New York Daily Tribune

PRO-SLAVERY VIOLENCE.
A REPUBLICAN POLE AND BANNER CUT DOWN.
From The Alexandria (Va.) Gazette of July 28.

On the 4th of July the Black Republicans, of whom some sixty reside in the vicinity of Occoquan, instituted an association, and agreed to erect a pole to bear aloft a flag with the names of Lincoln and Hamlin.

The pole was accordingly erected, the following persons assisting in the pole raising: John Underwood, W. C. Athy, Robert Curtis, Oliver Underwood, H. W. Rivers, J. W. Miller, William Davis (boy), Stephen Hammill, John Taylor, Andrew Underwood, Marion Grigg, T. O. Coulter, James Gould, Thomas Rivers, jr., H. F. Duty, W. H. Johnston, T. L. Seleeman, John Wright, William Western, A. A. Seleeman, Edward Roberts (Englishman), Tasco Harris (free negro), Jim Snyder (free negro), and Albert Harris (free negro).

Upon the raising of the pole, the pole-raisers were armed with muskets, and made quite a military demonstration. A meeting was held, at which Black Republican speeches were made by W. C. Athey and J. Wright. Many persons in the neighborhood opposed the erection of the pole, but at first there was no indication of an attempt to disturb it. The Republicans, when spoken to on the subject, answered, "that there was no one in the country who dared to touch the pole; there were men enough to defend it," &c.

On one occasion, an old resident of the neighborhood was assaulted because he declared that the pole was a nuisance, and on another, threats were made to ride upon a rail a gentleman living near by, because he had spoken Southern sentiments freely at Occoquan. This raised much feeling in the neighborhood, and at a meeting at Brentsville, some time about last Court, it was agreed that the flag was an insult to the people of Virginia, and incendiary in the object it was raised to promote, and should be torn down on Friday, the 27th day of July.

Intelligence of this determination soon reached Occoquan, and on Monday night a Republican meeting was held there to devise measures for the defense of the flag pole. On the following morning Mr. J. C. Athey visited Washington, and sent to Governor Letcher the dispatch which we published yesterday. While in Washington, Athey made arrangements with certain Republicans to furnish forty or fifty firearms, of approved make, with ammunition therefor, which were to be sent to Occoquan on Tuesday night by wagon.

The dispatch from Gov. Letcher, however, induced the abandonment of this plan.

On the morning of the 27th (yesterday) the Republicans hoisted the American flag and the party ensign bearing the names of Lincoln and Hamlin. At 3 o'clock the Prince William Cavalry, Capt. Thornton commanding, entered the village, and ranged themselves through the neighborhood of the pole.

They were followed by a company of about forty strong, under command of Capt. Fitzhugh and Major Carter, who, paying no attention whatever to the horsemen, quietly formed in a hollow square around the pole, facing inward.

While this company was surrounding the pole Mr. Joseph T. Janney advanced to the captain of the troop of horse and claimed protection for his property, upon which the pole stood.

At the word of command, James W. Jackson, a stalwart yeoman, sprang forward and gave the first blow. Others followed, redoubling stroke on stroke. During the time there was no interruption, save the Republicans and others, who stood at corners near by, would cry out, "Ain't your ax dull? Hope you're having a good time," &c.

In a few minutes, however, there was a cry of "Stand from under!" and the pole came to the ground.

Instantly the crowd gave three cheers, when the Republicans responded by "Three cheers for Hamlin."

In less time than it takes to tell it was chopped up and the pieces carried off. The flag was sent to Brentsville.

So soon as the flag-pole was leveled, Capt. Fitzhugh ordered "about face," and his company marched off.

They saluted as they went by mingled jeers and applause.

During the evening there was some excitement, and a personal rencounter took place between Col. Brawner and Joseph T. Janney, in which the latter was considerably injured. The crowd cleared away during the evening, and at sundown all was quiet.

The Republicans say they will put up another pole on the same site.

A dispatch from Washington, dated the 28th, says:

"A report reached here to-night, through parties who were at Occoquan yesterday, that the greatest excitement prevailed at that place when they left; that several Republicans had been attacked, and severe fights resulted. One statement is that Mr. Janney, a Bell and Everett man—an old settler in Virginia, a large property holder, and the owner of the land where the liberty pole was erected—was brutally assailed and beaten because he asserted that he had the right to declare his own principles upon his own homestead, and to permit others to exercise their rights within his own grounds, if it pleased him to do so."