USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The story of the Irish in Boston, together with biographical sketches of representative men and noted women > Part 41
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Fitzgerald, James M.,
Flanagan Bros.,
Flatley, Michael J.,
Harrigan, J., & Son,
Flinn Bros.,
Harrington, John,
Flood, John C.,
Harvey, John,
Flynn, David,
Hayes, John J.,
Farrell, James,
Hearn, James,
Herlihy, James W.,
Fitzpatrick, John J.,
Higgins & Cook,
Higgins, Patrick, & Co.,
Ford, John G.,
Ford & McQuaid,
Franey, Edward J., & Co.,
Hogan, John, Horan Bros.,
Horan, Maurice F.,
Haynes, Edward F.,
Ellis [& Lewis],
Greeley, James,
Farrell, John R.,
Farrell, Nagle, & Power,
Grimes, Thomas B.,
Fay, Thomas,
Hussey, Thomas, & Co.,
Haley, Michael,
- Hanlon & Co.,
Harkins, Edward, & Co.,
Fanen, Dennis,
Foley, B. & A., Ford Bros.,
423
LEADING BUSINESS MEN.
Hurley, William, Johnson, William A., Keany, Matthew, Kelly Bros., Keefe, John J., & Co.,
Kelly & Co.,
Kelly, Patrick P.,
Kelly & Hays, Kelly, Michael,
Kelly, Michael J.,
Kelly, Thomas, & Co.,
Kendricken, Paul H.,
Kennedy, Donald, Kennedy & Murphy, Kenney, J. W.,
Keogh, Richard T.,
Kerrigan, Wm. F.,
Kiley, Michael J.,
Lally & Collins, Lally, Edward F.,
Lally, P. G.,
Lamb, John, Leonard, Lawrence,
Leonard, Luke,
Logan, L. J., & Co.,
Logan, Michael J., Lappen Bros., Lappen, J. E., & Co.,
Lappen, Owen,
Lomasney, Joseph R.,
Laughlin Bros.,
Laughlin, James W., Lynch Bros., Lynch, Eugene, Lynch, Thomas P., Lyons, John,
Lyons, Thomas J., Lyons, Wm., John J., and Dennis, McAleer, Patrick, McCaffrey, John, McQuaid, Francis, McCarthy, F. C., Mahoney, E. H., Manning, William,
Mullen, M. J., McAloon, James B., McAvoy, Dennis S., McBarron & Co.,
McBarron & Lucas,
McCafferty, John H., McCann, Bernard, McCarthy, James C., McCarthy, John, & Son, McCarty, James, & Co., McConnell, Charles, McConnell, Hugh,
McCormick, James, McCormick, John, estate of,
McCormick, John L., McCormick, Thomas, McDevitt, Robert, McDonald, John W., McElroy, Henry, McEttrick, Michael F., McGowan, Patrick, McGuire & Hughes, McKenna, Stephen, McLaughlin, Daniel, McMahon, J. W., McMahon, James, McManus & Co., McShone, Henry, & Co.,
424
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
Madden Bros.,
Magullion & Calnan,
Magullion, Frank E.,
Maher & Casey,
Martin, John B.,
Meany, Edward F., estate of, Meehan, Michael,
Meehan, Patrick,
O'Neil, Gould, & Presby, O'Neil, Arthur H.,
Miller, John, & Co.,
O'Reilly, Denis,
Monohan, Patrick,
Pilot Publishing Co.,
Moore, John F.,
Quinn, Francis,
Moore, Robert,
Quinn, James, & Co.,
Mullowney, Michael,
Quirk, W. H.,
Mulvey, Patrick D.,
Reagan, Michael F.,
Murphy, Chas. F., & Co.,
Regan, Martin,
Murphy, Edward,
Reade, John,
Murphy, James P., & Co.,
Roach, George F., & Co.,
Murphy, James S.,
Reardon, John, & Sons,
Murphy, Leavins, & Co.,
Rooney, William,
Murphy & McCarthy,
Ryan, John A.,
Murray, Jeremiah A.,
Ryan, P. J.,
Murray, Henry,
Shea, Daniel, & Co.,
Murray, J. & O.,
Shea, John,
Murray, Robert C.,
Shea, Patrick,
Nagle, Garrett, & Co.,
Shay, Edward, & Co.,
Nagle, William,
Shields, Patrick F.,
N.E. Organ Co.,
Stack, James H.,
Nawn, Hugh,
Sullivan Bros.,
Nawn, Owen,
Sullivan, James, & Co.,
Noonan, Thomas B.,
Sullivan, John,
O'Brien, James,
Sullivan, Richard T.,
O'Brien, James J.,
Sullivan, T., & Co.,
O'Brien, Timothy J.,
Sullivan, Wm. J.,
Smith Bros.,
Santry, John P.,
Scanlan, Patrick.
