F158 .8 .P83P5 rO c ° " " -f o ^^. o ' ' <, ■^jk n , o " ° » .V .^ " ^^w?^^h\ '-^^ ^,^-^'"^" .^.C?^ .-^-..-.^ ^^ ^ .0 % ^*^^^/ ^h' Ao^ <^^ ^ O N ° ^-^ i; y-v 5^-^^., .0' . <5^^ "°o ■\ O ^-<^/i>-<::^'-i- ^t^i^ , vo^ vi;.-:./. "> v^ .':v°'_ ''<^^ a*^^ .-..w -^ .\'> ?^ \ . .. V,.° .^^ -^ Wl^^- >^'X •-! ^0 -r, * ^^ -^.^^ :^ v- bv^ /^^'' ''^--o^ c V ADDRESS JOHN G. WATMOUGH, HIGH SHERIFF, TO HIS CONSTITUENTS, IK REFERENCE TO THE DISTURBANCES Whiek i«ok place in the City and Ctmnty of Philadelphia, DURING THE SUMMER OF 183i. C. ALXXANDKR, nUNTXft. 1838. • ? ^ - ADDRESS, &C. The public accounts of the current year contain an kern of expenditure which the sense the High Sheriff entertains of his duty towards his fellow citizens, prompts him to explain. It is connected with the disturbances of the past summer, and originated from an anxious zeal to pre- serve the peace of the community, the dignity of the law, and the honor of the country. The amount charged was paid at the time out of the Sheriff's pocket to respectable citizens, who placed themselves under his command during the continu- ance of the riots, and encountered serious risk, and much fatigue. The Sheriff knows not how he can make i^e neces sity under which he acted more plain, than by a simple narrative of all that occurred, and a faithful record of the measures adopted to prevent a recurrence of out- rages which strike equally at the root of sound morals and good government. He humbly trusts therefore that the motive that in- duces the explanation will constitute a sufficient'apolo- gy for its length. Shortly after that awful violation of the law, which occurred on the 17th of May last, an official communi- cation was received from the Governor of the State, asking a statement of the facts of tliat affair as they came under the personal knowledge of the Sheriff of the county. That officer immediately complied, and sent His Excellency a communication, of which the following is a copy. It is but justice to himself to premise that the communication to the Governor was written in haste, and under a deep sense of mortifica- tion at the failure of his efforts to resist the aggressions of the mob. Philadelphia, May 22, 1838. To His Excellency, Joseph Ritner, Governor of Penn- sylvania. Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of an extract from a letter addressed to the Attorney General by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and I take the earliest moment I have been able to spare from the execution of the duties imposed upon me, by the unusual excitement into which our city has been thrown, to furnish so far as in my power the informa- tion which your Excellency has called for. It ought to be generally known, that, except his four deputies, the High Sheriff of the County of Philadel- phia has not a man upon whom he is specially author- ized to call for aid in the discharge of his duties, nor has he a single dollar, except ivhat he pays from his own purse, which he has a right to expend for the pre- servation of the public peace. His power eonsists and consists only, in the disposition, which, in almost all cases, exists among the people themselves, to support the officers of the law, and when that disposition un- fortunately fails, the Sheriff will find himself without the means to suppress any considerable assemblage of violent or turbulent persons. His power is therefore purely a moral one, and re- sults from the most beautiful principle in the theory of the laws. It is not, however, a question whether the Sheriff should be left in this situation, nor wiiether adequate means should not be placed at his disposal to accom- plish this all important object, independent of the pre- judices or the passions of the surrounding crowd. If it were, it is presumed but one opinion would be found to exist. The scenes of last Thursday night left a deep and withering impression upon my feelings. I was shock- ed and grieved, as much at the apathy manifested by the large mass of citizens who calmly witnessed those scenes, as at the conduct of the lawless mob who put all restraint, huirmn and divine,at defiance. Of the disturbances of the previous night, I had not received the slightest intimation, nor was I informed that any thing serious was looked for, until noon of the Thursday upon which the burning- took place. I proceeded to the ground forthwith— I found the Hall occupied — many respectable citizens standing about the door in front, and passing in and out — a few noisy boys in the street, and a large number of highly respectable citizens occupying