Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-03-20
tBs REeuEsr.l
Allegheny County's Plea.

Allegheny County's Plea.
THE BILL FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE RIOT
Lossgs--A STATEMENT OF THE CASE.
A question that occupies the attention
of the people at this time is who Is to
pay the riot claims for damages caused
by the railroad riots OF lSTTp
We cannot but think that briel
presentation of the uncontroverted
facts in reference to the riot will re-
move the prejudice so unjustly enter
tanned against Allegheny county.
When riot occurs, which originates
in local causes, the damage TO property
created thereby must be discharged by
the people of the locality. This is clear,
but IL /: originates in causes so exten'
sive in their operation as to embrace
ten or twelve states, and particular 10.
oality is but the scene of the outbreak,
then the state is responsible, for ID is
charged with the duty of suppressing
such riot within its borders. Ii is we'll
known that the causes which led To the
riot were operating for months previous
TO the outbreak oil over Pennsylvania.
Now, is il just that Allegheny county
should pay for damages created by the
riot simply because Pittsburgh was
chosen as the place for the overt act.
The destruction to be paid for was
wrought in Allegheny county, true; but
theresare thousands OF men in that coun-
ty who took no part in it, were not near
the place where il occurred, gave the
work OF violence no encouragement,
men who were practically as far from
the scene of it, and actually as inno-
cent of any criminal deed or intent as
any of their fellow citizens in any other
part of the state. On what principle
of abstract justice, which is the stand
ard appealed to, are the people OF Ale
gheny county responsible for the riots,
and liable for the damage done, and
those of any other portion of the State
not2
The injustice of holding Allegheny
county responsible for the loss ipcurred
during the riots. and exempting the
counties Immediately adjoining, is more
apparent when the circumstances which
led to the loss are considered. The
strike and the events which followed il
were not brought about by the people
of Allegheny county. Many of the
strikers, and many of the railway en-
ployes who sympathized them, have no
local habitstion. They are migratory,
living on the railway lines that form a
net work throughout the Union, these
men coming into Allegheny county for
the purpose of sustaining the strikers,
assumed such numbers as to overawe
the local authorities, and necessitate the
mt If he az fs.1 che
lection of the railway property. private
property, and the preservation Of the
public peace.
The claims arising from the damage
caused oy these Ishmaelites must be
paid, so says the Law. II Allegheny
county is legally responsible, they
should be charged to that county. II
the state is responsible. the legislature
should manfully assume them for the
whole state.
But is Allegheny county legally OF
morally responsible for these losses7 We
think not. 1t was not riot, but an in.
surrection extending over the whole
country. Nearly every state in the
union was involved. and not only the
militia OF these several states, bat the
Federal troops were called out to sup.
press the insurrection, and preserve
public order. In this state the out
break occurred at Pittsburgh, but this
was simply an accident, and it might
have occurred anywhere else in the
commonwealth. IL has been ascertain.
ed that less than five per centum oi
those who contributed most 10 the de
struction on that black Sunday, were
citizens of Allegheny county.
The local authorities finding their ef
forts at restoring order Intellectual, call.
ed upon the state for aid. The state
assumed control, and the troops march.
ed into Allegheny county, were accom-
panied by the Adjutant general OF the
state, the Attorney general and the
Secretary of the commonwealth. The
civil and military representatives oi
the Executive OF the state with the
National guard were on the ground
and there were no assaults made, nc
bloodshed, nor plundering. nor incen
diarism. nor destruction of property
until after the State troops appeared
and the State authorities had assumed
absolute control of affairs; and, there
fore, the responsibility for the suppress
sion of the riots, and failing in that
the responsibility for the losses conse
quent on them, devolves upon the state
But, apart from the legal responsible
ity of Allegheny county, the payment