The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-06
AN APPEAL FOR MERCY.
The nterposition Of the Federal Government
hyoked for Irish Prisoners

hvoked for Irish Prisoners.
An immense meeting of native and natural
lied Irish citizens was held in Boston a few
days since for the purpose of invoking the in
tercessiOn of our Government with Great Brit
ain in behalf of Smith OBren and his associ
ates confined in Australia as political prison
ers Their offence was, such acts of resistance
to the Government of Great Britain as, accord
ing to the principles lately assumed in Judge
Kane's opinion--an opinion warmly approved
by the Washington UniOn-amounted to Trea-
son. For this offence they were sent 10 Aus
tralia, where they have been for the last two
years
The meeting at Boston agreed upon me-
mortal to President Fillmore asking him to use
his good Offices with the British Government
for their pardon and release Governor Bout
well, who presided, on taking the chair, deliv-
cred short speech, of which the following is
an extract:
1T is not necessary to arraign tho conduct of
Great Britain; but it is proper to say that she
has confined in Australia as prisoners, Irish
patriots, guilty of no crime but that of seeking
for their native country better institutions and
an improved form of Government"
But the purpose of this meeting is to solicit
the good offices of our own Government with
that of Great Britain in behalf of the Irish
prisoners in Australia. We ask the release of
these men because they have suffered enough
whatever view may be taken of their offence !;
we ask it because Great Britain can grant the
request with entire safety to her own interests
and power; we ask it because she has herself
participated in a similar movement in behalf of
Kossuth and the Hungarian patriots confined in
Turkey; we might ask it in behalf of England
herself who will need the sympathies and ser.
vices of the Irish people when she arrays her
power against that of Russia for the protection
and liberties Of Western Europe; and, finally.
we may ask it in the name of the American
people, who desire to receive with equal hospl-
tally the exiled patriots of Ireland and of Hun.
gary
These remarks are just and pertinent. The
grounds on which we should interfere in behalf
of the prisoners are fairly stated We are glad
to see that Mr.. Sumner, the new Senator from
Massachusetts, wrote letter 70 the meeting
sustaining in eloquent terms its object Every
where the movement seems to be cordially
sanctioned Our neghbors of the Washington
Union are emphatic in their appreciation of it
remarking-
"Such a movement in this country reflects
high credit upon the humane and generous
eaali in md y ot
it will receive from the Government of the
United States the favorable reception and iu-
dicious consideration which it so well deserves"
We agree with Mr. Sumner, that the Glenn
ency thusinvoked from powerful Government
towards those whom it classes as political Of
tenders is in harmony with the spirit of the
age, and with the lessons of Christianity 1t is
grace which it can never be otherwise than
honorable to ask and honorable to grant:
IT'S mightiest in the mightiost 1t becomes
The throned monarch better than his CROWN
Should Mr.. Fillmore respond to the memo
rial by bringing the subject to the notice of the
British Government We doubt not that the an.
swcr would be courteous if not satisfactory.
But this movement suggests another matter
OF kindred interest. Let us suppose that Lord
Palmerston, instructed by the Queen, moved to
compassion by the representations of our Gov.
ernment should return il a communication, an.
nouncing that its interceSsion had prevailed
and orders had been despatched for the release
of the Irish prisoners. lie begs leave however
TO bring to the notice of the President case
which has enlisted profound sympathy in a
large portion of her Majesty's subjects and not
dissimlar in its general features to that which
prompted the appeal of the American Govern
ment for mercy lie refers to the Imprisonment
of Captains Drayton and Sayres for the offence
of attempting to extricate from bondage some
seventy human beings Their object was u
humane one, as they proposed to secure no adj
vantage TO themselves by the act Besides
their attempt was bafied, and all the slaves
were brought back and restored to their mas
ters so that no loss was sustained by any one.
For this act, which is made an offence only by
the local law, though regarded as worthy of
signal honor in countries where Slavery does
not eAlsS they have suffered already close con-
hnement Tor the last three years--a longer time
than that of the Irish prisoners whom her
Majestys Government has released at our in
stance tie invokes our clomcncy in thor be-
half lie will not use the language of the dis
tinguished Governor Of Massachusetts, in
similar case, and say that they have suffered
enough, whatever views may be taken of the
character Of their offence that our Govern.
ment can grant their release with entire safety