Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-08-09
Pro Slavery War on Llperty
Poles.

The intolerance of Pro-Slavery Democ-
racy has been freshly illustrated in Wash
ingion City and vicinity. The Republi-
cans of the Capital of the Republic sought
permission to erect Liberty Pole in the
District of Columbia, but one the poor
privilege of freemen was insultingly de-
MED theml
On the 4th of July the Republicans of
Occoquan, village in Prince William
county, near Alexandra, Virginia, showed
.heir Independence by assembling to the
number of about sixty, and rising Lber-
ty Pole, from which the national banner was
unfurled, and also part ensign bearing
the names of Lincoln and Hamlin. A
celebration was held, and several speeches
were made endorsing the Chicago Plat
form. Among the speakers were John
Underwood and VIM. Atheny. This rous-
ed the pro-slavery chivalry. George Pot
ter, ''a commissioned captain in the Goth
regiment Virginia militia" at once wrote
to Adjutant General Richardson at Rich
mond, informing him that "the people in
the adjacent neighborhood desire to know
if such flag being put up in the heart of
a Southern State ought not to be pulled
down"-and that the people here Alexan-
dria look upon this as bold abolition step,
and are anxious this pole and flag should
be demolished. The gallant Captain Pot
ter remindes bis superior that be sis sub
iect to ORDERS" and says 81 hope to hear
from you at an early day."
The letter was received July 23d and
Immediately laid before Gov. Letcher, and
Adiutant 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. y
On the oath, Mr.. Athney, on behalf of
the citizens of Oecoquan, telegraphed to
Gov. Letcher asking protection from
threatened mob of 800 men from 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 consummate piece of impudence
and audacity that had ever come under its
notice." and meeting was held at Brents-
vile, Prince William county, "for the pur-
pose of organizing a company to proceed
TO Oecoquan 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 Alex
andria Gazette pro-slavery journal. 1t
says:
On the morning of the 9th yesterday
the Republicans hoisted the American flag
and the party ensign, bearing the names
of Lincoln and Hamlin. At 81 o'clock
the Prince William Cavalry, Capt. Thorn,
ton commanding, entered the village, and
ranged themselves in the neighborhood of
the pole. They were followed by com
pany of forty strong, under command Of
Capt Fitzhugh and Major Garter, who pay
ing no attention whatever to the horsemen,
quietly formed in hollow square around
the pole, facing inward. While this COM
pany 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 pool stood.
At the word of command, James W..
jackson, a stalwart yeoman, sprang for
ward and gave the first blow. Others fol-
lowed, redoubling stroke on stroke. Dur
ing the time there was no interruption,
save the Republicans and Others, who stood
at corners near by would cry out, "Ain't
your ax dull? Hope you're having good
time," DC. In a few minutes, however,
there was cry of "Stand from underl"
and the pole came to the ground.
Instantly the crowd gave three cheers,
when the Republicans responded by "Three
cheers for Hamlin.' All were quickly at
work on the fallen pole, and in less time
than it takes to tell it it was chopped up
and the pieces carried off. The flag was
sent to Brentsville.
So soon as the flag-pole was leveled,
Capt. Fitzhugh ordered" about face" and
his company marched off, saluted as they
went by with mingled jeers and appluse.
During the evening there was some ex-
citement, and personal rencounter took
place, between Col. Brawner and Joseph
7. Janney, in which the letter was consid>
erably injured. 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:
ga report reached here tonight, through
parties who were at Occoquan yesterday,
that the greatest excitement prevailed at
that place when they left; that several
Republicans had been attacked, and severe
fights resulted. One statement is that Mr..
Janney, Bell and Everett man-an old
settler in Virginia, large property holder,
and the owner of the land where the liber-
ty pole was erected-was brutally assailed
and beaten because he asserted that he
had the right to declare his 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"