A Riot in the North

[Barrycdog]

What if there was a group of newly emancipated slaves, who had settled down in a Northern community. Most were enjoying their freedom doing all that was necessary to get by. An event happens with a local constable who shots and kills a new citizen/former slave based on misinformation or perhaps a lie. The people hold this person in high regard as he was a considered a model citizen, church member and family man. In an angered frenzy the people call for the constables head, so as a result many buildings and business's are burnt. Tensions calm down in anticipation of justice. As it often happens, the constable is absolved because the judge and some jury members favor him. As a result, the people riot again almost destroying the entire town and start to pour into nearby towns. The towns cannot handle the situation and are asking for President Lincoln's help. How do you think he will respond?

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Since the communities are located within a Northern state that is not in rebellion against the federal government Lincoln would probably tell them to contact the governor for assistance.

 

[James B White]

I agree that it would start with requests to local militias and then the governor. The situation sounds similar to Cincinnati's 1841 race riot, though that riot began with less specific provocation. In that case, militiamen from the surrounding area were called in to get control.

Another similarity would be the 1863 Detroit riot: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/detroit/summary.html It too was handled in the state, though Detroit's first full-time police force was formed soon afterwards.

That's ignoring, of course, the obvious parallel to a riot that got out of control, the New York City draft riot, where federal soldiers did need called in. In that case, it seems Lincoln had no problem calling in soldiers when needed, but if I'm understanding the different premise here, in the hypothetical example the rioters would be primarily blacks staging a massive attack of the surrounding white neighborhood.

One problem I can think of is lack of numbers. Were there any northern cities with a large enough black population that they could attack like that and not be put down by local white ruffians, Irish, and other natural enemies? Add in police, sheriff, militia or home guard, and I think it would be hard for blacks in any northern city to get enough momentum to get such a riot going. But maybe I'm wrong, or am missing a better similar example of such a thing.

As far as the specific question about Lincoln... Depending on his relationship locally, he might try to get a respected black leader or white abolitionist to address the mob and call for peace, but if that wasn't practical or if it failed, I don't think Lincoln would have a problem sending in federal troops if they were needed, as in the New York City riot. The alternative would be letting the death and destruction continue simply because black people were doing it. I don't think many people short of your John Brown types would have the stomach for that.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

I agree that it would start with requests to local militias and then the governor. The situation sounds similar to Cincinnati's 1841 race riot, though that riot began with less specific provocation. In that case, militiamen from the surrounding area were called in to get control.

Another similarity would be the 1863 Detroit riot: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/detroit/summary.html It too was handled in the state, though Detroit's first full-time police force was formed soon afterwards.

That's ignoring, of course, the obvious parallel to a riot that got out of control, the New York City draft riot, where federal soldiers did need called in. In that case, it seems Lincoln had no problem calling in soldiers when needed, but if I'm understanding the different premise here, in the hypothetical example the rioters would be primarily blacks staging a massive attack of the surrounding white neighborhood.

One problem I can think of is lack of numbers. Were there any northern cities with a large enough black population that they could attack like that and not be put down by local white ruffians, Irish, and other natural enemies? Add in police, sheriff, militia or home guard, and I think it would be hard for blacks in any northern city to get enough momentum to get such a riot going. But maybe I'm wrong, or am missing a better similar example of such a thing.

As far as the specific question about Lincoln... Depending on his relationship locally, he might try to get a respected black leader or white abolitionist to address the mob and call for peace, but if that wasn't practical or if it failed, I don't think Lincoln would have a problem sending in federal troops if they were needed, as in the New York City riot. The alternative would be letting the death and destruction continue simply because black people were doing it. I don't think many people short of your John Brown types would have the stomach for that.

If I'm not mistaken the NY City mayor made the initial request to Secretary of War Stanton to have some NY regiments as well as a few surrounding state regiments sent to the city. In other draft riots that occurred throughout Ohio and Wisconsin, the local authorities requested assistance from their respective governor who in turn deployed state militia troops to quell the disturbances.