O'Connor, John,
O'Conor, Patience, O'Connor, Mrs. Thomas, O'Donnell, Philip E., & Co., O'Hare, John,
O'Keefe, D. J., O'Kelly's, W., Sons,
O'Connell, John, & Sons,
O'Connell, T., & Co.,
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS.
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS.1
U.S. Custom House service. ..
27
Barbers.
41
U.S. Postal Department service 16
Hairdressers
9
Other national government service . 14
Janitors (private buildings ) 53
State government service. 25
Laundry-work 3
City Fire Department service 17
Stationary engineers and assistants. 185
City Police Department service
II2
Undertakers and assistants
18
City Street Department service.
59
Watchmen 113
8
City clerical service
6
Merchants and dealers 1,187
Other city government service
III
Merchants and dealers (wholesale) ..
64
U.S. Army service.
19
Pedlers 258
U.S. Navy service.
49
Cemetery service
104
Salesmen (wholesale)
22
Clergymen.
34
Salesmen (travelling)
29
Sextons
13
Book-keepers
35
Lawyers
13
Book-keepers (wholesale)
9
Dentists
I
Clerks,
253
Physicians
18
Clerks (wholesale)
19
Physicians and surgeons
4
Clerks, shipping
25
Editors ..
4
Clerks, shipping (wholesale) 25
5
Musicians
12
Agents (real estate)
19
Music teachers
5
Bank officials and employés
3
Actors
4
Brokers
9
Theatrical agents and officials.
I
Collectors
24
Professors
I
Cash and bundle boys
5
Teachers
Coal-heavers (vessels) .
IOI
Architects
Errand-boys.
65
Chemists
4
Laborers and helpers (in stores) 398
8
Longshoremen
1,043
Draughtsmen
2 Office-boys.
18
Inventors
I Packers 37
253
Telegraph messengers and line-men .
17
Boarding-house keepers and employés, Hotel· keepers and employés. . . .... . Lodging-house keepers and employés, Restaurant-keepers and employés ...
348 3
Boarding and livery stable keepers and employés 614
Carriage and hack drivers II2
Saloon ·keepers and employés 115
Drivers of delivery wagons 41
Coachmen (in families) 334
Express company officials and em-
Servants (in families)
I 38
ployés. . 77
Bartenders
255
Herdic officials and employés 6
.
Agents
Artists
4
I Telegraph officials and employés IO 64
Journalists ..
Reporters
3
Agents (insurance)
4 3
Stenographers
I
Porters
17
93
1 Including persons of Irish birth only. This classification and these figures are compiled from the Census of ISS5, by Carroll D. Wright, and therefore are the most reliable which could be found.
425
City Water Department service
20
Commission merchants.
Salesmen 229
Civil engineers
426
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
Horse-railroad officials and employés, 404
Sugar-refinery employés.
196
Teamsters
1,129
Cabinet-makers 67
Steam-railroad officials and employés,
1,026
Chair-makers 8
Master mariners (sailing)
4
Furniture finishers 19
Mariners (sailing)
67
Furniture polishers 21
Steamboat officials and employés ..
52
Furniture-makers 1
33
Stevedores 33
Upholsterers
58
Towboat officials and employés 12
Farmers
21
Glass-works employés 19
Farm laborers
190
Harness-makers 74
Florists
23
Morocco-workers 19
Gardeners and assistants
273
Tannery employés
204
Fishermen .
332
Bottlers
12
Artisans' tools makers
6
Brewery employés
III
Boot and shoemakers
388
Lumber-yard employés
85
Box-makers
8
Saw-mill employés 19
Terra-cotta workers
7
Boiler-works employés. 122
Brush-makers
10
Machinists 199
Builders and contractors
23
Machine-shop employés 43
473
Gasfitters
13
Brass-workers
63
Lathers
20
Copper-workers.
