The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-23 00:00:00

THE RIGHTS OF FENIANISM.

HALPIN'S address to the Court previous to the
sentence of fifteen years' penal servitude being
passed is little calculated to effect the end he
desires. His avowed object was to create a feeling,
of indignation and of sympathy, not only in Ire-
land, but chiefly in America. It is not by gross in-
solence, by vague threats, by stigmatising others
with most opprobrious epithets, and by making
statements which all know to be wholly untrue,
that such an object is best attained. Mr.
PRICE, the Governor of Kihnainhatn, was abused
in the coarsest language. An observation was
made upon the,Prince of WALES so gross that the
Court had ,to interfere ; this Government and
country, and all connected with it, were roundly
abused ; and Mr. HALPIN, after indulging in his
vituperative speech, subsided into the silence of a
convict's cell. Such a course will find few admirers
beyond the circles of low rowdies, either here or in
America. The first attribute of misfortune is
dignity if the sufferer intends to elevate himself
above- the common herd. There are always those
who respect an enterprise boldly undertaken and
courageously attempted, whatever be its object
or end, if that end be endured with unflinch-
ing bravery. But the most noble cause and
the utmost daring are marred when the per-
formers descend to the level of an irritated
Billinsgate fishwoman. An Irish-American may
honestly believe that his native land is misgo-
verned. He may consider it a duty to release his
countrymen from their thraldom. Acting on these
feelings, he may proceed to Ireland, and there en-
deavour to excite the inhabitants to rebellion.
Failing in his enterprise and captured by the enemy,
if he intends still to act a man's part, he should be
prepared, without descending to a despicable
venom, to speak, when the opportunity offers, with
truth, with dignity, and with self-respect. It is
obvious to the American people that the inhabi-
tants of the United States are either American citi-
zens or foreigners residing in America. If American
citizens, they have no business to organise them-
selves into an association to wage war against a
friendly Power, in the interest of a foreign country,
for objects involving nothing whatever Ameri-
can, and as citizens of the United States engaged in
such an enterprise, they must take the chance in
defeat of being dealt with by the laws they violate.
What these laws are they can easily ascertain before
they commence the undertaking. If being natu-
ralised citizens, they return to the land of their
birth, the laws of their native country may still in-
clude them as among its citizens. If, being by
birth Americans, they proceed to the foreign land
with the avowed object of there inciting a section
of the people to war, they do so at their own risk,
and what the risk is they run on capture can, as we
before observed, be readily ascertained. * This
position as Irishmen striking for their native coun-
try we can understand ; but not their position as
Americans striking for Ireland and claiming the
countenance and support of the United States for
theories and designs hitting at the root of all
government. If they be citizens of that coun-
try when convicted of attempting to levy war
in Ireland, they have not only violated the laws
of Great Britain, but also of their own land.
As WARREN put it, an American citizen has
the legal right to raise a rebellion in Ireland,
and, if punished by Great Britain, it would be the
duty of the United States to obtain redress. It is
difficultto imagine sane men advancing a more absurd
proposition. Their defence openly avowed the object
of inciting the two nations to war. What a grand
idea! America proceeding to redress Mr. HALPIN'S
injuries by waging war on Great Britain 1 It would
indeed be a prodigious effect produced by an insig-
nificant cause ; the world in a blaze to redress a
convict's wrongs, fairly condemned by laws alike in
force in both countries ! America is burdened with a
class of men among her citizens, but not of them who
have foreign ideas, foreign objects, and foreign
inspirations. In carrying out their foreign projects
they have th.l folly to anticipate not only the sym-
pathy, but the aid of the people whose laws they
violate, and whose nationality they outrage, whilst'
claiming rights which militate against the existence
of all societies. That they are supported by their own
class in America no one denies ; but that a native of
Ohio, of Tennessee, of California or Louisiana, cares
two straws about Mr. HALPIN and his grievances,
about Ireland and her wrongs, further than ordinary
men sympathise with others they believe to be
oppressed, we deny. There is sufficient national
jealousy between the countries to make those who
dislike England rejoice in her difficulties, in the
same way that the English who disliked America
rejoiced to see her involved in the difficulties which
caused the late war They consider it a fit and
appropriate punishment ; and we would, too, if we
did not believe the masses in England held on this
subject different views from those generally ex-
pressed in the press. If West India negroes
organised a party to stir up their African brethren
in the Southern States tea servile war, and swaggered
through the towns of New Orleans, Savannah, and
Charleston, armed with revolvers and bearing com-
missions to head the insurgent bands—if they shot
Mown United States troops and police, and urged the
slavery and oppression of centuries as an excuse,
Brother JONATHAN would know very well how to
deal with these men when captured, and SAJIBO would
plead in vain British citizenship in an United States
court, deny the jurisdiction of that court, vilify the
President, the Government, the country, and
conclude his peroration by declaring that the
British sword would leap from its scabbard to
avenge his wrongs, giving it as his opinion that
the lease of the Government as not worth 351

