Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-01
Pro-slnrerr 20 on IIbertyIpoIss !

Pro-sluvery War on LIbertyIPOIssl
The intolerance Of Pro-SlRveFy Democracy
has been freshly illustrated in Washington
City and vicinity. The Republicans Of the
Capital Of the Republic sought permission to
erect Liberty, Pole in the District Of Co
lumbia, but even that poor privilege Of free
men WAS insultiugly denied them
On the 4th Of July the Republicans Of oc-
coqnn, village in Prince William county,
near Alexandria, Virginia, showed their In
dependence by assembling to the number Of
about sixty, and raising Liberty Pole, from
which the national banner was uufurled, and
also party ensign bearing the names Of Lin
coin and Hamlin. A celebration was held,
and several speeches were made endorsing
the Chicago Platform. Among the speakers
were John Underwood and Vim. Athney.-
This reused the pro-slavery chiyalry. George
Potter, 81 commissioned captain in the Goth
regiment Virginia militia" at once wrote to
Adjutant General Richardson, at Richmond,
Informing him that "the people in the ada
cent neighborhoOd desire TO know if such
flag being put up in the heart of a Southern
State ought not 10 be pulled downn-and
that the people here alexandria, look upon
this as bold abolition step and are anxious
this pole and flag should be demolished. -
The gallant Captain Potter reminds his supe-
rior that he " is subject to orders" and says
al hope 10 hear from you at an early day"
The letter was received July 23d and i'm
mediately laid before Gov. Letcher, and Ad-
iutant General Richardson wrote the same
day to the valorous Capt. Potter that" If
the people of the vicinity choose to tolerate
such an outrage the Governor has no official
control over the matter" On the Gath, Mr..
Athney, on behalf of the citizens of Occoquan,
telegraphed 70 Gov. Letcher asking protec-
ton iron threatened mob Of 300 men from
a distant part Of the county. The Governor
made some feeble show Of using the civil au-
thority to preserve the peace, but the Rich.
mond Inquirer pronounced the dispatch the
most oOnsummate piece of impudence and au-
dacity that had ever come under its notice, )"
and meeting was held at Brentsville, Prince
William county, "for the purpose of organ
iziug a company to proceed to Occoquan and
haul down the obnoxious flag raised by set
of reasonable fanatics"
How the "obnoxious flag and treason
able fanatics" were maltreated by the Vir-
ginia chivalry, is thus related by the Alexan-
dria Gazette, pro-slavery journal. 1t says:
On the morning Of the 2Tth yesterday the
Republicans hoisted the American flag and
the party ensign, bearing the names Of Lin
coin and Hamlin. At 81 o'clock the Prince
William Cavalry, Capt. Thornton command
ing entered the village, and ranged them
selves in the neighbOrhOOd of the pole. They
were followed by a company of about forty
strong, under command of Capt. Fitzhugh
and Major Carter, who paying no attention
whatever to the hOrsemen, quietly formed in
a hollow square around the pole, facing in
ward. While this company was surrounding
the pole, Mr.. Joseph. T. Janney advanced to
the captain of the troop of horse and claimed
protection for his property, upon which the
pole stood.
At the word Of command, James W. Jack
son, q stalwart yeoman, spraug forward and
gave the first blow Others followed, redoub-
ling stroke on stroke. During the time there
was no interruption, save the Republicans
and others, who stood at corners near by,
would cry out Amt your az dull2 Hope
you're having a good time, !" &c. In a few
minutes, however, there was a cry of "Stand
from underP and the pole came to the
ground.
Instantly the crowd gave three cheers,
when the Republicans responded by "Three
cheers for Hamlin.n - Al were -snieLly= ct
work on the fallen pole, and in less time than
il takes to tell IL il was chopped up and the
pieces carried of. The flag was sent TO
Brentsville.
So soon as the hag-pole was leveled, Capt.
Fitzhugh ordered about face, and his COM
pany marched of, saluted as they went by
with mingled jeers and applause.
During the evening there was some excite
ment and a personal rencounter took place
between Col. Brawner and Joseph T. Janney,
in which the latter was considerably in
jured. The crowd cleared away during the
evening" and at sundOwn all was quiet.
The Republicans say they will put up
another pole on the same site.
A dispatch from Washington, dated the
2sth, says:
"a report reached here tonight through
parties who were at 0ccOquan yesterday,
that the greatest excitement prevailed at that
place when they left; that several Republi-
cans had been attacked, and severe fights
resulted. One statement is that Mr.. Janney
8 Bell and Everett man-an old settler in
Virginia, large property holder, and the
owner ofthe land where the liberty pole was
erected-was brutally assailed and beaten
because he asserted that he had the right to
declare bis own principles upon his own
homestead, and to permit Others to exercise
their rights within his own grounds, if it
pleased him to do So !"