Richmond Enquirer

Washington, April 18.

RIOT AMONG THE NEGROES IN ST. MARY'S.

TO THE EDITORS

A daring riot took place on the 7th inst. on Easter Monday, at a dram shop, at St. Inigoes, in St. Mary's county. It commenced about an hour before sun-set, with an affray among a numerous collection of negroes supposed to be 150 or 200 in number, who were there drinking. The few whites who were present interfered no further than to command the peace; when suddenly, as if by preconcert, they turned upon the whites, and drove them off the lot, with outrageous violence—beating them with sticks, & stoning them with brick-bats, and other missiles; using very extraordinary language, and making the most bold and bloody threats. 10 or 20 of them pursued a constable evidently and avowedly with intent to murder him; followed him after dark to his house, burst in, and, not finding him, sacked it completely. They also destroyed the doors and windows of another house, from which a gun was fired at them—and told the people in it, that if another gun was fired from there, they would surround the house, & set fire to it, and burn every soul in it alive.

Some of them were heard to call upon their companions to fall in and form the ranks—that now was their time if they meant to be free. In the examinations that have since taken place, it appears, from declarations that were made, that a rising was contemplated. Yet there was evidently no rational or practical scheme, nothing but stupid violence. The next day the re-action commenced: 11 were committed to the county jail: about 10 or 12 were soon expected to follow them; many were flogged, and suffered to return to their homes. Patrols were set on foot, that now scour the forests and the country every night.

The chief cause of this state of things, is permitting spirituous liquors to be retailed all over the country; in many parts of it, however, little required for any purpose beneficial to the community.

[Nat. Int.