17
Masons
1,069
Iron-workers
391
Painters
258
Jewellery-makers
5
Paper-hangers
14
Nail-makers
61
Plasterers
152
Tin-workers 59
Plumbers 123
Model and pattern makers 8
Roofers
59
Organ and organ parts makers 18
74
Steam-fitters
13
Oil-works employés. 56
25
Carriage and wagon makers
36
Photographers
5
Carriage painters.
29
Bookbindery employés.
26
Wheelwrights and wheel-makers 39
Book publishers and employés. ...
3
Watch-makers 8
Compositors and printers (book and job)
120
Hat and cap makers
29
Compositors and printers (news-
Ready-made clothing makers
22 paper) 24
Tailors
515
Lithographers and lithographic print- ers
13
Cotton-mill operatives
14
Car-makers (steam and horse)
14
Dyestuffs-makers.
49
Pottery-works employés.
5
Boat-builders
8
Calkers
14
Electric-light company employés
4
Bakers
156
Chocolate-makers
3
Ship-carpenters
26
Confectionery makers and packers. .. 20
Slaughter-house employés.
20
1 Not specified.
Stair-builders
3
Piano and piano parts makers
Carpet-factory operatives. 117
Paper-mills operatives
Coat-makers
53
Cordage-factory operatives 109
Rubber-factory operatives 47
Electricians
3
Riggers
II
Sailmakers 8
Carpenters 556
Blacksmiths and helpers
Gas-works employés. 371
427
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS.
Marble-workers 225
Private hospital and institution em-
ployés .
72
Cigar-makers
14
Laundry-work 705
Trunk-factory employés
22
Washerwomen 589
Coopers
I43
Picture-frame makers
18
Wood-carver
27
Saleswomen
95
Wood-turners
5
Book-keepers and clerks
37
Wood-workers 1
23
Telegraph officials and employés 2
Woollen-mill operatives .
24
Cash and bundle girls
25
Laborers
5,679
Errand-girls .
4
Apprentices
123
Rag pickers and sorters
42
Scholars and students
588
. Boot and shoe makers 33
Children at work and at school.
16
Paper-box makers 29
Retired
732
Box-makers 1
2
Dependents (private support)
273
Brush-makers
IO
Not given
300
At home
193
Carpet-factory operatives .
44
Watch-makers.
-
Females.
Cloak-makers
26
State hospital and asylum service. . .
48
Coat-makers
69
Corset-makers
5
Dressmakers
418
Servants (in city hospitals).
17
Embroidery-workers
9
Other city government service
9
Fur-workers
6
Missionaries
I
Hat and cap makers
5
Inmates of religious institutions
45
Hoop-skirt makers
9
Physicians
2
Milliners
37
Librarians and assistants
Necktie-makers
2
Artists
I
Pantaloon-makers
34
Musicians
-
Seamstresses
242
Music teachers
8
Sewing-machine operators
31
Singers
-
Shirt-makers 21
4
Teachers
43
Tailoresses
257
Stenographers
Vest-makers
17
Cordage-factory operatives
59
ployés
249
Cotton-mill operatives
23
Hotel-keepers and employés.
449
Medicine-factory employés
5
Lodging-house keepers and employés,
64
Bakers
5
Restaurant-keepers and employés. . . .
321
Chocolate-makers
I
Housekeepers (in families) 198
Confectionery makers and packers ..
2
Housewives 21,635
Pickle and preserve factory employés,
II
Housework
2,541
Mattress-makers II
Servants in families
6,761
Upholsterers 4
Book-keepers and clerks in offices
2
Jewellery-makers
2
Button-makers
12
Other occupations 1,827
Button-hole makers
4
Other State government service -
Nurses (in city hospitals) . 18
Actresses
I
Suspender-makers
-
Boarding-house keepers and em-
Stone-workers 176
Nurses 191 Merchants and dealers. 247
1 Not specified.
428
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
Nail-makers
19
Straw-workers
-
Paper-mill operatives
18
Cigar-makers
9
Photographers.
