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OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest                    Volume 99 : Issue 387

Today's Topics:
  #1 HAMILTON COUNTY PART 11              [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE]

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X-Message: #1
Date: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 01:36:27, -0500
From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER)
Subject: HAMILTON COUNTY PART 11


Historical Collections of Ohio By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898

                        HAMILTON COUNTY part 11

        DESTRUCTION OF THE PHILANTHROPIST NEWSPAPER PRINTING OFFICE BY A
MOB, July 30, 1836. -The paper had then been published in Cincinnati about
three months, and was edited by James G. Birney. As early as the 14th of
July, the press-room was broken open and the press and materials defaced
and destroyed. July 23d a meeting of citizens was convened at the lower
market-house "to decide whether they will permit the publication or
distribution of abolition papers in this city." This meeting appointed a
committee, which opened a correspondence with the conductors of that print
-the executive committee of the Ohio Anti-slavery Society -requesting them
to discontinue its publication. This effort being unsuccessful, the
committee of citizens published the correspondence, to which they appended
a resolution, in one clause of which they stated, "That in discharging
their duties they have used all the measures of persuasion and conciliation
in their power. That their exertions have not been successful the above
correspondence will show. It only remains, then, in pursuance of their
instructions, to publish their proceedings and adjourn without day. But ere
they do this, they owe it to themselves, and those whom they represent, to
express their utmost abhorrence of everything like violence, and earnestly
to implore their fellow-citizens to abstain therefrom." The sequel is thus
given by a city print.
        On Saturday night, July 30th, very soon after dark, a concourse of
citizens assembled at the corner of Main and Seventh streets, in this city,
and upon a short consultation, broke open the printing office of the
Philanthropist the abolition paper, scattered the type into the streets,
tore down the presses and completely dismantled the office. It was owned by
A. Pugh, a peaceable and orderly printer, who printed the Philanthropist
for the Anti-slavery Society of Ohio. From the printing office the crowd
went to the house of A. Pugh, where they supposed there were other printing
materials, but found none, nor offered any violence. Then to the Messrs.
Donaldson's, where only ladies were at home. The residence of Mr. Birney,
the editor, was then visited; no person was at home but a youth, upon whose
explanations the house was left undisturbed.
        A shout was raised for Dr. Colby's and the concourse returned to
Main street, proposed to pile up the contents of the office in the street
and make a bonfire of them. A gentleman mounted the pile and advised
against burning it, lest the houses near might take fire. A portion of the
press was then dragged down Main street, broken up and thrown into the
river. The Exchange was then visited and refreshments taken. After which
the concourse again went up Main street to about opposite the Gazette
office. Some suggestions were hinted that it should be demolished, but the
hint was overruled. An attack was then made upon the residences of some
blacks in Church alley; two guns were fired upon the assailants and they
recoiled. It was supposed that one man was wounded, but that was not the
case. It was some time before a rally could again be made, several voices
declaring they did not wish to endanger themselves. A second attack was
made, the houses found empty and their interior contents destroyed....On
the afternoon of August 2d, pursuant to a call, a very large and
respectable meeting of citizens met at the court-house and passed a series
of resolutions, the first of which was "that this meeting deeply regret the
cause of the recent occurrences, and entirely disapprove, of mobs or other
unlawful assemblages." The concluding resolution was approbatory of the
course of the colonization society, and expressed an opinion that it was
"the only method of getting clear of slavery."
        NEGRO RIOT OF SEPTEMBER, 1841. This city has been in a most
alarming condition for several days, and from 8 o'clock on Friday evening
until 3 o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning almost entirely at the mercy of
a lawless mob, ranging in number from 200 to 1500.
        On Tuesday evening last, as we are informed, a quarrel took place
on the corner of Sixth street and Broadway, between a party of Irishman and
some negroes; some two or three of each party were wounded. On Wednesday
night the quarrel was renewed in some way, and some time after midnight a
party of excited men, armed with clubs, etc. attacked a house occupied as a
negro boarding-house on Macalister street, demanding the surrender of a
negro whom they said was secreted in the house, and uttering the most
violent threats against the house and the negroes in general. Several of
the adjoining houses were occupied by negro families. The violence
increased and was resisted by those in or about the houses -an engagement
took place in which several were wounded on each side. On Thursday night
another rencounter took place in the neighborhood of the Lower Market
between some young men and boys and some negroes, in which one or two boys
were badly wounded, as was supposed, with knives.
        On Friday evening before 8 o'clock a mob, the principal
organization of which, we understand, took place in Kentucky, openly
assembled in Fifth street market, unmolested by the police or citizens.
They marched from their rendezvous toward Broadway and Sixth street, armed
with clubs, stones, etc. Reaching the scene of operation, with shouts and
blasphemous imprecations, they attacked a negro confectionery in Broadway,
next to the synagogue, and demolished the doors and windows. This attracted
an immense crowd.
        About this time, before 9 o'clock, they were addressed by J.W.
Piatt, who exhorted them to peace and obedience to the law; but his voice
was drowned by shouts and throwing of stones. The mayor also attempted to
address them. The savage yell was instantly raised; "Down with him! run him
off!" were shouted and intermixed with horrid imprecations and exhortations
