The New York herald., 1851-07-01
THE CASE OF THE b. lSH DESERTER.



Pursuant to a call published in yesterdays Herald, q
meeting Of citizens of this city took place in the Park
yesterday morning. About quarter past ten o'clock
Edmond Blankman ESQ., took his stand in the vestibule
Of the City Hall there being at the time not than
twenty persons assembled but in a few minutes about
five or six hundred gathered around meeting wa,
then formed and Mr.. W. P. Power appointed President
Mr.. BLAsKMAS then mounted the stand. He prefaced
his speech by reading the proceedings the trial. as
ported in Saturdays Herald and also the editorial in
the Herald of yesterday morning relative to Walsh the
deserter Af.er reading at length, he spoke follows
Gentlemen and fellow citizens-My for reading
from the Herald was, that the people who here
sembled might know for what they have been called
together, and that they could well rely upon the able
report which appeared in that paper Saturday
giving full Of the investigation of the be-
fore the United States Commissioner, who is hold
ing 1t under advsement whether he shall surrender to
British tyranny and oppression born in Ireland
and who, through want and necessity and to sustain
life, had enlisted soldier under the British govern
ment; but after serving her Royal Majesty the
Queen a sufficient time to convince, if not to sa-
tisfy, him that the yoke of British oppression was
not to be borne by any one who possessed skin
fair and clean the greatest mobiles Of the land
the four winds Of heaven whispered to his mind
that not far distant there was land and that land
the home of the brave and the fee-the asylum Of
victims Of tyranny from all quarters of the Globe And
shall We, republican nation, rvet the English fetters
and chains still closer and closer around this brave
nobleman Of nature who comes here amongst to
seek that asylum and protection which the British go
vernment had denied him which. II we did, would
be act for the British ministry to gloat over.
(Great applause, and cries of Mono This gentle
men, is only feeler put out by the British go
vernment through their minister, Sir Henry Bulwer,
whom l consider the vilest mnion that the British
government % could have sent here to represent
tryactng he does under the instructions Of his go
vernmenthas far exposed their hdeous deformity,
that they may be oathed and abhorred by the peo
pie of this great republic 1t long since Sir
Henry Bulwer acting the British Minister went to
Of cur neghborng Southern States for the purpose Of
tamperng with the open dhunionsts of the South but
he, on his arrival finding himself an unwecome guest,
came to the North, even TO city of New York,
and at public dinner given at the Asttr House-where
he was an invited guest to partake Of kind hospita
ty extended to him by citizenshe there branded
the people OF ireland as race OF Cets and barbarans
But he found that he could not feed the editors of
newspapers with English plum pudding and roast beef;
and The speech which he there made shown up the
next day in its true character and light through the
columns Of the Nep York Herald in such manner 5
taught the British ministry, in my opinion salutary
Lesson, that only the American people themselves,
acting in their individual capacity would such
gross insult but the able and distinguished editor
Of that newspaper came boldly forth and devoted the
columns Of his journal which in truth, the cham
pon of the oppressed and nsulted that occasion
il has proved to be the present He the editor of the
Hpaid) IL is whom have to thank that this foul
and dsmning tranaction Of attempt by the agents
Of the British government to carry away aud kdnap
one who had shaken of the tyranny of English
oppression, for the purpose OF seeking a home
in the land Of the brave and of the freen
has been made public. This man, Walsh is charged,
and falsely too, with the crime of robbery; aud,
gentlemen who his accusers! Number one of his
find to be drunken corporal who. through
the fear Of the English lash swears to anything that
may suit ccounodate his principles aiders and
abettors in this most vile. deep and damnable cousp
racy the part Of the British government, and her
man back to Engish thraldom, the pretence Of
having him tried for stealing penknife and two old
keys, Of the value Of sixpence being only such as
drunken corporal in the British army can possess.