cents. The Northern States hold towards the
Southern some points resembling England's position
towards Ireland. A great wrong was endured for
a long period by the negroes in the one, and the
Celts in the other. In both that wrong has been
redressed, but it is found easier to redress an injury
than to obliterate the remembrance. The Northern
States countenanced slavery in the South, benefiting
largely by the institution, then nobly retrieved the
wrong. The forefathers of the existing generation
of Englishmen, ruled Ireland by confiscation, by
the gallows, 14 penal laws so atrocious as to make
the blood boil with indignation ; but the present gene-
ration never participated in the crime, and all un-
prejudiced men allow that Ireland is, and has
for many years, been fairly and liberally governed.
To attack the United States now to redeem the
negro from slavery would be absurd, but scarcely
more so than to attack England to obliterate the
woes of Ireland.—Anglo-Awrican Times.

Mscellaneous News•
(From the Anglo-American Times.)

General J. W. Phelps, of Vermont, has in his
possession the oldest book published in America. It is a
dictionary of •the Aztec language, printed in the city of
Mexico in 1571.

Madame Aliranaon, widow of the Mexican Gene-
ral who was shot with the Emperor Maximilian at Quere-
taro, has arrived with her children in France, where they
intend to reside.

General Neal Dow sails this morning for the
United States.

Captain Hozier sails from Portsmouth on the
26th inst. with the rest of the staff to take part in the
Abyssinian expedition. The author of the "Seven Weeks'
War" will, we presume, give us the story of our struggle
with King Theodore.

Congressman Hubbard, of Connecticut, has pur-
chased Senator Sumner's house in Washington.
Governor English has become the ptirchaser of
the residence of the late Loverett Candee, of Newhaven,
which was knocked down to him at auction for $23,500.

G. Gould, a Democrat, has been elected repre-
sentative for the Windham and Scarboro district, Maine,
to fill a death vacancy.
Mrs. Jefferson Davis and her mother were sere-
naded at the Bardwell House, Rutland, Vermont, on the
6th inst.

Mrs. Sarah Davis, of Fairfax, Maine, has been
acquitted of the murder of her step-daughter.

A strong effort is being made to procure the
pardon of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, one of the Lincoln
assassination conspirators for the exemplary service per-
formed by him at Dry Tortugas during the late ravages of
the yellow fever.
The two sons of Garibaldi—Menotti and Riccntti
—have received permission, hitherto refused, to see their
father in his prison at Varignano.

It appears that the manitestu announced to the
world as that of Thaddeus Stevens was exclusively re-
ported for Colonel Forney's papers. It was drawn up by
Dr. Pfeiffer, the attending physician of the Radical leader.
It is supposed to be got up for sensation, but has little of
Mr. Stevens's matter, and less of his style.
The Rev. J. Morris, late clerk of the Connecticut
Senate, has received an appointment as assistant-clerk of
the United States Senate.

The selectmen of Goshen offer $5OO reward for
the conviction of the incendiary who set fire to Major
Hawkes' hotel in that place, recently destroyed, and the
citizens are contributing liberally for Major Ilawkes. The
post-office, which was kept in the house, was burned with
nearly all its papers, but little else of the contents of the
building. In the barn nearly 25 tons of hay, thtee horses,
and other valuable stock were burned.

Ann Dickenson is lecturing on the text " Women
and Idiots ;" the two being classod together and being
denied the suffrage.

Mr. Thaddeus Stevens proceeds to Washington
from Lancaster in a special car, to give him greater ease
in his present enfeebled state.
Mr. Cauchon was chosen Speaker of the Senate
of the Canadian Parliament at Ottawa on Wednesday, the
Gth instant, and the Hon. James Cockburn Speaker oft he
House.

Colonel John W. Forney has pronounced in
both his journals for Grant as President. At great length
he proceeds to show that the General is a Republican,
and will accept the Republican nomination, referring to
ho speeches of the Hon. E. B. W.shburne and Colonel
Rawlings as his friends, indicating his sentiments.

Admiral Farragut has written in strong terms to
his Government of the great kindness and distinction
shown to him in England. His despatch was dated from
Sheerness, and contains some remarks on the gunnery
experiments he witnessed at Shoeburyness. He considers
that the American 15-inch gun has greater crushing power
than the English 9-inch, though the latter may accomplish
greater penetration.

