The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-28

the southern heart when the secession con-
spiracy broke out was, that now the age Of
virtue would set in with rush south of
Mason and Dixons line. Southern jour.
nalists had so long held up as mournful
spectacle the corruptions and immortality
found in the northern states, that they were
really persuaded all sin dwelt north of the
Potomac, and all virtue and happiness
south of that American Jordan. 1t is true,
northern men were not so sanguine in their
anticipations. They remembered that the
gambling dens and worse places which dis.
graced the national capital were supported
chiefly by southern STATESMEN )" that the
"iery southern gentleman" was the author
of no small part of the grosser crimes
which disgraced the whole nation in the
eyes of Europe; and they thought that if
the South could for a while have its sins
brought home to it there would be Gu
rious story to tell. And so it turns out.
We have already several times alluded to
the complaints of lawless violence made in
the foremost of the southern journals
those of Richmond, Nashville and New
Orleans. Richmond, the rebel capital,
seems to be the chosen centre of crime and
wickedness in the whole South. Complaints
have been frequent, and they grow more
urgent day by day :; and this while Wash.
ington city, on the testimony of the oldest
residents, has never been so quiet and SO
mora! as now, though it is surrounded b. a
vast army, such as generally brings vices
and violence in its train. The following
remarkable editorial from the Richmond
EGaminer Of February 9th shows how de-
pIorable is the state of affairs in the once
quiet and sleepy capital of Virginia. This
is fair sample of that golden age which
was promised as the immediate fruit of se-
cession:
The rowdyism now rife in this city has be.
come intOlerable, and demands immediate
tai violence. vulgar rutfianism and gross inde-
cency are OF momentary occurrence in our
streets. The most orderly citizen and most
delicate lady are exposed to outrage and in.
suit. No mans life, even is secure in broad
daylight on our most public thOrOughfares. To
surround, knock down, bruise and maltreat
has become the pastme of the ruffians that
throng our pavements. The evil must be sup.
pressed, or else society must surrender its
authority to brute violence. We must disOr-
ganize the social system, resolve ourselves
into savages, and prepare for protection by
the most effective weapons of self defence, or
else We must assert the power of the law
upon the persons of the rufians and vaga
bonds that infest our streets and alleys.
More vigilance should be re-.
quired of the police, and larger constabulary
employed. Every street corner should be
manned by policeman in uniform, armed to
the teeth, whistle in hand, prepared to rally a
dozen colleagues in the instant of disturbance.
The license money arising from the rapid in.
crease of grOg shops would seem appropriate.
ly employed in invigorating the police. II
these furnaces of hell-fire are allowed to dis
pense at every corner what not merely intox-
icates but crazes, surely the revenues which
they pay into the city treasury should be ex-
pended in protecting the valuable lives which
they imperil, and in restoring the order which
they disturb. The city, by tOlerating a thou
duty to its population of affording it protec.
ton from the dangers and outrages thus en-.
gendered and prepared. The time has arrived
for vigilance and summary reform, or else ruff
fanism, theft, arson, drunkenness and murder
will soon claim the city as their exclusive pre-
serve.
In another column of the Examiner we
find the following extraordinary statement,
on which it is not necessary to remark at
all:
A few nights ago, the gamblers of Richmond
held convention in this city, and, ater the
fashion of 'the noble refrigeratOrs of Con-
gress, transacted their business in secret SEES.
sion. We are informed that one hundred and
fifty members of the gambling and ''plug "
fraternity were present; that iity thousand
dollars were voted and subscribed to as a fund
to carry the next election for Mayor; and that
the candidate nominated as likely to unite the
gambling and rowdy interests of Richmond is
all ungrammatical grocer and whskey-worm
of the name of David j. saunders. We are
very much of the opinion that if matters are
not speedily bettered in Richmond, the gam
blers, "plugs' aud the retired and unsavory
whiskey dealer they propose as their candi.
date will be in the hands OF a vigilance COM
mittee before the date of the next municipal
aleptiDn