2
Tobacco-workers 4
Bookbindery employés
34
Apprentices
15
Compositors and printers (book and job)
9
Children at work and at school
Compositors and printers (newspaper),
-
Retired
232
Lithographers and lithograph printers,
I
Dependents (private support)
349
Rubber-clothing makers
16
At home
244
Rubber-factory operatives.
19
Other occupations
1,003
Silk-mill operatives
IO Not given
55I
THE HEAVIEST TAX-PAYERS.
The General Court at Boston, on May 14, 1634, enacted " that in all rates and public charges, the town [Boston] shall have respect to levy every man according to his estate, and with consideration of all other his abilities whatsoever, and not according to the number of his persons." Under the principle thus laid down, we are gov- erned in our system of taxation to-day.
Below we give a list of the heaviest tax-payers among the Irish- Americans of Boston for the year 1889.
FOR THE YEAR 18S9.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Total Tax.
Alley, John R ...
$192,000
$46,100
$3,204 60
Amory, Thomas C.
76,000
1,000
1,033 80
Amory, Thomas C., et al.
193,500
8,300
2,704 12
Bishop, Robert ..
52,200
50,000
1,369 48
Bishop, Ellen E., wife of Robert
71,100
..
952 74
Blake, Christopher
108,600
14,000
1,644 84
Canny, Patrick
101,200
8,000
1,465 28
Casey, John T., et al.
95,800
1,500
1,305 82
Colby, Patrick
84,100
70,000
1,502 80
Collins, James
206,400
500
2,774 46
Collins, James, & Co.
13,400
179 56
Costello, James J. .
156,800
. .
2,103 12
Daley, John C., & Bro.
76,000
2,000
1,049 20
Doherty, Michael, heirs
139,300
......
203 00
Duff, William F.
77,000
1,031 80
Foley, Bernard and Andrew, heirs
121,700
10,000
1,766 78
Grant, Patrick, et al. .
45,700
106,300
2,025 40
Green, Margaret and Mary A.
......
1 20,000
1,608 00
-
1,866 62
Doherty, Cornelius F.
15,000
1,128 94
Collins, David
42,000
Scholars and students
583
429
THE HEAVIEST TAX-PAYERS.
FOR THE YEAR 1889.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Total Tax.
Hayes, Martin, heirs
$286,100
.....
$3,833 74
Hyland, William
79,000
.....
1,060 60
Hyndman, Eliza
92,000
1,232 80
Jenney, Bernard and Francis H.
28,300
$50,900
1,065 28
Keleher, Timothy
90,000
5,000
1,275 00
Kelley, Thomas, & Co.
80,000
1,072 00
Kendricken, Paul H.
102,400
7,000
1,467 96
Kendricken, Paul H., and Ingalls.
2,700
24,800
368 50
Kenney, James W.
130,900
25,900
2,103 12
Lamb, John
79,200
300
1,067 30
Lee, John H.
86,700
5,000
1,230 78
Lee, John H., & Co.
48,000
643 20
Logan, Lawrence J.
77,700
18,200
1,287 06
Logan, Lawrence J., et al., Trustees.
37,200
......
498 48
Lyons, Capt. John
105,400
4,200
1,470 64
McAleer, Patrick .
251,300
4,000
3,425 02
McCormick, James
87,700
50,000
1,847 18
Meehan, Patrick
91,100
10,000
1,356 74
Meehan, Patrick, et al.
10,600
.... ..
142 04
Miller, John
123,500
30,000
2,058 90
Miller, John, & Co.
154,600
1,000
2,087 04
Murphy, Gardner, et al.
70, 100
14,000
1,128 94
Nawn, Hugh
82,500
8,000
1,218 72
Nawn, Owen
271,600
15,000
3,842 44
O'Riordon, Patrick
205,400
10,000
2,888 36
Prendergast, James M.
8,500
90,000
1,321 90
Shea, John
84,400
3,500
1,179 86
Sullivan, Patrick F.
80,600
2,500
1,115 84
Sullivan, Richard.
41,000
45,000
1,154 40
Teevan, James
79,900
.....
1,072 60
Tucker, James
74,600
19,300
1,260 26
Union Institution for Savings
433,900
......
5,814 26
Wall, James H.
152,400
800
2,054 88
Wall, James H., et al.
62,100
....
832 14
Walsh, John H ..