the opposite pavement. I saw nothing that the city authorities were not fully competent to regulate and control. While there, I was informed that the Board of Mana- gers of the Hall had gone to my office to confer with me. I met them accordingly at half-past one o'clock, with my friend and legal adviser, Henry J. Williams, Esq., and heard for the first time a full detail of all that had occurred, and of all that was anticipated. I re- gretted that a longer period had not been allowed me to collect an able and efficient body of men to stand by me at all hazards, and promised to do all in my power to remedy the loss of so much precious time. These truly respectable men then said that I need not make myself uneasy upon that point, as they would pledge themselves that there should be five hundred ardent young men on the spot before seven o'clock, upon whom I might place full reliance. With this assurance we parted — my own mind entire- at ease. Between four and five o'clock, I took my stand upon the ground. The crowd had increased but the mass of respectable citizens, with very many of whom I was personally acquainted, had not diminished. There was much talk, and some excitement. As night approached the crowd continued to increase. I saw standing near me one of the High Constables, and took it for granted that the ground was fully occupied by his men. Between seven and eight o'clock I observed the Mayor of tlie City coming out of one of the doors of the Hall, fronting on Sixth street. He advanced near or into the street, and made some remarks to an unruly crowd that gathered about him, to which they replied by a few cheers and much noise. Almost immediately afterwards, this very mass which had cheered him, moved in a body to the Alley on the north side of the Hall — about this time a letter was handed to me by a young gentleman named Wise, in the name of the committee which had met me at noon at my office, the purport of which was to inform me that they declined doing any thing farther in de- fence of their property. He at the same time stated, they had surrendered the keys of the Hall to the City Authorities, in whose possession they then were. It was now eight o'clock, and night had closed around. In a few moments I heard a general shout, followed by a general crash of the windows in the Alley. I re- paired to the spot, and found the work of destruction had commenced. I called upon the bystanders to fol- low me, and rushed into the midst of the rioters. I endeavored honestly to redeem the pledge I gave when I entered upon the duties of my office. I failed in my efforts. I found myself, with the exception of one brave man whom it delights me to name ! Mr. Thomas Connell, alone amid hundreds. I arrested with my own hands some ten or a dozen rioters; among them a sturdy blackguard engaged in forcing the doors with a log of wood, and a youth with a brand of fire in his hands. They were either forcibly rescued from me or were let loose again by those into whose hands I gave them. I appealed in vain for assistance — no one responded to me. Mr. Connel proclaimed my presence in a loud voice — he alone appeared to feel that the sacred duty of the free citizen was and ought to be deemed para- mount to all other considerations. Prejudice and madness held sovereign sway ; the laws were trampled in the dust, and I was made the sport of an atrocious mob. I continued upon the ground until the Pennsylvania Hall was a smouldering ruin, and then only withdrew when the possibility of no farther damage to the neighboring buildings was likely to ensue. I will not pretend that I encountered the risks that threatened me from sympathy for those who had per- haps too rashly braved the public feeling in reference to their course. I am slow to appreciate that course of conduct, that merges the public good, in the maintenance of princi- ciples, that deeply affect private rights and constitu- tional compact. Pride of opinion forms no part of my christian creed. The lowly patience and unaffected humility of the Sa- viour ought to teach a different lesson. If time and truth, with the practice of the humbler "-virtues, will not effect the results aimed at, obstinacy, pride, and agitation will surely never attain them. Yet I must be allowed to express my admiration at the fortitude which reposes upon the sanctity of law and the conviction of honest purposes. With me, however, these matters were not in ques- tion ; to protect the rights and property of the citizen was my official duty. It is much more, it is a sacred point of honor. The means which