Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-05-20
CITIZENS RECEPTION
Capt. Fre0rick NJ. Irish,
At Io0a Cty, on The l7h ina.

City and johnson county convened at tn.
Clinton HI use, for the purpose Of congrat
ulating Captain F. NJ Irish upon his recent
acquittal before the District Court in Scott
county. and welcoming him back. free In
person and unsullied in name from the try.
ing ordeal Of twelve months durees and
prosecution.
The Hon. James Cavanaugh and 9. II
farrall. Esq, were respectively named on
motion, the former a. President and the
latter as Secretary of the meeting.
Proce edngs were opened with music by
Runners Band, followed by loud cries for
Irish. Irish, who came forward to the main
entrance Of the Hotel. and responded in
brief, and substantially az follows
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS IL will
not attempt to describe my feelings on be-
ing permitted to address you, at this place
this evening. Twelve months since, was
taken from my home by an officer, followed
by mob, brought to this house and put un-
der guard, charged with a crime, of which
had been guilty. would have forfeited
every claim to your friendship and sympa-
thies.
have remained under bonds from that
time until few days since. when an up
right and impartial jury Of my countrymen
pronounced me mot GUILTY" 4" of the
crime with which was charged,-and the
reception that | have met with from you,
Fellow Citizens, is proof to me that that
verdict has received your most cordial and
earnest approval.
And now. permit me here to say. that if
there are any honest citizens within the
sound Of my voice. who were led by false
hood and Misrepresentation, to participate
in the scenes Of that night. here declare
that from my heart. most freely forgive
them; and with few exceptions, l al
ready and willing to meet all my fellow
citizens on terms of friendship.
And | do believe that should have sank
under this affliction and persecution, had
not my friends rallied around and sustained
me with the cheering voice of kindness and
hope; and it affords me great pleasure here
to state, that those friends were not con-
fined to any enc political party, sect or
creed, but that many of the brightest and
truest friends who stood by me, were men
of opposite views from mine in political
matters. Hence, now say to all who are
willing to meet me on honorable and
friendly grounds, let the scenes OF the past
twelve months be blotted from our mem
ory; and let us all endeavor to restore
johnson County to her original high posi-
ton, both as regards her social and finan-
ciai character.
most sincere and heartfelt thanks for the
manner in which you have welcomed me
back amongst You, and afforded this oppor-
tunity Of expressing my feelings to you
With many wishes then for your future
health, happiness and tranquility. now
bid you all" Good Night"
the following named gentlemen. was ap-
pointed to draft series of resolutions ex-
pressive of the sense of the meeting Messrs.
Henry Falkner, $. II. McCrory, Walter Fer
rill, Allen Phillips. James H. Grover, Asa
Calkins. John r. Van Fleet, P. p. Freeman
VIM. Voigt, J. G. Kuhner. w. II. Woods, J.
c. Bures, james B. Edmonds, Geo. W.
Clark and r. II. Sylvester, who shortly re-
ported the following preamble and resolu
tions:
Whereas. Our worthy fellow citizen Fred
erick NJ. lrish after long, onerous. land
as we have good reason to feeD wholly an
scarranted criminal prosecution and upon
a full. searching and impartial investigs-
tion before the Courts Of the State, has been
pronounced innocent of the alleged crime
And Whereas. We most solemnly believe
that the prosecution Of our said fellow
citizen was originally instituted rather in
spirit Of cruelty and revenge than of Justice
and fair-dealing, and has been subsequently
persisted in and conducted for the further
ance of purposes not only without the scope
of the Law, but wholly selfish and viniic-
tive in character.
And 'chereas, The estate" has not only
failed to secure conviction, but only sue
ceeded in further confirming our belief in
the truth of the motives, through which .
tloody indictment was drawn. and q cor
responding prosecution pursued.
Therefore, Resolred, That we, citizens Of
johnson County. irrespective Of political
party or prejudice, herewith extend to the
Hon. John F. Dillon, this eorIial tribute Of
our admiration and respect, for the ability.
dignity and impsrtiality. which character
ICED his rulings and instructions in the
trial, and which commend him to his Dis.
trict and State, - an henest and upright
Judge.
Resolved, That the verdict of acquittal,
pronounced by the Scott Co. Jury, is hereby
unanimously endorsed, as the just determi.
nation Of case, Upon which all the ma.
chinery Of political bigotry. corr upt inter.
ests and personal mslevolence was brought
to bear, in order to place il without the
pale of an equitable decision in our own
county, but which deserves to be ranked
side BY side with that other righteous YER
dict Of the johnson county jury in August
last By which eight Of the co-dsfendants in
this case were set 1T liberty and declared TO
be innocent.
Resolved That the gallant defence of the
said Irish, by his learned counsel, kessrs.
Joseph Knox, George s. G. Dow, and Jas. J.
Lindley, was honorable to the profession
which they adorn, and creditable to their
character, - men and that their inde:ati.
gable efforts and eloquent championship
will be long remembered, and are duly ap-
preciated by their fellow citizens Of johnson
county.
Resolved. That We hereby express our
unqualified disapproval of the Code Of
Lynch Law that We recognize no other
than legal attainment of the ends of JUS
tice and that the evidence adduced on this
trial, and the law - expounded by the
Court, clearly show that the action Of the
defendants 10 this case cannot fall within
the construction Of illegality.
Resclved, That We hereby protest
against all further prosecutions in this mat
ter. - hostile 70 the pecuniary interest and
social good Of johnson county, end uneseen.
tisl to The demands Of justice, OF which the
best evidence IL found IN the pest history of
the easo.
TIE abeve rseolutiene we're then adoptsa
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