84,000
14,000
1,315 20
Williams, John J., Most Rev., Tr ..
473,700
12,000
6,510 38
..
1,029 12
Lee, James
88,500
...
1,187 90
Lennon, Nancy
76,800
15,400
206 36
Moore, Robert.
APPENDICES.
-
AN IRISHMAN'S LETTER TO GOVERNOR GARDNER.
T HE following patriotic letter was written by James Boyd, and it was published in " The Atlas," a Boston daily paper, on Mon- day morning, Jan. 22, 1855. The opportunity for placing it on his- torical record seems to have been reserved for this work. Then, as now, race prejudice was in high and low places.
FROM AN IRISH NATURALIZED CITIZEN.
To His Excellency Governor Gardner: -
The message which Your Excellency has promulgated, on accepting the inaugural oath of office, is a document of most serious importance to the whole community of Massachusetts, and especially so to a class of which the writer of this is an humble member.
To the foreign-born portion of the inhabitants of the State, their tendencies, relations, and conditions, you have devoted nearly half, I think, of the address; and to this portion of it the remarks which I propose to submit will be exclusively devoted. As these remarks in general will be opposed to a portion of yours, but not to all by any means, it is but fair in the outset to state how much and how far I approve.
Your statistics concerning the proportion which foreigners bear to natives in the pauperism, beggary, and crimes within the State, I take to be correct, because access to the truth is within your reach, and I have no doubt you availed of it. The conclusions which you arrive at from these facts - namely, that the " people demand of their statesmen, and wise statesmanship suggests, that national and State legislation should interfere to direct, ameliorate, and control these elements, so far as it may be done within the limits of the Constitu- tion " - I join in unreservedly.
(433)
434
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
In the list which you give of the work to be done by national and State legislation, to neutralize and prevent the evil tendencies arising from the excessive immigration of foreigners into the country, there are many items which have my decided approval. For in- stance: "To discourage imported political demagogues, whose trade here is to put themselves at the head of their deluded country- men - to organize prejudice, to vitalize foreign feeling and morbid passion, and then sell themselves to the highest partisan bidder;" to purify and ennoble the elective franchise; to adopt a carefully guarded check-list throughout the nation; " to cultivate a living and energetic nationality ;" to develop a high and vital patriotism; "to retain the Bible in our common schools; " to keep entire the sepa- ration of Church and State; " to nationalize before we naturalize, and to educate before either ;" to guard against citizenship becoming cheap, - in all these items from your list, which you characterize " as ranking with the great movements that originally formed nations," I would most heartily join you in recommending to the earnest notice of the Legislature, and rejoice in a success equal to your highest wishes.
Again you say, "When we witness the profuse liberality with which the sacred right of citizenship is bestowed among us, the' slender guards that exist against its unworthy or fraudulent gift, and the great interests in the hands of those who receive it, as well as those who grant it, we should pause and calmly consider the possible consequences." By all means, say I, not only "pause and calmly consider the possible consequences," but call into action the best statesmanship in the country, not only to repair and strengthen the "slender guards that exist," but to erect barriers which neither foreign nor native demagogues could break down or crawl through.
I could quote much more from your address which has my hearty approval, and may hereafter notice some such passages; but enough has been quoted now to give you an insight to this branch of my political creed. This being noted, I will now endeavor to arrange a few thoughts elicited by the recommendations you submit
435
APPENDICES.
for the treatment of the deplorable disease which the body politic is laboring under. One of the means proposed is in the following words : " I recommend, therefore, an amendment to our Constitution, prohibiting the exercise of the elective franchise to all of alien birth, qualified by naturalization, till they have resided within the United States twenty-one years." Such recommendation, I respectfully submit to Your Excellency, is not " wise statesmanship." In Massa- chusetts, such an organic or statute law can do no good, and it cer- tainly would do much evil. It is not amongst the exigencies of the times. Had you set your limits at a five years' residence, the time required by the existing United States laws, no fault could be found. You could thereby cut off all who have within that time obtained their papers by false representations, and public opinion says there are many such. But your sweeping recommendation, involving as the victims of the amendments you ask for thousands within the State whose rights of citizenship are as legal, as sacred, and as precious to them as yours are to yourself, - an amendment which would equally stigmatize the honest and the dishonest, cannot, in any shape I can view it in, be taken as an act of " wise states- manship."
