Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-02
A Riot I'm baltimore Last night.
IFrom the Baltimore " SUN" Of this mOrninsl

various religious persuaslohs' "ai'eu upon me
Honor the Mayor, to ask his interference 10 pre-
vent if possible, the delivery OF . lecture, OF
series of lectures, proposedb by the Rev E. Leahey,
a converted monk at Temperance Hall, in Gay
street under the apprehension that the delivery
might be the occasion of riotous demonstration.
Dr. E. j. Chaisty presented the opinions of the
deputation, and was ably seconded by the Hon.
David Stewart. The Mayor expressed himself as
firm and fast friend of the freedom of discussion,
but, at the same time, said that all that could be
done would be done to prevent disorder 1t was
proposed to consult with the proprietors of the
Temperance Hall in relation to the matter, and
endeavor, If possible, to avert anything which
might lead to the breach of the peace
Since the above was written, the lecture hour
arrived, which was at o'clock last evening. The
room was respectfully filed, SO far as numbers
were concerned and there were perhaps hun
dred persons in front of the door when the lee
turer appeared. He delivered prayer, and
commenced his lecture. A commencement was
scarcely made when there were indications OF dis
turbance, by repeated and continued coughing,
and other unmistakable signs of design to in
| terrupt
| The Mayor in accordance with his resolve
alluded to above, had directed High Constable
Herring with strong police force, to be on the
| spot; and he was there ready to do his duty. AT
| the first demonstration the police were on the
alert and soon had occasion to seize one unruly
fellow, who drew knife, with blade about four
| teen inches long One of the police succeeded
in taking it from him, and landing him in the
watch-house. In this operation, Mr.. John H..
Barnes, a citizen who was present, received a
blow over the face, which skinned his nasal pro-
tuberance considerably. While this disturbance
was going on, others arose, and required all the
ability of the police to suppress. They, however,
made number of arrests Of the rioters, and
landed them in the watch-house
The lecturer left the room at the commence
ment of the disturbance, and, after quiet was re-
stored in measure the Rev. Mr.. Adams, of the
Baptist church, rose on the stand, and, with
few conciliatory remarks, begged the audience to
be seated. They, however, would not be seated !;
after waiting still longer, he again rose and said
that the lecture would not be proceeded with,
but that the lecturer would meet an audience on
some other occasion.
Here arose cry for the quarters which
parties had paid for going in; but what success
they met with in obtaining them, we are unable
to say.
On coming out of the hall, we found crowd
of perhaps q thousand persons in front Of the
building. There was some loud talking, but no
of violence. We then went to
the watch-house. Here we found large crowd,
with Justice Kemp on the bench. The parties
arrested for riotous and disorderly conduct were
severally brought before him, and held to bail for
their appearance this day, at o'clock, to an
swer the charges made against them. Their
names are Thos. G. Yearly, VIM. G. Hull, Thos.
Hearn, John Philip Roche, Chas. McCann, Hugh
Sloan, VIM. Casey, and Michael Kegan these
gave security. There were some others in the
lookup, for whom security did not appear.
While the security business was going on in
the watch-house one Jealous individual came for
ward and demanded warrant on a civil case,
for twenty-five cents, the price given for ticket
to the lecture, for the arrest of the Rev. Mr..
Leahey. The justice told him that he could issue
no warrant then; he would have to call to-mor-
row. The applicant thought it very hard that
one party could be arrested and the other left
free.
On all this matter we have but short COM
ment to offer. All who went there for the pur-
pose of disturbance acted extremely wrong, and
deserve severe punishment. We trust there will
be no more such demonstrations.
Upon this, as upon every subject presented to
our notice, We desire to offer few candid re-
marks.
We have never heard nor seen the Rev. Mr..
Leahey. We once read book written by him,
and laid it down with the settled conviction that
he was very foolish man, of weak principles,
and by no means of deep religious impressions
We're he to lecture in this city, valuing time as
we do, we would not 90 to hear him.
So much for Mr.. Leahey, Now for more i'm
portant subject. The request preferred by DR..
Chaisty, Mr.. David Stewart, and their associates,
was absurdly impudent and contemplate. The
request that man might be prevented by the
legal authorities from speaking to those who
wished to hear him, because there were men in the
community intolerant and base enough to resort
to lawless means to prevent his doing 30, is a
disgrace to every man participating in it. The
liberty of remaining away from the hall in which
the address was to be delivered was all they had
a right to ask. and that they already had They
who in this or in any manner sanctioned the
| high-handed deeds of the mob, if they were ma
tives Of country, proved false to their duty
if adopted citizens, ingratitude was added to the
foul offence. Freedom of Speech the right Of
free discussion, is the inherent right Of every
native and adopted citizen and whether it be
denied to Protestant Christians, Roman Catholics
Jews, Mormons, or sceptics, we place ourselves
by the side Of the oppressed in the defence o
the cause of freedom, and demand for them thu
protection of the laws. If the city of Baltimore
cannot, under these circumstances, protect the
inaienable rights of the speaker and of those
who wish to hear him, that city is degraded
| il is recresnt to the charter of freedom under
which we live.
If the man Leahey is slanderer, or if he be
guilty Of uttering anything that is indecent and
subversive of the cause of good morals, it wa,
known to DR.. Chaisty and to David Stewart that
he is amenable to the laws, and that the laws are
competent to punish him and it was their duty