-
rate and distinct offence by distinct persons, and
for single purpose Gentlemen, not only
object to this firing into an innocent crowd, but
to such platoon firing in coults Of justice. Take
your rifles in your hands and shoot asingle bullet
at the mark. Try your case with the precision
that belongs to the law, and don't come here with
a scattering fire that is apt to kill at point that
the marksman has not in view.
But there was a riot about the cannon. How
was the cannon brought there, and by whom
1t is conceded that it was done by parcel of
boys six, seven, eight, or ten, in NUMBER at the
outside. do not believe any body puts the num-
Der higher of those boys who were in charge of
this swivel, which, in all probability, was spiked,
so that it could not be fred, especially as it was
surrounded by crowd OF citizens who were at
tempting to arrest them, with the muzzle at one
time down the pavement, at another time turned
of from the street toward the market-house away
from the polls, and away from the Marines. We
had in the crowd around it, Mr.. Richard Wallach,
Mr.. Carlisle, and gallant old general who, to the
misfortune Of this community, had not charge OF
that force that day. We know that that gallant
old man pressed his knee upon the muzzle and
kept ii there until the Marines got into position to
charge upon it.
The parties around this gun said they came
there for no purposes Of offence, we come here
to attack no one !" but then It was also said VIC
have brought it here TO defend ourselves II we are
assaulted, or TO defend our friends when they are
assault ID.
| think that was lawful and excusable purpose
II such were the real purpose but il was in a con.
dition in which they could not fire the gun, with
cloth spread over it to protect IL from the rain.
Now, am not going TO stop to enquire into the ex.
at position Of the gun, whether as Hallack said,
they attempted TO touch II off or not These discre
pancies are insepaIable from the case, and are
proof of the integrity Of the witnesses Gather than
ground for questioning their truth. No two
men could come into court and give the came &C.
count of that affair. But taking general view OF
the testimony, fairly and impartially drawing con-
clusion from the whole, you arc obliged TO say that
up TO a considerable time, at least, such was the
crowd around that swivel, such its direction, and
such its condition. that it was impossible to have
used it in hostile manner against the Marines
Mr. Merrill aud Mr. Wallach tell us that with their
own hands, while the Marines were drawn up be.
fore the polls, they turned its muzzle towards the
market-house. There can be no doubt about that
| apprehend that while some Of the most violent
were in charge Off they turned around the gun,
and a second and third time turned it off Gen
eral Henderson said that he stood with his knee
against the muzzle, his purpose being to arres,
the firing of tue piece. He did this at the hazard
OF his own person, both on account of the parties
concerned with the gun, and on account Of the
Marines whom he regarded In som, respects AZ
children of his household; and he stood there un
I'll the Marines got into position from which they
could charge aud take it. Major Tyler supposed
that from the time he first came in sight OF thii
piece, il was turned upon him and that as ht