the law placed at my disposal proved vain and futile. Passion and prejudice destroyed them at a breath. If the freeman resist the appeal of his own consti- tuted authorities to preserve the peace and order of society, no matter under what impulse, the great ex- periment in favor of civil liberty and human rights made in the formation of our government, falls to the ground, and the mournful cry of " Woe to Jerusalem" will soon be heard within our walls. I failed in my endeavors last night, because I placed more reliance upon the principle of appeal to the free citizen than upon the clubs and badges of an organized police. I was taught a melancholy lesson at the expense of the purest principle in the theory of our institutions. I de,termined to profit by it. It was found on the following day that the perpetrators of the outrage upon the laws of the preceding night, were not to be satisfied by one attempt. Other portions of the city and county of Philadelphia were threatened, and I determined to provide at my own costs other means than those which had been trusted to and found insuf- ficient. I mounted my horse, and employed videttes to keep me informed of every movement. At the head of a body of brave men, the city was traversed from the liberties on the north to Southwark. In the neighborhood of the Exchange, a fine body of citizen volunteers stood prepared for every emergency 10 — norwere they finally dismissed until late on Sunday night. Four strong detachments occupied as many different posts on the northern borders of the city and in the neighborhood of threatened points. The order, promptitude and obedience of all these brave men who felt that too deep a sacrifice to unruly passions had been already made, entitle them to the thanks of their fellow citizens, and to my deep and lasting gratitude. The former I am sure they will receive, the latter I beg them to accept. The injury done to the Asylum in Thirteenth street I deeply deplore. I should have made any personal sacrifice to prevent it, if I had been informed that such a place existed within the limits of the county. I had never even heard of its location, and was engaged in providing for the defence of the Temperance Hall, in the Northern Liberties, when the cry of fire reached my ear. I ran with the utmost speed to the point, and reached it in time to witness the success of the brave determination of Philadelphia firemen. Early on the following morning, I took possession, with an efficient force, of the avenues leading, and the grounds adjacent to the Asylum — from that moment it was placed beyond all manner of danger. The means I have employed for the last five days, 1 shall hereafter continue to retain within my reach, and am confident of being able to rally within an hour's notice. I must be allowed to add that the public at leugth appeared to take a just view of the dangers 11 that had threatened them. With the exception of Thursday night, I have found them on all occasions able and willing to join in every effort to sustain the laws. I feel confident that any attempt hereafter to commit farther violence will be easily and speedily suppressed. With regard to the apprehension of the authors of this late outrage, every effort within my power shalJ be made to discover and punish them — many indivi- duals are already in custody. So deep and abiding has been my desire to remedy the first evils, arjd antici- pate future ones, that for the last five nights I have remained in my saddle until broad daylight of the following morning. I have conceived it proper to make this full state- ment to your Excellency, that I may not be deemed derelict in duty, or unmindful of the safety, honor, and welfare of our country. I trust I shall ever be keenly sensitive upon the first point ; and I am perfectly sure I shall always be willing to lay down my life for the maintenance of the second. I have the honor to be, sir. With great respect, your ob't servant, JOHN G. WATMOUGH. High Sheriff City and County of Philadelphia. On the 22d day of May, the large body of special con- stables, which the Sheriff had deemed it imperative upon him to engage, was paid off and discharged. From that period until the 8th of June, the peace and order of the city appeared to be completely restored. 