Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-01-19
WHOLE NO. 374.
The Kensiugton Massacre.
IcoNrINuEp.l


PRESENTMENT OF THE GRAND JURY.
To the Honorable the Judges of the Court Of Over
and Terminer and Quarter Sessions Of tho
County Of Philadelphia.
The Grand Inquest for the City and County
Of Philadelphia, for May Term, 1874, beg leave to
present that they have carefully passed upon al
bills to which their attention has been called.
The Jury have been instructed by the Court 10
inquire into the origin and cause which led to
the gross violation Of law and to present the first
and last aggrcssors, II possible. Upon this branch!
of inquiry, and from all the facts which came uii-
der their notice, they have come to the following
conclusions
The Jury are of opinion that these efforts IN
some measure gave rise to the formation of new
party, which called and hedpubc meetings in the
District OF Kensington in the peaceful exercise Of
the sacred rights and privileges guaranteed &,
every citizen by the Constitution aud laws of our
State and country. These meetings were rudely
disturbed and fired upon by band Of lawless rrt-
sponsibe men, some Of whom had resided in our
country only for short period This outrage,
causing the death of number of our unofending
citizens, led to immediate retaliation and was fol.
lowed up by subsequent acts of aggression in vio-
lation and open defiance Of all law.
THE AMERICAN REPUBLICAN CoNFEREEs in their
Address to their felow-citzens, say:
The murderous assault on American citizens, tho
trampling urder foot and tearing into shreds tho
American flag, by those who had sought homo
and protection under the broad folds of that flag,
and who had sworn to protect it, is the cause, tho
origin of the whole To that issue we shall hold
those who have assaed us, and on that Issue W.
shall 60 to trial before our country--whctl,er
American citizens are to be shot down like dogs,
when holding peaceful political meeting by for
egners, whom our naturalization laws have by too
easy process entitled to bear the name The
question is, shall Americans not be allowed to as
sembe as such, but must they when they wish 10
be protected from murder assume some other
name
Disgraceful as is the burning Of churches, fear
full and appalling as is the act, by which buildings
dedicated to the worship of God are given to
the flames, il it an outrage Of greater character
than that which sends the souls Of men with
out moments time for preparation to the bar of
Gods judgment? Let not the atrocity Of the lat.
ter be forgotten in that of the former awful as it
is Let not the one be screen behind which the
other is to be hid. We utterly reprobate the arson
As individuals we have joined in extending
protection to other buildings of similar character
We deprecate the connexion of our names with
such an, act, but we arc equally resolved that the
lives Of American cities shall not be taken hy
aliens without cause, in the discharge of a just
right.
Splendid rifles, and w&rke munitions, not ap-
proprate to their condition. have been found in the
possession of Irish Catholics of the lowest grade
of poverty; clearly showing that the chief actors
instigators in this bloody assault upon peaceable
Americans, are yet behind ute scenes.
EXTRACTS FROM JUDGE KINGS CHARGE,
IN THE CASE OF JOHN DALEY,
CONNECTED Of Riot and Murder.
OYER AND TERMINER, SEPTEMBER l8, 1874
Before Judges King Jones and Parsons
, The meeting of the Sd of May, 1914, was called
for the purpose of considering the expediency Of
proposed alteration Of the laws of the United
States in reference to the naturalization of for
eigners and promoting the ends and objects of the
association known as the Native American Party.
The meeting was organized, and the officers being
placed on platform erected for the purpose Mr.
S. r. Kramer commenced an address, but was in
terrupted by a large number of persons opposed to
the objects of the meeting, among whom this de-
fendant was particularly prominent. scene Of
confusion arose, and shortly after the opponents cf
this meeting rushed forward, pulled down the plat
form, and dispersed the meeting To this violence
| the meeting offered no resistance, preferring to
submit to the aggression rather than resort to d
forcible maintenance Of their rights. It was, how
ever, agreed to by some that an adjourned meeting
for the same purpose should be held on Monday the
9th of May, at o'clock in the afternoon, at the
same place.
II the call Of the meeting of the Sd Of May,
was addressed exclusively to persons favorable TO
its Objects the interference Of individuals hostile
to its proceedings and the breaking up and disper
sion of the meeting by them, was gross outrage
on the rights Of those who called it, 1t was riot
of fragrant kind. "A body of citizens having in
view constitutional, legal purpose, have the
right, peaceably and quietly to assemble together,
! for its consideration and discussion. Any attempt
by another body OF citizens opposed to tho objects
of the assembly to interrupt and disperse it. is not
to be tolerated In this instance it has led to the
long train ofriots, murders and arson, which have
disgraced city and shaken the foundation Of so.
cial order.
The Attorney General insists, that the whole caae
shows an original and formed design in tho defen-
dant and his associates, 10 dispense any meeting,
having for its object that contemplated by the
meeting of Friday, the Sd Of May, and 10 destroy
and kill those concerned in It, If their object could
be accomplished in no other way. He insists that
the whole conduct ofDaly and his ass ciates, mani
fest that such was their Intention and that the affair
J ot the hose-house was mere pretext to cover
deeper and deadlier design. II you should believe
that the arming and array in the vicinity Of the
market was really with this diabolical motive and
that the staying of the deceased and all others who
fell on that day was the product Of such design
and done in consummation Of it, then all those con
cerned in this deed principals aiders and abettors
are guilty Of murder in the first degree.
REPORT OF THE KENSINGToN RIOTS,
AS READ BY @. BLIGHT BROWNE, ESQ,
One Of the Counsel upon the Trials,
Adopted, and ordered to be printed with the Pro-
ceedings of the State Convention, which assem-