to the mob to move onward. A large portion of the leading disturbers
appeared to be strangers -some connected with river navigation and backed
by boat hands of the lowest order. They advanced to the attack with stones,
etc, and were repeatedly fired upon by the negroes. The mob scattered, but
immediately rallied again, and again were in like manner repulsed. Men were
wounded on both sides and carried off - and many reported dead. The negroes
rallied several times, advanced upon the crowd, and most unjustifiably
fired down the street into it, causing a great rush down the street. These
things were repeated until past 1 o'clock, when a party procured an iron
six pounder from near the river, loaded with boiler punchings, etc., and
hauled it to the ground, against the exhortations of the mayor and others.
It was posted on Broadway and pointed down Sixth street. The yells
continued, but there was a partial cessation of firing. Many of the negroes
had fled to the hills. The attack upon the houses were recommenced with the
firing of guns upon both sides, which continued during most of the night;
and exaggerated rumors of the killed and wounded filled the streets. The
cannon was discharged several times. About 2 o'clock a portion of the
military, upon the call of the mayor, proceeded to the scene of disorder
and succeeded in keeping the mob at bay. In the morning and throughout the
day several blocks, including the battle-ground, were surrounded with
sentinels and kept under martial law -keeping within the negroes there, and
adding to them such as were brought in during the day for protection.
        A meeting of citizens was held at the courthouse on Saturday
morning, which was addressed by the mayor and others, and a series of
resolutions passed discountenancing mobs -invoking the aid of the civil
authorities to stay the violence, repudiating the doctrines of the
abolitionists, etc. The city council also held a specials session to
concert measures to vindicate the majesty of the law and restore peace to
the city. Intense excitement continued during the day, the mob and their
leaders boldly occupying the streets without arrest. The negroes held a
meeting in a church and respectfully assured the mayor and citizens that
they would use every effort to conduct as orderly citizens, to suppress
imprudent conduct among their own people, etc. They expressed their
readiness to conform to the law of 1807, and give bond, or to leave within
a specified time -and tendered their thanks to the mayor, watch, officers
and gentlemen of the city, for the efforts made to save their property,
their lives, their wives and children.
        At 3 P.M., the mayor, sheriff, marshal and a portion of the police,
proceeded to the battle-ground, and there, under the protection of the
military, though in the presence of the mob, and so far controlled by them
as to prevent the taking away of any negroes upon their complying with the
law, several of the negroes gave bond and obtained permission to go away
with their sureties, who were some of our most respectable citizens, but
were headed even within the military sentinels, and compelled to return
within the ground. It was resolved then to embody the male negroes and
march them to jail for security under the protection of the civil and
military authority. From 250 to 300 were accordingly escorted to that place
with difficulty, surrounded by the military and officers, and a dense mass
of men, women and boys, confounding all distinction between the orderly and
disorderly, accompanied with deafening yells. They were safely lodged, and
still remain in prison, separated from their families. The crowd was in
that way dispersed.
        The succeeding night the military were ordered out, the firemen
were out, clothes with authority as a police band. About eighty citizens
enrolled themselves as assistants of the marshal. A troop of horse and
several companies of volunteer infantry continued on duty until near
midnight. Some were then permitted to sleep upon their arms, others
remained on duty until morning guarding the jail, etc.
        As was anticipated, the mob, efficiently organized, early commenced
operations, diving their force and making their attacks at different
points, thus distracting the attention of the police. The first successful
onset was made upon the printing office of the Philanthropist. They
succeeded in entering the establishment, breaking up the press, and running
with it amid savage yells, down through Main street to the river, into
which it was thrown. The military appeared in the alley near the office,
interrupting the mob for a short time. They escaped through the bye-ways,
and when the military retired returned to their work of destruction in the
office, which they completed. Several houses were broken open in different
parts of the city, occupied by negroes, and the windows, doors and
furniture completely destroyed. Among these was the negro church on Sixth
street. One of the last efforts was to fire or otherwise destroy the book
establishment of Messrs. Truman & Smith on Main street. From this they were
driven by the police, and soon after, before daylight, dispersed from mere
exhaustion.
        It is impossible to learn either the number of killed and wounded
on either side; probably several were killed and twenty or thirty variously
wounded, though but few dangerously. Several of the citizen-police were
hurt with stones, etc.; the authorities succeeded in arresting about forty
of the mob, who are now in prison. The mob was in many cases encouraged and
led on by persons from Kentucky. About 11 o'clock on Saturday night a
bonfire was lighted on that side of the river, and loud shouts sent up as
if a great triumph had been achieved. In some cases the motions of the mob
were directed and managed by mere boys, who suggested the points of attack,
put the vote, declared the result and led the way! After all the negro men
had been disarmed and committed to prison for safe-keeping, under a solemn
pledge that their wives and children should be protected, a band of white
men were permitted to renew their brutal attacks upon these females and
children. The excitement continued yesterday. The governor, who had arrived
in town, issued his proclamation. The citizens rallied with spirit to aid
the city authorities. Strong patrols of military and citizens last night
prevented any further outbreak.

        -continued in part 12

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End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #387
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