12 On the morning of that day, Mr. Olmstead, tlie city Solicitor, waited upon the Sheriff at his office, and offi- cially informed him that fresh and serious disturbance* were apprehended, in consequence of a murder perpe- trated the night previous by a colored man, on the body of a respectable watchman, named Batts ; that the population of the southern districts were highly incens- ed against the blacks, and had threatened to rise in arms, and commit violence upon them. The Solicitor was asked if he thought his information was to be relied upon. He answered, " There was no doubt whatever as to its trutii." " Then, sir," was the reply, "no time must be lost, there m.ust be no more boy's play. I therefore, sir, officially notify you, in my capacity as High Sheriff and Conservator of the Peace of the city and county, that I summon the Mayor and all his officers, as part of the posse comitatus of the county, in virtue of the powers vested in me by the law of the land, and in the name of the Commonwealth; that, as a matter of courtesy, I shall be happy to assist the Mayor so long as the tumult may be confined within the city bounds, with all the means in my power ; but •when we come to the dividing line, I shall expect him to stand by me to the last, with all his force." Mr. Olmstead replied, "that this was all perfectly proper." As soon as Mr. Olmstead had left the office, the She- riff addressed the following notes to the several distin- guished gentlemen whose names they bear, and before three o'clock of the same day, the Proclamation, a copy 13 of which is hereto annexed, was published and posted geiserally, throughout the adjoining districts. PROCLAMATION. Fellow-Citizens : I am informed that the peace of the City and Coun- ty is again threatened. I have taken the necessary measures to preserve it inviolate.. I trust there will be no occasion to put them in operation. The solitary actor in the scene of last night is in the custody of the law. He will be dealt with according to his deserts. He had but just escaped from the Insane Depart- mont of the Alms House. His destitute condition and mental Incapacity, forbid the idea of his being the agent or confederate of any other persons. As Sheriff of the city and county of Philadelphia, I call, therefore, upon all good citizens to abstain from any act likely to produce excitement in the public mind, or occasion in any way a breach of the public peace. JOHN G. WATMOUGH, Sheriff's Office, June 8, 1838. Sheriff. [COPY,] To General Andrew M. Prevost. Sheriff's Office, June 8, 1838. Sir — I am officially notified that fresh disturbances are apprehended in consequence of the death of a 14 watchman, which took place last night by violent means. You will therefore oblige me, and do your country good service by holding yourself and the sever- al corps under your command, in readiness to appear in full force, at a moment's warning, in the rear of my office, in Independence Square, as part of the posse comitatus of the city and county of Philadelphia, in fa- tigue dress, and without arms. 1 am, sir, with great respect. Your obd't serv't, (Signed) JOHN G. WATMOUGH, High Sheriff City and County of Philadelphia. To Brigadier General Andrew M. Prevost, Commanding 1st Brigade, Pennsylvania volunteers. [COPY] Of J^ote to General Patterson. Philadelphia, June 8, 1838. Sir — I have the honor to enclose you a copy of an official communication sent by me this morning to Bri- gadier Gen. Prevost ; and to state to you that I shallbe much obliged by an extension on your part to the coun- ty Brigade, including particularly the county corps of Cavalry, of an order to the same effect. The troops should assemble before six o'clock this evening. I am, dear General, with much respect, Your obd't serv't. JOHN G. WATMOUGH, High Sheriff City and County of Philadelphia. To Maj. Gen. Robert Patterson, Commanding 1st Division, P. M. 15 These matters duly arranged, the SherifT rode through every part of the southern districts. There was much uneasiness in the public mind, and a manifest disposition to disorder. The Sheriff's presence and the proclamation, aided as they were by the admirable vigilance and arrange- ments of the magistrates and police officers of South- wark, appeared to quiet both. It was apprehended that much difficulty would take place at the funeral of the unfortunate Mr. Batts, and the more so, as the body had been exposed to pubhc view, and the ceremony was armounced to take place at an hour appointed on the following day. With the view to anticipate this difficulty, every effort was made to induce the friends of the unfortunate man to consent to an early and private interment of his body. In vain, however. They had appointed Sun- day evening at 6 o'clock, and shut their ears against any other arrangement. Before the evening had closed in, the Sheriff was officially informed