Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-08-31
Louisville Riots-oHicial.

We have already published the true
origin of the Louisville riots. The fol-
lowing is the official report made to
the city council and adopted unani-
mously bv that body. Though its
temper is not to be commended, the
facts, are indisputable.
To the Common Council, City Of
Louisville:
The Committee on the Polics, to
whom was referred message from the
Mayor, concerning the destruction Of
life and property in the city, have had
sundry conversations with many ol
their fellow-townsmen upon points i'm
mediately connected with this much to
be regretted occurrence. and have OBJ.
tained information therefrom of a
character unmistakable in its connec-
ton with the origin of the late election
riots.
On the day Of the election por-
ton of your committee visited various
parts of the city and were rather sur
prised than otherwise to find such uni
versal quiet and good feeling at the
polls throughout the city, and had il
net been for the foreign population
commencing the difficulties In every
instance the day would have passed
more peaceably than is customary on
such occasions. So far as your COM
mittee are apprised, and we believe
we are correct in making the assertion,
that there was not an occurrence of an
improper or serious nature at any vo-
ting place within the city. All distur.
Dances originated at distance there
from, and were commenced by for
eigners with willful and premedita-
ted determination TO destroy indis.
criminately the lives Of Americas cit
j izens.
The property known as "Quinn's
Row" at the corner Of Eleventh AID
Main streets, was complete armory.
For three weeks previous to the elec.
ton. arms and ammunition were stored
therein, and the owner and occupant
Of the premises (Quinn) in converse.
ton with sundry gentlemen, asser-
ted that said guns would be used
against the Americans, and actually
exhibited balls which had been moul-
ded for the purpose Of shooting from
said guns. In order to substantiate
this accusation we refer TO d. L. Beat
ty, a member of this Council, and tc
G.. w. Giffey, Street Inspector Of the
Western District. There were also
several others present whose names il
is no: important 10 mention.
On the day OF election several Irish
men were seen in the cellar of Quinn'l
: house, moulding bullets. and nume'
rous others going in and coming from
the buildings with guns, pistols, bowie
knives. &c. Mr.. Griffey further in,
formed your committee that he is EN-
ployed in removing the rubbish from
the premises recently the residence O
said Quinn, and that he has taker
, therefrom the remains Of muskets,
rifles, shot-guns, and pistols. 0thel
fire arms were carried off by person.
making their escape from said houses
before and after they were fred.
From this Irish armory, from this
Jesuitical reso.t, and by den of as.
sassins therein congregated. the first
attack was made, the first blood wa.
shed, the first murder committed in the
Eighth ward. By these priest -ridder
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 le
gitimate business. This premeditated
unprovoked, and indiscriminats
slaughter of innocent men was worse
than Americans could endure.
The operations Of these potentate'
of Rome in the first Ward, were Of I
similar character with those Of tn,
Eight. On Shelby street. betweer
Walnut and Broadway. the houses oc
cupied by foreigners were mostly sup
piled with guns, and unoffending pas
sers-by were shot at from nearly every
dwelling in that neighborhood. ant
many Of them badly wounded. Ii
various other portions of the WARD
murderous attacks were made by for,
eign Papist OF unsuspecting Ameri
cans, and doubtless at the instigatior
of those higher and more skilled in
the dark deeds Of Catholicism.
After a thorough investigation Of
this whole subject. your committee
conclude that the foreign born popula
ton, aided by would-be Americans
planned and set in motion the ma
chinery from which all disturbances
originated on the day of election.
1t must be an admitted fact that ths
killing of so many estimable Ameri.
can citizens, and that, too, by the fol
lowers or the Pope Of Rome, wa!
enough to create in the breast of eve.
lry true American a feeling of reveng,
and il, in the moment OF excitemen
and from causes undeniably just, they
! manifested a retaliatory disposition
your committee cannot and will no
impute to them a censure therefor.
In proof Of every declaration here
in made, whether direct or implied
your committee refer to the following
testimony, as published in the Weekly
: Journal of the 18th instant. The com
mittec ask that the evidence as above
named. be spread on the Journal of th'
Council, and further. that this repor
be adopted.
j. A. GILLISS. Chm.