The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-30
Gen. ca.s and the Republic and the Irish Exile.


until the House adjourned.
Gen. Cass and the Republic the Irish ExIIcs.
The special organ takes occasion to assal Gen Cass
because, in his speech in the Senate Wednesday he
advocated the expression by government OF its CON-
passion Tor the sufengs OF the Irish prisoners of State
and OF IFS desire to make friendly and courteous in
ercesson in their behalf with the government of Eng.
land These sentiments of Gen Cass the Republic sees
fit TO sneer at, delivery of "a little universal philan
thropy." Gen. Cass says that while such men, whose
offences merely POLITICAL do indeed violate existing
laws" yet nothing more distinctly marks the improved
condition of public feeling than the abolition in all cons
utional governments of those atrocious and revolving
punshments inexoraby inflicted by power upon pa
rotism;" and ito feel and express commiseraon for
such victims is acknowledged to be consistent with
every principle OF the most rigid morality"
Expressions like these. which simply affirm generous
and patriotic motive for the acts of the Irish prisoners
and deny any moral tupitude in their conduct the Re-
public regards amounting to offensive assertion that
such political offences meritorous" and as there.
fore forming most ungracious introduction to an ap-
peal for mercy" With this introduction, which shows
clearly enough what view the Especial organ takes of
the liberal cause and lis champions oppressed Ireland
the Republic proceeds TO say:
This view Of the struck the whole Senate so orc.
bly, that General Shields Immediately that
the earliest day he world propose amendment
the objection of Mr. Butler, without which he
thought the resolution would certainly more harm than
good the Of the exiles The little
incident like this shows how much Of the sympathzing
spirit that prevails in certain quarters may be attributed TO
soicude for the subjects acted upon, and how much
the persons acting Here General Cass introducing
and speaking resolutions the passage of which would
hay xile
leading fact entirely escaped his observation Now that
Is pointed out TO him. he sees H. presume plainly
any else but 1t is certainly extraordinary, IL his
object the release of the exes, and huzza
that he should have been guilty of such blunder"
Now, far from there being the slightest difference be-
Gen Cass and Gen Shields as TO the friendly and
courteous form which should be given 10 any expression
OF sympathy in this by our government it appears
only from the whole purpor OF Gen. Casss speech
but from The most explicit and pointed declaration which
il contained, that he had anticipated and fully approved
the very modification OF the resolution which General
Shields proposes to make, and which Senator Butler APP
pears also to regard proper and expcdient After taking
the ground that the passage of the resolution would
eve the President from any embarrassment in open
ing proper and friendly diplomatic correspondence with
the British government on the subject, should such
appear erpedient, Gen Cass says;
national feeling may be obtained, and this difficulty and
Others that have been urged, avoided ard that u.s. By
so modifying the resolution that IL shall require formal
10 the B gopernmsnt but shall be merely
the expression OF the deep interest tho American people
feel in the fate Of these exlc and hope that they will
| speedily be restored TO the condition Of reemcn.
" This could require no formal diplomatic
poadeHc, though II would make part OF legislative his
tory ayng the feeling, Of The people, and would become
known the British government through their minister
through own in informal way, "a is often the case
and also by the public journals Of the day, AMI the moral
effect would be great more direct application.
beie that tho Brith eabnd rod hesiaie yield
TO irish Of this country exceptionally trprtssed.
And now what is the language of General Shields !
AS reported in the Repsbhc side by side with General
Cass Gen. Shields, rising after Cen Cass had made the
above suggestion, in full concurrence with IT, says:
He would be glad to have this subject considered at an
early day He ,roud then propose modification Of the reso
tuition a, TO apoid any wesfy for any diplomacy in the
matter, aud 10 prevent The possibiiity Of being
reppissd by the Br,fish government"
Right in the teeth of this record the Republic not only
reckessy msrepresents Gen. Cass as being in opposi
ton to Gen Shields as TO the form the resolution should
take but soops, in the paragraph above cited, to
the paluy insnuaon that Gen. Cass far speaking
in bad faith as to be indifferent whether the action OF our
government should do the exiles good or harm
Now we submit the special organ that all due par
san unfriendliness TO the suffering 0Bnen and bis
panions in exile may be shown both by the adminstra
ton and its organs without 10 calumny upon
the character of those distinguished democrats who may
be disposed to do what may be properly and prohiably
done, in the of government, to sympa,hze with
and alleviate their suerngs Should the President re-
ceive another special delegation the subject, he
has The option TO receive them, il The controlling portion
Of his party demand il, cody than they were
received before And the friends and countymen Of the
eriles in far they have been orewarned by past
experience Of whs tendency in this direction will doubt
less be prepared for any such treatment which they may
get Blu, certainly strainns the point for the Repub
lie to seize every opportunity 70 scott and ieer at those
Aemocratc statesmen who, in spirit Of humanity, and in
sympathy with the efforts Of patriots suffering in the