- -
It is said that Yakus-Khan, Governor of Herat,
has acknowledged the sovereignty of Russia.

Martin, who shot the late Mr. Westmoreland,
English Consul at Brunswick, Georgia, on the conclusion
of the marriage ceremony in which the murdered man had
been successful against him, was brought before the
Superior Court of the district. As it was found impos-
sible to get a jury, the Court adjourned, and "Martin was
admitted to bail in a sum of $20,000.

Lieut. Butler, of the British army, has written
to the London Times from Canada to correct what he
imagines to be an erroneous impression. Ho had been
received everywhere while travelling in the Far West
with the greatest courtesy and hospitality by all olasses of
American citizens, but more especially by officers of the
United States Army. If the death of Captain Speer was
not the result of an accident, it was the act of Irish Fenians,
and was condemned as strongly by Americans as by his
own countrymen.

General Sheridan addressed the following words
to the students of Dartmouth College, who assembled to
see him at White River Junction :—" Gentlemen—l am
very glad to see you all. Ido not know that I have ever seen
such fine material for cavalry soldiers as I have seen here
to-day. (Laughter.) If wo ever have another war lam going
to stick my little flag up hero, and ask you to come on."
(Renewed laughter and cheers.) An honest labourer stepping
up to shake hands with him when he stopped at Salisbury
said—J.l would like to, if you will shake hands with a
teamster." " I used to drive oxen myself once," replied
little Phil. At Augusta, Governor Chamberlain welcomed
him, and the General replied to his speech in the follow-
ing words :—" Governor,—l am pleased and honoured by
your reception more than I can find language to express.
For the flattering terms in which you have been pleased
to extend your welcome, I must say in return that if I did
anything toward restoring peace to this • entry it was
because 1 had generals such as you and ethers here with
you, and such men as these. It is gratifying to be greeted
by the officers and men who shared with me the burdens
as well as the honours of the service. I can only return
you my thanks for yourself, your State, and the people of
this city who do me this great honour." _ _

The surviving officers of the 12th Regiment held
a reunion at New Haven, Connecticut, on Monday, Oct.
28, and elected Lieut.-Col. George H. Lewis, of Middletown,
president, and Capt. James E. Smith, of Hartford, secre-
tary, for the ensuing year, and appointed a committee of
arrangements for a general regimental reunion at Hart-
ford, October 10, 1868, the anniversary of Cedar Creek,
the last battle of the regiment.
Mr. Daniel Fiske was to leave for Europe, to
select a library for the New Cornell University of New
York, in whose interest he has been enlisted. He was an
assistant librarian of the Astor Library, New York, and
lately an associate editor of the Hartford Courant.
The Vermont Board of Education has been ap-
pointed by Governor Page and confirmed by the Senate,
as follows :—Merritt Clark of Poultney, D. D. Gorham of
Montpelier, Jonathan Ross of St. Johnsbury, Edward
Conant of Randolph, Pliny H. White of Coventry, and A.
J. Sanborn of Moorisville. Mr. White was confirmed by
only one of a majority.
M. H. Beach, of the New York Sun, one of the
excursionists in the Quaker City, has paid $1,500 for the
passage home of 40 of the misled Jaffa colonists. They
left Egypt on their way to Liverpool, October 15.
Judge Tapley, of the Supreme Court, divorced
a couple as illegally married—the ono being white and the
other a mulatto—in obedience to Maine law.

Senator Wilson has raised the anger of the
phlegmatic Germans by his allusion in his late lecture at
Worcester to them.

Henry Coulter, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
and John 11‘Kiel, of Cold Spring, New York, sculled a
great five-mile match on the 30th October, when Coulter
won in 44 min. 51 sec.

Charles Sumner, on the retirement of Mr. Wade,
will be the last of the original anti-slavery men left in the
Senate. Messrs. Seward and Chase, of the pioneer body,
retired in 1861, and Mr. Hale in 1865.
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Times persists in his statement that the President had de-
cided on the following changes in the Cabinet after the
October elections. Horatio Seymour to be Secretary of
State, vice Seward; General Stoedman, Secretary of War,
vice Grant, temporarily appointed ; and General F. P.
Blair, jun., Postmaster-General, vice Randall. But the
President appears to have changed his mind, informing
his Democratic allies that such changes might have an
unfavourable effect on the November elections. This
appears to have given offence to the Democrats.
The Manufacturers' Bank loses $lO,OOO and the
Commercial Insurance Company $5,000 by the forgeries
of the Chicago provision dealer, D. D. Michaels, who has
absconded.