that all the military arrangements had been consummated, and the several city and coun- ty corps were reported to him as under arms at their respective quarters. The evening passed off with no open demonstration of violence, and at twelve at night the military were dismissed. The Sheriff, however, himself continued on duty throughout the night, and did not leave the districts until daylight of the following day. On Satur- day, all the arrangements of the previous day were re- 16 newed, and an effective civil police organized, in ad dition, for the county. As night approached, (Saturday) the uneasiness o the public mind became more and more manifest. The streets were filled with unusual crowds, all directing their steps to the lower parts of the city. The ele- ments of the wildest disorder were at hand. The ac- tivity and firmness of the large body of special officers guided by the courage and intelligence of Deputies Halzel, Hedges and M'Fate, kept every thing in check, and the early part of the evening passed off peaceably. Between 9 and 10 o'clock, so. favorable were the re" ports from all quarters, that the Sheriff had just come to the determination of dismissing the force at his dis- posal for the night, when he was suddenly informed that a white man had been stabbed at the corner of Seventh and Shippen streets, by a black, and that the most alarming consequences were likely to ensue. He rode instantly to the spot, On reaching Shippen street he found himself in the midst of an exasperated mob. The shouts were, "death to the negroes," "burn down their houses," and "drive them into the river." He addressed himself to those around him, and after much difficulty gained their ear. He explained to them his own station and their duties; threatened the most violent with the instant penalties of the law, and called upon all present to aid him in the discovery of the perpetrators of the foul murder which had just taken place at their very doors. At the same time he proclaimed a reward of three hun- 17 ired dollars to whomsoever should succeed in arrest- ng the murderer. The last argument took imme- llate effect, and the search was instantly commenced. V^^ith what success, the public are well informed. ' With the exception of a visit of about an hour, to the hospital, to gain from the dying man himself what in- formation he might be capable of giving, the Sheriff continued in the neighborhood, for the better security of the peace, until after daylight. During this period, his time was occupied in pushing on the search, and in providing for the safety of some harmless individuals, who, under the first impulse of the mob, at the perpetration of the murder, had been grossly assailed and beaten. The one most injured was removed to the hospital, where his wounds were properly attended to. The character of this impulse, and of the madness which possessed certain individuals of the crowd, w^ill I perhaps be duly appreciated from the fact, that on his first riding into the midst of them, the proposition w^as broadly and recklessly made, to mount the adjoining chimney tops and stone the Sheriff todeath. After refreshing himself and his horse, at seven in the morning, the Sheriff was again in the midstof the disturbed districts. Under the guidance of an active and intelli- gent young man, he visited in person all the quarters 'uhabited by the colored population ; directed the cel- lars and foul rendezvous in those miserable receptacles of wretchedness and vice, Small street, Mary street, 18 and the courts and alleys adjacent, to be closed; caused the degraded inmates of the boarding houses and tip- pling shops to appear before him; put them on their best behaviour, and forbade any assemblages of persons in their vicinity, or in any of the streets and lanes or courts adjacent, under threats of the heaviest penalties of the law. Before 3 o'clock, the civil police was again organized, and stationed at suitable points, and at 4, P. M. the military was reported as ready for duty. At 3 o'clock, the Sheriff repaired to the Pennsylva- nia Hospital. The man who had been stabbed the night previous, Francis M'Kearney* had died of the wound early in the morning. So great was the excite- ment consequent on the promulgation of this fact, that it was deemed important to retain possession of the body of M'Kearney, and if possible have him buried from the hospital. In the interval, his friends had applied for the body, and a large crowd had gathered on the outside of the walls to back their demand. The Sheriff had station- ed a detachment of special officers to keep this crowd in check. At the same time, he employed every ar- gument with the relatives of the deceased, to induce them to enter into his views. He only, however, suc- ceeded in retaining possession until a late hour in the afternoon; when, having been satisfied that the funeral of Mr. Batts was proceeding quietly in Southwark, he finally sent the body to the residence of the father, by the hospital hearse. 