The rights given and obtained by legal and fairly sought and granted naturalization, I have called as sacred as those obtained by native birth. They are in some respects more so; the one being the result of individual judgment and choice, after mature deliberation ; the other, an accident or occurrence entirely beyond the control or direction of the individual; the first the consummation of a straight- forward, regular bargain, consisting of "value received " on both sides, the United States of America being the proposing party on the one part, and the individual foreigner, becoming a naturalized citizen in accordance with the existing laws, the accepting party of the other part. The United States blazon over the whole civilized world that their country is " an asylum for all, a home for the free." The terms of obtaining all the rights and privileges of native-born citizens (ex- cept that of being eligible to the office of President) are familiar to all moderately educated immigrants who arrive here from Europe. To
436
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
avail of this universally proclaimed offer on the part of the American people and Government, individuals and families break up their homes, and leave them with grief and regret, in which you, sir, happily for yourself, cannot in any measure sympathize, because you have not realized it personally. These individuals come with full faith in the sincerity and honesty of the offers held out. They per- form in good faith the part stipulated for them by the proposing party. In due time that proposing party fulfils in good faith the part it has promised. The contract is fairly entered into and fairly consummated by both. The State gains a new citizen, and the foreign individual becomes possessed legally and fairly of all the political rights of the native born, with the solitary exception named.
Thus, sir, is created the present condition of thousands of the inhabitants of the State, - thousands who, under the operation of your "wise statesmanship," you would disfranchise and degrade. I would be respectful with Your Excellency, but the mantle of the office which you hold is not sufficient to cover or protect you from the natural indignation, the loathful feeling, which must arise in the bosoms of the victims aimed at, against any man in your position, who would deliberately make such a recommendation to the Legisla- ture of Massachusetts. Why not recommend that the class you name shall have their property confiscated? They hold it by no better claim than they hold those rights you would take away; it is but the forcible deprivation of property, in either case, and it will require more sound logic than your address contains to show less moral guilt in the one operation than there would be in the other.
You say the " honor of the American flag should be confided only to those who are born on the soil, hallowed by its protection ; they alone can justly be required to vindicate its rights. One of my earliest official acts, then, will be, if sanctioned by the Executive Council, to disband all military companies composed of persons of foreign birth." And this is another of the ingredients suggested by your statesmanship, "wisely to control the mingling of races into one nationality." Your assumption that the honor of the American flag
437
APPENDICES.
should be confided only to native-born citizens is simply ridiculous. If not, the wisdom of the founders of the Republic and of the rulers of the nation, from Washington down to the present day, has been absolute folly when compared with the statesmanship and light of wisdom now shed upon the world through the Governor of Massa- chusetts.
There has been ample experience, sir, in the history of three- quarters of a century, in the practice of all the individual States, as well as of the United States, in testing this very question; and unless you can show me from this experience that Irishmen, as a class, have been unworthy of having confided to them the trust of sustaining the honor of the American flag, and show me that they have been traitors to that holy trust, when so relied upon by their adopted country, you must be expected to retract the assumption and the assertion made, or submit to be told, as you certainly will be, that you have uttered a base calumny, - a calumny on which you have built up an otherwise baseless fabric; and on this structure without foundation, tried to find an apology and excuse for an act which can find no precedent in those of the governor of any State in this wide Republic. The only assimilating character which comes near it is that of a ukase of the Autocrat of Russia. I claim not for Irishmen any extra loyalty, or the possession of any claims superior to others ; but I do claim for them an equality which entitles them to a common share in all the duties, labors, and pecuniary support of the Republic, and such share of its honors as individual merit may entitle them to - no more. When they have obtained the rights of citizenship legally, you have no right to single them out as a class to be proscribed - in whose hands it is unsafe to leave the arms and accoutrements of the State, and to whom the paltry compensation doled out by the State to the uniformed militia should not be paid. True, as a salve for this polit- ical laceration, you recommend that they be exempt from military duty. A great boon, certainly, when there is no military duty re- quired of any one, except that which is voluntary.
