Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-07-22

From the Dublin Nation, June !.
The Murder Of Bmith O'Brien.
If there be tenderness in the women, and
rage in the men, left in Ireland, there is
news to-day to flood the land with tears to
tll the air with curses They are killing
Smith O'Brien by slow murder, in Maria
Island. We have been silent for two weeks
believing that his aristocratic and parlia.
mentary friends would interpose effectually
on his behalf, as they promised to do. But
they have paltered with his interest, running
it with faint, hesitating help, and quench.
; ing hope among those who were manlier
and more devoted. Meantime, voice OF
remonstrance is heard across the ocean, de-
manding, sis O'Brien to be murdered 2"
Cruelties the most terrible -cruelties which
it maddens to think Of, and shames to men
tion, are inflicted upon this defenceess man
by the executioner of British vengeance.
He is Gagged in the closest solitary con6ne-
ment. His food is scanty and loathsome.
He has no comfort, no attendance. He new
er sees the face, nor hears the voice of a
friend. He is denied the requisites of de-
cency. For months he has not been allow
ed change of raiment, or permitted to
change his dress. This will be questioned,
dispted, disbelieved No wonder; for it is
monstrous and incredible But we write
every syllable of it on the authority of one
as incapable of fasehood or exaggeration
as Of murder. 1t is the literal truth. In
solitude, in privation, in filth, in rags, lives
this Irish gentleman-this noble man. who
lost liberty, home, family all-for Ireland.
Nor is this the whole. In the foul den
where be is thrust, like chained reptile,
one generous girl, Of the age of ten years,
sought, with the instructive charity Of her
sex, to solace the captive's care, and tighten
his suffering, by kindly Offices; and forth
with, on pain of new priyation, O'Bfien
was forbidden ever TO speak to he. again.
He lost his innocent familiar, whose child
ish beauty and guilelessness, perhaps, spoke
to his fathers heart Of the orphaned dar-
| lings to weep for him at home. What null
titudes have melted into tears over this vert
incident, in the prison revelations of Silvio
Pellico! And here we have it re-enacted in
the life of a man from whom no creature
ever suffered a wrong.
These atrocities are inflicted by the Gov
ernor Of Maria Island ian official whose BRO
taity has earned for him, in the Colony the
title OF f"The Black Serpent" tyrant, whose
name is terror. and whose.presence is des-
pair to the hapless victims of his cruelty.
In this monsters power, tortured, outrag ged.
rnaddened, lives your countryman, the son
Of your kingliest house; the generous patri-
OF who fought for you and us all. l.
this law? Is this justice! Who is SO brutal
here as to defend such barbarity? What
partizan of British rule-what representa-
tive of British authority, dare stand up in
these Islands, ard vindicate this dark, cow.
ardly, aud he'lish persecution? ,-.
Does the law of God justify it? Does the
law of man ordain it? Will the people of
England sanction it? Will the people Of
Ireland endure it? 1t is crime horrible Q.
nough to provoke the indignation OF human.
ity. What wonder if the burning man.
hood of Ireland arose in arms against the
Government that thus sins against justice
and our race-that thus murders by slow
death dear brother-the stainless, heroic
champion Of our liberty. -
Men of Ireland and let God and men,
and time and eternity witness the solemnity
and truth of our invocation whether you
are ranged beneath the green flag of our
fathers, or under the crimson banner Of St.
George whether you desire Irish indepen-
dence or cherish union with England
your sacred duty is identical You must
interfere and save this mans reason. You
must interfere, and save this mans life /;
/. for, we tell you, both are threatened. We
say this advisedly. No human constancy
can long withstand the torturing cruelty
O. 'Brien suffers. No bodily strength can
triumph over the privations O'Brien en-
dures. If you will not be accomplices in
the murder which is designed if you wo'd
not have O. Brien's blood red in Judgment
on your souls w say to you,interfere. De-
nounce this iniquity. Terminate this dread
agony. -Expostulate with this cruel, ma
! lignant, assassin government. Save this
man from death, or worse than DEATH
These tidings have produced profound
impression in Dublin. They have excited
intense indignation. A committee is being
formed of men Of all parties; and, if we
have not mistaken Irish hearts, there will
be denuneiation that will ring through
the land like the. judgment peal-a remon.
STRANGE which it will not be prudent for my
government to despise, or safe for any gov
erument to disobey.
We hear, indeed, that the Queen Of Eng.
land comes to Ireland again this summer
comes for the ovation that monarchs love
!. from petted slaves. But we warn her and
her ministers, that as surely as she setl
foot on Irish soil, while O'Brien is thu.
tortured and degraded, so surely, whereve
she turns, shall his name be thundered ii
her earas malediction so surely shall hi
blood be foated in her face. This promis'
we will see fulfilled, sse sss
0.Mn, that nice young man, Mr.
, Saultung, is very fond Of kissing" "Min,
!, your seam, Julia; a;-who told you suci