DO you believe fellow citizens that the British govern
ment would go to tho expense Of at least thousand
dollars besides defrayng the expense Of drunken cor
poral and his superior officer from st John New Bruins
wick the city Of New York for the purpose Of appre
bending such trivial offender, Why, gentlemen only
wonder that they did not charge him with having pur-
oiped the Queens breeche when he made his escape out
Of the barracks Of thraldom Great applause and cries
fuge resort to for the purpose Of carrying this
man back to the dungeons Of British oppression,
grave Then 1t will be for poor Walsh the soldier,
to say Forever farewell the shrl trump, the spirit
stirring drum, the ear piercing fife, the royal BAN
ner and all the quality pride pomp and circumstance OF
glorious war; There will be more left for him
the closing If the marble jaws Of the tomb But gentle
men, believe me- the British government with all
the shrewdness, cunning, and strength the British
lion can boast Of, cannot far impose upon the
duty Of the jurors Of the State OF New York 70 in
dIce them 10 surrender this under the Ashburton
treaty for the offence which they prefer against him.
but oi which he never guilty Our government will
corporal the fear Of the lash TO bolster up such
rotten and tyrannica persec uton which they seek
carry on against unofendipg citizen in a repub
hcsn land. where the rich and poor are put upon
equal footing in the eye of the law. Gentlemen such
a charge must be made out clear and distinct before
the commissioner will consent to send him back
TO British oppression and the stands, the
prisoner virtues wi plead like angels trumpettonguei,
against the deep dannation OF his taking oil Aud shall
American people VINO should bar the door
against the oppresSr stand cody by and not only
injustice done hut Insult after insult heaped upon
heads! (Cries OF no, MOI
(The young aud eloquent orator Mr. Blaakman after
going at fun length into the law regulating the treaty
under which this offence Is charged, concluded an able
speech amid the most enthusiastic applause
Mr. JoH~ Lrpyssp next took the stand lie spoke for
about five minutes but during the greater part Of the
time he continued speaking, the cheering aud excite,
ment 20 great that though lie spoke pretty loud,
II impossible TO follow him accurately. But the fol-
loving we heard him distinctly say
Gentlemen-I will not occupy your attention many
minutes have only TO say that on reading the Herah
Of this morning my feelings worked TO the highest
piteh Of Indignation against government who could
dare 70 drag away from this land man who has sought
refuge amongst from the drest tyranny Yes read
the Had Of this morning and taking the account there
in stated TO be true evidence that every individual
in New York be he native adopted citizen should
fly to rescue the prisoner stephen Walsh. from the
clutches q oppression IL Is on the evidence Of the
Ikrod ! came. and u IL that evidence that I
call upon you gentlemen, TO say whether you will
calmly allow the ninions of an oppressive govern-
ncnt TO snatch from your midst who has
Teen driven by despotism 20 seek shelter among
YOU loud cheering ana cries Of NO we will not -
prsteIce that he stole jack knife aud tso od keys,
should get the prisoner back No gentle men. believe
the Representation that be stole knfc. il but lame
plea TO place this under the Law regulatsd by Ash
burton. John Bull il not 90 particular about small
things o. N trouble and expense u sending here
from New Brunswick for that stole the value OF
shilling No gentlemen the true secret h., that Walsh
j. decrt,r iron the yoke f tyranny and his oppres-
sors have ad pied this subterfuge 10 place him
again under the CALLING lash Mr. Lcdyard concluded
By saying that he would the city U Nes York
In aiss than that the fugitive prisoner should be
back New brunswick, aud that President FILLMORE and
hs cabinet mip We, jump into the Gulf stream as TO
teliy,r him up 10 the Britih agents.
Mr. L,ScH next followed In speech Of some length,
calling upon the meeting adopt Immediate measures 70
procure counsel for the prisoner His observations we're
similar 20 tbose tf the preceding speakers.
MIR MAYNAnD aud three four others also spoke, all
dsnurcatory Of tie attempt made TO take the fugitive
Nafh back TO the Brithh army.
Mr. srao>c, who was District Attorney under Martin
Van Buren, adm Distaton fer the Territory OF Wiscon-
sin the table lie said-'ientis men al
though stranger among you coming from the lar west,
aud havitg read in thi, mornings Igd the call VI thls
ft.ilv the