War on the Canal - agreement among the Irish, 1834

AGREEMENT.

Whereas great commotions and divers riotous acts have resulted from certain misunderstandings, and alleged grievances, mutually urged -by two parties of labourers and mechanics engaged on the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and natives of Ireland; the one commonly known as the Longford men, the other as the Corkonians and whereas it has been found that these riotous acts are calculated to disturb the public peace, without being in the least beneficial to the parties opposed to each other, but on the contrary is productive of great injury and distress to the workmen and their families.

Therefore, we the undersigned, representatives of each party, have agreed, and do pledge ourselves to support and carry into effect the following terms of agreement:—

We agree for ourselves, that we will not, either individually or collectively, interrupt or suffer to be interrupted in our presence, any person engaged on the line of the Canal, for or on account of any local difference, or national prejudice and that we will use our influence to destroy all these matters of difference growing out of this distinction of parties, known as Corkonians and Longfords; and we further agree and pledge ourselves in the most solemn manner, to inform on and bring to justice any person, or persons, who may break the pledge contained in this agreement, either by interrupting any person passing along or near the line of Canal, or by secretly counselling, or assisting any person, or persons, who may endeavour to excite riotous conduct among the above parties; and we further bind ourselves to the State of Maryland, each in the sum of twenty dollars —to keep the peace towards each other, as well as towards the citizens of the State. In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names, at Williamsport, this twenty-seventh day of January, eighteen hundred and thirty-four.

Timothy Kelley, Michael Tracy, William O' Brien, Thomas Mckey, Michael Collins, James Riley, John Bernes, Daniel Murry, Thomas Bennett, Murty Dempsey, Michael Driscoll, James Carroll, Jeremiah Donevan, Thos. Cunningham, John Namack, Bathu. S. McMade, Garret Donahue, James Clarke, Patrick McDonald, Michael Kain, James Slaman, Pat Purcell, John O'Brien, William Moloney, William Brown, Thomas Hill, Peter Conner

Signed before us two Justices of the Peace in and for Washington County and State of Maryland, this 27th day of January, 1834
CHARLES HESLETINE, WILLIAM BOULLT. —