Your education, sir, has been of too liberal a character to per- mit the idea to be entertained for a moment that you wrote in
-
438
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
ignorance when the portion of your address last noticed was put upon paper. And supposing that the " Declaration of Rights," which the people of Massachusetts have seen fit to place in front of their Constitution, is familiar to you as the letters of the alphabet, and that you must have noticed especially the first, fourth, tenth, seventeenth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-eighth articles thereof, it is difficult to reconcile the doctrine you set forth and the practice you recommend with wise statesmanship and honesty of purpose. That document makes no distinction amongst the " people," whether they are native or foreign.
Though I thus consider the doctrine of your message as un- tenable, unwise, and very bad statesmanship, yet, sir, on the naked question of the propriety or impropriety of organizing and sustaining distinct military companies of persons of foreign birth, I have always been opposed to such organization; and as long ago as the time of the first petition being sent in for a charter for the Montgomery Guards, my humble opinion was asked for by some of the movers, and my advice was decided and unequivocal, that no such organiza- tion should be desired by the young men themselves in the first place, and that no such liberty should be granted by the com- mander-in-chief, if it was asked for. Other counsels, however, prevailed, and the mortifying results which had been foretold very soon overtook that unfortunate company. It is true it was dis- banded by Governor Everett, but not in that summary manner you recommend, nor for any of the reasons you give. He did it with great reluctance, and after various other means, all honorable, had been attempted unsuccessfully, in endeavoring to get over the exist- ing trouble, - a trouble which originated in the insubordination of some of the native companies, and not with the " Guards." No charge was brought by him or his Council against Irishmen indiscriminately, by asserting as an axiom that which is uncon- stitutional, as well as inexpedient and unwise, " that the honor of the American flag should be confided only to the hands of those who were native born." He did not manufacture an excuse by insulting and trying to degrade a class in the community who
439
APPENDICES.
yield to none in their attachment, devotion, and zealous support of the United States and its Constitution and laws. His course was one of honesty and of a republican character; I complain of that which you recommend, because it seems to me decidedly otherwise.
After the experience which the members of the Montgomery Guards had, it was hoped that no effort would again be made in this Commonwealth to organize and incorporate another militia company of persons of foreign birth; but time ran on, a younger generation came up, organization was asked for in the usual way by citizens respectable and responsible, and the nativity of every member on the lists presented was probably not thought a subject of necessary inquiry, and the organizations were regularly granted by the Gov- ernor and Council of the time being.
Under some of these grants, companies grew up of young men,. principally, though not all, of Irish birth. I regretted to see it, be- cause I knew it would not be so beneficial to themselves individually, as it would be to amalgamate and mix in the ranks with native-born. comrades of their own age and standing. This view, however, if ever considered at all by any of them, was overbalanced by some -- thing else, and conscious of good purposes only on their own part, their drills commenced, and in due time their public appearances. came round. Their first turnouts were favorably received and. noticed by their superior officers, regimental, brigade, and division .. Occasions came up of a most trying character, and musters ensued ; all of which brought every company and every member closely under the public gaze and scrutiny. These ordeals were all passed cred- itably and honorably to the Irish companies, as they have popularly been called, and the voice of commendation to all the troops, from sources of the highest authority, made no invidious distinction, nor uttered any apprehension or fear that the honor of the American flag would not be sustained in the hands of Irish as well as native-born soldiers. Public opinion was casting off gradually its old prejudices. The aggregate mind of the respective companies was proven to be, as it always had been, true and loyal to the laws of the land; and
440
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
friends of good order saw as much to hope from and as little to fear from the existing state of the Massachusetts militia, as ever had been entertained at any former period.
Under this state of things, Your Excellency was elected to office, and under this state of things you wrote your first address. Now, . sir, I would respectfully ask you, is that address wisely considered, and does it contain the best advice which could be placed before the Massachusetts Legislature, to lead them in aiding the Executive "wisely to control the mingling of races into one nationality," or is its remote and secret drift of a far different intention and tendency?
Since the writing of this article was commenced, the report of the committee of Council, and your order thereon as commander-in- chief, disbanding the militia companies therein named, has been pro- mulgated from headquarters. These documents very ingeniously greatly extend the sphere of proscription marked out in the address. Four brief words add thousands to its victims. They confirm in my mind a certain purpose on the part of the present State Government, which previously I could only suspect to be shadowed forth in Your Excellency's address. The words " or of foreign extraction," intro- duced as they are, read to me with a fearful import.
