Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-30
The LouisriIIe Councils ON the Late Riots.

1 The City Councils Of Louisville, Kentucky, af
tera full and patient investigation Of all the cir
cumstances OF the late riot have adopted a re-
port, unanimously, which points to the foreigners
as the first to commence the bloody and destruc-
tive work of that fatal night. We have hereto
fore presented the most conclusive proofs, by af-
davts, that this was the case, and we take
pleasure in adding the weight of the City Coun-
ellis of Louisville to those statements. The party
or paper that disputes the validity of the test,
mony or the correctness Of the report, is certain
| ly entitled to the palm for perseverng impudence
and misrepresentation.
THE REPORT.
Mr.. ellis, from the Committee on Police, to
whom was referred the Mayors message in regard
to the election riots made the following report
which was adopted unanimously
| TO the Common Council
City Of Louisville:
The Committee on the Police, to whom was re.
ferred message from the Mayor, concerning the
destruction of life and property in the city of Louis
! vile, on Monday, August 6, 1855, have had sun
dry conversations with many of their felow-towns
men, upon points Immediately connected with this
much o.be-regretted occurrence, and have obtain.
ed information therefrom OF a character unmistak
able in its connexion with the origin Of the election
| riots.
| On the day OF the election, portion Of your
committee visited various parts OF the city, and
we're rather surprised than otherwise to find such
universal quiet and goodfeeling the polls through
out the city; and had IL not been for the foreign
| population commencing the difficulties in every
instance, the day would have passed more peace
ably than is customary OH such occasions. SO far
as your committee are apprized--and we believe
we are correct in making the'assertion that there
was not an occ lrrence Of an improper serious
nature at any votingpace within the city--all dis
turbances originated at distance therefrom and
were commenced by foreigners, with a wilful and
premeditated determination to destroy indiscrmi.
nately the lives of American citizens.
The property known as "Qninns Row." at the
corner of Eleventh and Main streets, was COM
pete armory. For three weeks previous to the
election, arms and ammunition were stored therein,
and the owner and occupant of the premises,
| Quinn, in conversation with. sundry gentlemen,
| asserted that said guns would be used against the
Americans, and actually exhibited balls which had
been moulded for the purpose of shooting from
said guns.
In order to substantiate this accusation we re-
fer to David l.. Beatty, member of this council,
and to George w. Griffey street inspector for the
western district There also several others
present whose names it is not important to men,
ton. ~.
On the day of the election, several Irishmen
were seen In the cellar of Quinns house, moulding
bullets, and numerous others going in and com
ing from the buildings with guns, pistols, and
bowie knives, &c. Mr.. Griffey further informed
your committee that he is employed in removing
the rubbish from the premises recently the resi-
dcnce of said QUINN and that he has taken there
f ON the remains Of muskets, rifles, shot-guns, and
| pistols. Other firearms were carried off by per-
sons making their escape from said houses before
and after they were fired
From this Irish armory, from this Jesuitical re-
Sort and by den ofassassins therein congregated,
the first attack was made, the first blood was shed,
the first murder committed in the 9Th ward
By these prest-ridden foreign hirelings, and from
within the walls of these desecrated habitations
peaceable and quiet Americans were shot dead
without provocation while in the discharge Of their
daily and legitimate business. This premed-
tated, unprovoked, and indiscrminate slaughter
of innocent men, was more than Americans could
endure.
The operations of these potentates of Rome in
the First Ward, were Of similar character with
those of the Eighth. On Shelby street, between
Walnut and Broadway the houses occupied by
foreigners were mostly supplied with guns, and un-
offending passers-by were shot at from nearly every
dwelling in that neighborhood, and many Of them
badly wounded. In various other portions of the
ward, murderous attacks made by foreign
papsts on unsuspecting Americans, and doubtless
at the instgation of those higher and more skilled
in the dark deeds of Catholicism.
After a thorough investigation of this whole sub
ject, your committee conclude that the foreign
born population, aided by would besAmericans,
planned and set in motion the machipery from
which all disturbances originated on the day of
| election.
1t must be an admitted fact, that the killing OF
so many estimabe American citizens, and that,
too, by the followers OF the Pope of Rome, was
enough to create in the breast Of every true Anne
rican feeling of revenge and il, in the moment
OF excitement, and from causes undeniably just,
they manifested retaatory disposition, your com.
mittee cannot and will not, impute to them a GEN.
sure therefor.
In proof of every declaration herein made,
whether direct or implied, your committee refer
to the accompanying testimony, as published in
the Weekly Journal Of the 18th inst. The COM
mttee ask that the evidence as above named be
spread on the journal of the council, and further,
that this report be adopted.
JOS. A. GrLLIss, Chairman.