Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-21

Indeed thew are often noble men, as those
cages attention, and who deserve the kind interest Of the
world both from their and their character and also
the position high but now low TO which they have
fallen in consequence Of an effort made not for them
slightest danger itthat such national application will
ever be made any but in like this which as far
from moral guilt innocence Is from crime Let fear
that this example be used abused for the purpose
intermeddng with the ordinary criminal proceedings Of
other Powers. l t@t @
And again he says:
misconsrucon of the term to apply TO like this
is not interference at all; il is intercession
Now in the first place, wish to say that this is inter
ference Intercession" is Of the modes Of inter-
ference II is not offensive mode Of interference but
it is mode Of interference. He who undertakes to in
tercede between the judge and the offender between the
sovereign and his convicted subject undoubtedly inter
feres And it that the honorable Senator is
entirely mistaken in supposng that ntercession is not in
reference 1t is that oil interference is not nterces-
son because may interfere by force by threats, by
violence, by blows but it is less true that every IN
tercession is interference
Then am not exactly prepared to admit the fundamen-
tai and original proposition from which the remarks OF my
honorable friend start and which is that political Offences
though they violate existing laws are not offences accom-
panied by any moral guilt cannot conceive OF such
thngas political offence which, violating municipal laws,
is not accompanied by moral turptude and guilt do
not think that such is regularly or generally the case or
that it can be affirmed proposition, either universal
with but few exceptions But even assume 1t to be
Then the honorable Senator says forward not to
interfere, lntercede these
upon the ground that they persons free from moral
guilt that they noble patriots who have been
demned to grieyous mprisonment-orignaly condemned
to forfeiture of for the discharge of high act Of pa
rioc duty to their country with the noblest motives in
fuencng them in what they have done and they are not
to be considered affected with any species Of moral
blame Well now, sir be It SO; assume that II Is 50 IN
fact and that we believe it be soboh How this
transaction viewed by the British Government? That
Government prosecuted these traitors, for at
tempt overtun the existing Government Of the United
n~k aud fhau
convicted for this offence they received sentence of
DEATH and that afterwards committed to
patriation exile to Van Diemans Land.
Now sir it seems me- in the first place, that the
English Government will scarcely think when they have
prosecuted these for offence Of this kind pro-
nounced by their laws to be criminal offence and after
conviction and judgment have not thought proper par
don the criminals but have changed that sentence Of death
for Punishment from the realmthey will not consider
that they honorable and noble men, who have been
influenced by high and patriotic motives in what they
have done. They look upon them in far different light
That being the CASE Mr. President does it not follow
that have to fear if set this example, that
we shall have it followed with multitude of unpleasant
and disagreeabe ntererences with the administration Of
our own laws Z?
1 come, Mr.. President, from part of the country
which look upon especially conservative We in
the habit great deawhen the breezes Of public senti-
ment have blown until they have agtated the community
of the State and almost ncapacitated them to judge of
what right and prudent in consequence Of the prox
unity of certain portion Of the United States, and the
motives considerations, and influences that apt to
stir them to great degree of excitementto consider
little, being ourselves somewhat removed from these i'm
mediate causes which are 50 apt to mslead the Judgment
to look little ahead and inquire whether what we do
may not be done in very unpleasant in respect
to us.
Now, Mr. President, let suppose for that
some of the actors in the Chrstana riots had been found
guilty of high treason They indicted for high
son. High treason is political offence, know in this
country but not treason like that which, from time to
tme has been established by the statutes in England
u war he
United States giving aid and comfort to their enemies
Now, sir suppose that the transaction in which any of
these parties engaged had been declared be
of levyng against the United States That being
act adopted in consequence of concert to prevent
tirey in the United States the execution of law of the
United States, it in judicial to be described
as other than attempt to destroy the authority of
Government and to put end to the supremacy of the
law Now pray you SIR to consider if that would
not in the view of the sympathzng friends the other
side Of the water, have presented case with all the
claims which the honorable Senator brings forward in be-
half Of these Irish exes for the interference of the ultra
for the interference of the of Government
Parliament, other Legislative assemblies the other
side Of the water representing the strong feelings Of
dern humanity, and of general sympathy with the OPP
pressed every where. Why, sir to such people those
Christana rioters would have appeared noble
gagged indeed it is true in the small and technical offence
OF violating the municipal laws of the country in fact
what is called treason against the United States but in
huenced by high and noble motives under full inspiration
OF higher law and enthusiasm which prompted them
to forward at every earthly hazard for the benefit
of themselves but my friend from Michigan said with
regard to these gentlemen for the benefit of their
try to relieve the oppressed prevent the hunted way
farers from being dragged back into state of captivity
from which they had fortunately escaped-as nu-
enced by high and lofty spirit of hospitality who with
outsretched arms, willing at the hazard of de-
stoyng the constitution Of their country carry into
effect these high noble, and generous impulses of their
nature
Now Mr. President confess the idea which occurred
to this proceeding instituted by might be
extremely unpleasant and dsagreeable one when resort
ed to in Of the future contingencies Of the country
by abroad who would have assumed precisely the
same position that the honorable Senator has argued
intercedersI say my fear has been removed by the
assurances he has given. well conceive this Mr.
President that applications of this kind would be
made by foreign Governments No resolutions of this
kind win ever be adopted by the English Parliament
cept in behalf Of those whom they think to be merito
nous objects for their interposition Nor shall
adopt any such proceeding except in behalf Of those
whom we regard in that light But this is the ques-
tion II we are to nterpose, and think nterpose
without giving offence, and properly do SO, and think
that it Is duty to nterpose because we look upon
these persons sentenced to this Punishment by foreign
Government mertorous and noble men, and as entitled
to sympathes and accompanied with no moral blame
we cannot resist the right Of foreign State foreign
Parliament legislative bodies to interfere in precisely
the same mode in regard to citizens Of that we may
think worthy of the EXTREMIST punishment but whom
they regard occupying the relation with regard to
moral guilt which attribute TO the persons in whose
behalf these resolutions offered We should cut
ourselves of by adopting this proceeding from any right
to object see not where the thing would end
Inf If The Rrit pa lo he