When the policy intended to be pursued by the Governor and Council towards the volunteer militia of the State comes to be a little further developed, I think many will turn back in their memory, and bring forward the general popular impression which the conduct of the Boston companies inspired, as individual companies, during the trying and perilous passage of the " Burns Riots," so called. The lovers of law and order set no bounds to their praise of, and gratitude to, all and every company called out on that occasion, with one single unfortunate exception, and that exception was not found amongst the Irish companies. On the night when that riot first broke out, and when Mr. Batchelder, the police officer, was killed, the Columbian Artillery, one of those companies now disbanded by Your Excellency, was the first called upon to assist the city authorities. They obeyed with full ranks promptly, did all that men and soldiers could do, and successfully prevented further bloodshed.
441
APPENDICES.
The Irish companies, on that memorable occasion, got quite as much popular praise for their uniform good conduct and steady, soldier-like bearing, as any of the old-established companies; and it is certain that the division and field officers did not, in their disposi- tion and arrangement of the troops, place those companies away from the points of danger or of honor. The fact is, they were invariably held to be exceedingly reliable through those perilous days. May not that constitute their crime now?
Having thus given my views concerning the tendencies and effects of some of the recommendations contained in the address, as applicable to naturalized citizens generally, and to a portion of the volunteer militia particularly, I will defer to another paper some thoughts entertained on the naturalization laws as they exist, as Your Excellency recommends in your address they should exist, and as the individual who has submitted the foregoing thinks they ought to be, basing his humble opinion and judgment on personal obser- vation and experience in Massachusetts of more than twenty-one years.
THE NINTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT.
Its history in brief is shown by the following list of engagements, in which, during its term of service, it participated : -
Hall's Hill, Va., Sept. 18, 1861. Vienna, Va., Feb. 14, 1862. Drainsville, Va., Feb. 20, 1862. Bethel, Va., March 30, 1862. Yorktown, Va., April 5, 1862. Siege of Yorktown, Va., April 5 to May 4, 1862 West Point, Va., May 7, 1862.
New Bridge, Va., May 24, 1862.
Hanover Court-house, Va., May 27, 1862 Mechanicsville, Va., June 26, 1862.
442
THE IRISH IN BOSTON.
Gaines's Mill, Va., June 27, 1862.
White Oak Swamp, Va., June 29, 1862. Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862. Manassas, Va., August 29, 30, 1862. Chantilly, Va., September 1, 1862. South Mountain, Md., September 14, 15, 16, 1862. Antietam, Md., September 17, 18, 1862. Sharpsburg, Md., September 19, 1862. Boettler's Mill, Md., September 20, 1862. Sheppardstown, Md., September 25, 1862.
Morrisville, Va., December 30, 1862. Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 14, 1862.
Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 4, 5, 1863. Ellis's Ford, June 1, 1863. Brandy Station, June 9, 1863. Aldie Gap, June 21, 1863.
Gettysburg, July 2, 3, 4, 1863.
Wapping Heights, July 23, 1863.
Culpepper, October 12, 13, 1863.
Bristow Station, October 14, 1863 ; April 15, 1864.
Rappahannock Station, August 20, 23, 1862 ; August 1, 2, 1863 ; November 7, 1863.
Locust Grove, November 26, 27, 28, 1863.
Mine Run, Va., November 29, 30, December 2, 1863.
Liberty, Va., January 13, 1864. Wilderness, May 5, 6, 7, 1864. Laurel Hill, May 8, 1864. Po River, May 10, 1864. Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864. North Anna, May 23, 1864. Shady Oak, May 27, 1864. Tolopotomy Swamp, May 30, 31, 1864. Bethesda Church, June 3, 1864. Cold Harbor, June 5, 1864.
443
APPENDICES.
CASUALTIES IN THE REGIMENT.
Killed or died.
Wounded. Total.
Officers .
18
26
44
Non-com. staff and band .
.
4
4
Company A
32
69
IOI
Company B
24
52
76
Company C
17
61
78
Company D
2I
60
81
Company E
25
55
80
Company F
2I
63
84
Company G
26
47
73
Company H
22
52
74
Company I
24
74
98
Company K
20
50
70
Total
.
0
.
250
613
863
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
1611
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