19 To prevent the disorders likely to arise during the night, from an exposure of the body, the Sheriff sent a messenger, requesting the presence of one or more of the Reverend Pastors of the Catholic Church, to use their influence in regulating the wake. Two most pious and truly estimable gentlemen, with the characteristic sense of duty which distinguishes the ministers of that church, consented immediately to go ; and beyond all doubt, to their efforts may it be imputed, that the neighborhood of the M'Kearneys' remained quiet throughout the night. About dark of Sunday evening, the excitement had reached its height. A vast crowd had gathered in the neighborhood of Fifth and Sixth, and South and Ship- pen streets. At 7 o'clock the Sheriff rode down Fifth street. He found the street, below South, filled with a dense mass of angry and turbulent men, to the number of several thousands. In passing slowly through the midst of them, he was assailed on all sides, by the coarsest and most violently abusive language. At last, a rough, uncouth man laid his hands upon him and pro- posed to drag him from his horse. The sheriff seized him instantly by the throat, and riding off with him, handed him over into the hands of Deputy Sheriff Hal- zel, with orders to have him secured. On ihe instant, a general and universal assault was made upon the person of the Sheriff, with the view to a rescue. The assailants, however, failed in their object. In the midst of the confusion consequent on this at- tempt, the Sheriff despatched an order for the Mayor . 20 sent a written message directing Downing to sound the alarm bell, and requested a friend to notify the Generals, Patterson and Prevost, to be on the alert. He then held firm foot, and occupied himself in scan- ning the numbers and character of the mob. Repulsed, however, in their first effort, no farther attempt was made at that point. In the meanwhile, tlie Sheriff's officers were active- ly engaged, with their assistants, in Sixth street. Small street, Shippen street, and wherever there was noise or an attempt at tumult, and so continued throughout the night. They watched closely for the first outbreak, and instantly seized and secured the ringleaders, who were subsequently committed. Indeed too much praise cannot be bestowed upon ^hese efficient men. The SheriflThas but one cause of regret that he has it not in his power to make their merits better known to the whole body of their fellow citizens. Among the most effective and courageous of them, it is his duty to mention Messrs. Halzell, Hedges, M'Fate, Murphy, Mintzer, Clark and Crist. As the night advanced, it became manifest that the arrangements to preserve the peace had taken full ef- fect. By 10 o'clock the crowds had gradually dispersed, and by 12, it was evident that order was about to be restored. The streets had become quiet, and the balance of the night passed peaceably off. The Sheriif, however, deemed it prudent to continue his arrangements and vigilance throughout Monday and Tuesday nights, and until late on Wednesday ; 21 when, finding that order had once more conipletely resumed her reign, he dismissed his special officers, and paid them for faithful services rendered, out of his own pocket, and hence arises the item in the public ac- counts, which he has felt it to be his duty to explain. What is stated above is to the letter true. In performing this duty, the Sheriff has confined himself as closely as possible to a simple narrative of facts, as connected with the line of his own official con- duct. It has ever been his earnest desire, by a manly performance of duty, to merit the esteem of his fellow citizens. He withdraws now into the retirement of private life, in the humble hope that his efforts have not been altogether fruitless- JOHN G. WATMOUGH, High Sheriff City and County of Philadelphia. Sheriff's Office, Saturday, October 20thy 1838. 56 6 ^ . r ^ ^as&:^ Xc< *' •:«s^. -^^.^ W:^^'% '-mSS J'"^ .• .*^ ^ „ o - ^0 •'% •:^iis:^ /\ ^'«€^ ^'\ ^:^p." /• r .. .^ ,.^" -o. > "^^r .V^. • ^ . r ^ '' "V ^>'^Vf:*^ y '^ _ ^j#^.^ /' '"V ^y^w<' ^ "^ ". I ^"^^ '^^^^ .^^^o ^^^ O * o « 'C"?' N.MANCHESTER.