__________
A letter is published purporting to be from Mrs.
Lincoln to the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Mrs. Lincoln

recalls to the gentleman's recollection that no visitor wag
more frequent at the White House, was more hospitably
welcomed, or was a recipient of more official favours. "
see," she says, "by this morning's papers that you raised
$l,BOO from the congregation of Plymouth Church last
Sunday morning for the relief of a coloured WOlllllll
somewhere down in Georgia. Would it be too much to
ask you on next Saturday to put in a like claim on that
congregation for at least an equal contribution for the
relief of the widow of a President of the United
States? Tilton, lam told, is a member of that congrega-
tion. He is well off, and lam sure he would give hand-
somely. So is Mr. Chittenden, who was once a candi-
date fur Republican Congressman. Another thought has
struck me, and that is, that it might be a good thing to
advertise that you would give half the proceeds of your
income from 'Norwood' to the Lincoln rel3f fund, pro-
vided Thurlow Weed, or some other mean white, would
contribute an equal sum." This hoax —as it clearly must
be—is sufficiently piquant to be worthy of a place in the
Echoes from the C'lu'is ; and we reconvn,nd the writer to
the editor's attention.

Judge Aldrich, of the Barnwell District Court
of South Carolina, has been removed by General Canby
for refusing to obey his order fur placing coloured men on
juries.

The trial of Manzi, the brigand chief, who cap-
tured Mr. Moons, will shortly take place at Salerno. The
indictment is a charge of brigandage, no accusation of
murder being brought against him.

Mr. Ashley of Impeachment and Conspiracy
fame has arrived at Washington, downcast with the know-
ledge that Impeachment is dead—the last spark stamped
out by the New York elections.

The Evansville Journal denies, on the authority
of Speaker Colfax, that he wants to be Governer of In-
diana.

Cuthbert Bullitt Mused the place offered by
General Mower vacant by the removal of General Harvey
T. Hayes from the office of Sheriff of Orleans, parish of
Louisiana.

General Santa Anna, it is reported, has arrived
at Ilavannah with his wife. It is said that the members
of the court martial who passed the sentence of exile have
been imprisoned for not decreeing death.
The report is revived that Horatio Seymour, of
New York, is to bo Secretary of State, General Steedman
Secretary of War, Frank P. Blair, jun., of Missouri, Post-
master-General, and a moderate Republican, Secretary of
the Treasury.
Colonel R. B. Bullock was elected on the 6th of
November President of the Macon and Augusta Railroad,
et a meeting of the stockholders held at Augusta, Georgia.
Sir Roderick Murchison has received a letter from
Dr. Kirk at Zanzibar, dated 28th September, stating that
he had seen a native trader from the western side of Lake
Tanganyika, who had seen a white man travelling in that
very remote region. That man, Sir Roderick seems to
consider, was Dr. Livingstone. The letter, which is a
long one, will be read on Monday at the meeting of the
Royal Geographical Society.

Ex-Mayor George W. Jackman, jun., of Nevr-
buryport, declined the Democrat Senatorial nomination,
to strengthen the ticket of C. C. Dame, Grand-Master of
Massachusetts Masons, representing P.L.L.'s Licensed
Republicans. Richard Plumer, the regular Republican
candidate, will have a sharp contest.

Governor Hunt, of Colorado, has accepted an
invitation from White Cloud, Chief of the Northern Sioux,
to meet him and make terms for peace. White Cloud
professes contempt for the Government Commissioners,
but offers to conclude liberal terms with ono who under-
stands Indians like Governor Hunt, who has undertaken
the negotiation, the basis of which, it is believed, Will he
the removal of the tribe to the extreme north, giving 111)
all claim to the plains.
The Mexican Minister, Romero, has departed for
his country, accompanied by General H. Sturm, military
agent of the Mexican Government, General Babcock of
Grant's Staff, and others, but General Banks and General
Morton of Indiana did not go.
There are at present only three Irishmen in the
Pontifical service —Lieutenant Darcy, Lieutenant Dela"
hoyde, and Dr. O'Flynn, of the Zouaves ; while there are
upwards of twenty Englishmen in the Papal army.
Edward Payson Weston started on the 29th Oct.
to walk from Portland to Chicago. The distance is 1,231
miles, which are to be traversed in 26 walking days, which
excludes Sundays, when he is allowed to rest. He is to
keep to the post roads, passing through Salem, Boston,
Hartford, Schenectady, Buffalo, and Cleveland. The watch
is for 20,000 dollars, and it is stipulated that if he makes
the distance in the appointed time, but fails to make 100
miles inside of 24 hours for which he is to be allowed five
trials, he gets but two-fifths of the stake.