 

[KLSDAD]

I agree that it would start with requests to local militias and then the governor. The situation sounds similar to Cincinnati's 1841 race riot, though that riot began with less specific provocation. In that case, militiamen from the surrounding area were called in to get control.

Another similarity would be the 1863 Detroit riot: http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/detroit/summary.html It too was handled in the state, though Detroit's first full-time police force was formed soon afterwards.

Sounds a little bit like Ferguson too.....except for a couple of key (some disputable) differences.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

The towns cannot handle the situation and are asking for President Lincoln's help. How do you think he will respond?

He'll go golfing?

 

[Patrick H]

Interesting question. I think Lincoln would not comment publicly. I think he would tell the press it was a local matter.

 

[E_just_E]

Not much guesswork is needed to answer this, since we do have an example of a similar situation actually happening. The New York City Draft Riots on July 13 to 16, 1863 (despite the fairy tales about the Gettysburg victory increasing morale up North.) Lincoln sent militia and volunteer troops (the latter were part of the AoP, fresh from Gettysburg) to stop the riots. I see no reason to act differently in another case.

 

[Sons of Liberty]

Since this fictional riot is occuring before the age of mass-media hype the whole thing would probably die on the vine and never become an issue. But I am sure that the "then" President Lincoln would respect their rights to peacefully assemble, but not allow them to destroy their neighbors businesses and livelihoods.

 

[ForeverFree]

What if there was a group of newly emancipated slaves, who had settled down in a Northern community. Most were enjoying their freedom doing all that was necessary to get by. An event happens with a local constable who shots and kills a new citizen/former slave based on misinformation or perhaps a lie. The people hold this person in high regard as he was a considered a model citizen, church member and family man. In an angered frenzy the people call for the constables head, so as a result many buildings and business's are burnt. Tensions calm down in anticipation of justice. As it often happens, the constable is absolved because the judge and some jury members favor him. As a result, the people riot again almost destroying the entire town and start to pour into nearby towns. The towns cannot handle the situation and are asking for President Lincoln's help. How do you think he will respond?

In 1860, African Americans were less than 2% of the population in the free states. Let me repeat that: less than 2%. What African Americans did live in the free states were concentrated on the East Coast. Outside of the Mid-Atlantic states (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York) and Ohio, there were very few African Americans in the North. Any group of freedmen who "settled down in a Northern community" during Lincoln's presidency would have been of small number.

If such a riot did happen (and of course we realize this is a contrived situation) my guess is that the surrounding white population would surely have been large enough to subdue the rioters. And given the mores of the day, extralegal violence would have been used in retaliation. My guess is that there would have been no need to call Lincoln, and that the main troublemakers would be rounded up, perhaps one or two killed as a response to the violence.

- Alan

 

[NedBaldwin]

What if there was a group of newly emancipated slaves, who had settled down in a Northern community. Most were enjoying their freedom doing all that was necessary to get by. An event happens with a local constable who shots and kills a new citizen/former slave based on misinformation or perhaps a lie. The people hold this person in high regard as he was a considered a model citizen, church member and family man. In an angered frenzy the people call for the constables head, so as a result many buildings and business's are burnt. Tensions calm down in anticipation of justice. As it often happens, the constable is absolved because the judge and some jury members favor him. As a result, the people riot again almost destroying the entire town and start to pour into nearby towns. The towns cannot handle the situation and are asking for President Lincoln's help. How do you think he will respond?

I dont think he would do much unless either
1) (as others have pointed out) the state legislature or governor called for federal help
or 2) the rioters attacked a federal facility such as an arsenal (such as Harpers Ferry) or army recruiting office.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Not much guesswork is needed to answer this, since we do have an example of a similar situation actually happening. The New York City Draft Riots on July 13 to 16, 1863 (despite the fairy tales about the Gettysburg victory increasing morale up North.) Lincoln sent militia and volunteer troops (the latter were part of the AoP, fresh from Gettysburg) to stop the riots. I see no reason to act differently in another case.

I believe that the Republican mayor of New York city requested the troops from the War Department and Stanton, not Lincoln, complied. During 1862 and 1863 there were numerous draft riots in Wisconsin and Ohio and they were all quelled by local or state militia by orders of the governor of the state.