The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-29

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One word sir, the subject Of prccedents
whose appearance anticipate on thls occasion as
an old enemy, always upon the alert To enforce the
stand stW policy. For once let US put foot down
without first peering carefully about to ascertain
| if foot ever placed in that precise spot
| before Let yield to the generous sympathy OF
our nature. Let US obey the inspirations of the
age, and try, where tue trial is proper, 80 set the
| prisoner free" II the world must have precedcuts,
| let us make one they have been made before us;
and this will be precedent Tor peace, and not Tor
war; for mercy, and not for vengeance nor oppres-
| sion; precedent for intercession between govern
| nents in favor OF suffering humanity. Let us set
| an example, If there never was one before. There
| have been examples enough of folly and cruelty in
| national ntercommunications. We shall lose mel
ther in position character by endeavoring to fur
| nish sotue example OF wisdom and mercy. lfsuccess
follows the effort, would be brighter page in our
history than IL pplied 10y the bloodiest and most
| renowned Of our battle fields.
shall vote for the original resolution, even ii 1t
| is not modified, because though the President has
declined 10 enter into a diplomatic correspondence
| with the British government upon this subject on
| an application recently made to him, do not un-
derstand that he would have any objections to such
| measure if Congress should take upon itself the
responsibility OF inviting his action. And feel
assured that the President would be gratied to
| the accomplishment of the obect by that
mis- ht appear TO him proper, he expressed upon
hat occasion the sympathies that an American
| citizen and an American Chief Magistrate ought
| 10 feel under such circumstances. But, sir,
| there is mode in which this expression OF nation
| al feeling may be obtained, and this difficulty, and
others too that have been urged, avoided and that
s, by so modifying the resolution 'hat il shall not
require formal communication TO the British GO
| sernment but shall be merely the expression of
| the deep interest the American people feel in the
| fate of these exiles, and our hope that they will
speedily be restored to the condition OF frcemen.
This course could require no formal diplomatic
| correspondence, though it would make part of our
legislative history. tesifying the feelings OF the
people and would become known to the British
government, through their minister or through our
own, in an Informal way is often the case, and
also by the public journals Of the day, and the
moral efftc would be as great ms more direct APP
plcation. cannot believe that the British Cabinet
! would hesitate to yield to wish OF this country,
| So unexceptionably expressed.
Dir President, IL il surprising that the sympathy
Of the whole American people is 80 generally
awakened by misiortunes as deplorabc as these
cases present, and which appeal powerfully to
the best feelings Of nature, and in especial
manner to that large class OF our fellow citizens
who trace their origin to Ireland! Wherever there
is political oppression in the world the heart Of
freshman with the oppressed, and his head and his
hands, too where the sutferingfs within his reach
Ireland has furnished, and yet furnishes, great
portion OF our emigrant population, whose worth,
| and talent, and industry, have added largely to
the power and resources of the country The vic
tia of harsh and hard laws at home, the migrant
from that unfortunate and knows how to value
! liberty here, and believe II would be phenome
non to find Ifishman who was not ardently at
! tached TO the Constitution and Union of these
States.
And this attachment they have scaled with their
blood upon every battle field, from Quebec to
! Mexico; defending with unsurpassed valor the
standard Of our country-from Montgomery. who
fell almost under the Arctic Circle, to my friend
from Illinois, General SHiELps,) who poured out
his blood like water beneath the northern tropic,
and gave proof OF regard rarely offered or re-
ceived by man, by sending me the expression OF his
kind recollection when he and the friends around
him thought the hand Of death was upon him, and
from which condition his recovery was little less
than miraculous. lie who haze no sympathy with
such citizens, part in their sympa thes has few
feelings IN common with me.
Az the resolution is already before us, move
that these proceedings lie upon the table and be
Mr.. HALE said that he cordially approved and
assentcd 80 every word which had fallen from the
lips ofthe Senator from Michigan. lie rarely ever
permitted any pers Dnal considera tons which in
iuenced his own mind to come before the Senate,
but tins occasion he hoped he would be excused.
His mOther-now Eany years dead-was the
only child Of lrish exile whose name was
O'Brcn; and If he ever failed here or ulsdw here
60 unite in expression Of sympathy for an Irish
exile. particularly an O'Bren, then he would be
false 10 every pulsatou of his heart, and that to
( which no man could be false, to the memcry Of a
deceased mother He felt. therefore, tic utmost
I sympathy for thcsc eIies; and # lac had one feel
ing Of sympathy more ardent-eyGn reckl ss-than
another, II was feeling OF sympathy ior the Irish
c1iles, particularly II named O'Brlcn. lie agreed
With the senator from Michigan in another orpres.
sion that irisbmCn were the friends vi the oppress
e.! cyeryV here lie used the term oppres sed in
no tcchn.lE! ianatcal sense but the declara
Na5 true. The irilEIuan was ever the friend Of the
oppressed.
Il vas a maxim Of The common law that corpora.
tons have no sOuls, and that having no souls they
have no feelings, az heart, no sympathies. But be
hoped that the corpo. alton Of MUNICIPALITIES aud
| States would express Us sympathy for thcse VIC
tins Of oppression, and show them that we have
sympathies and feelings, n heart and soul.
n the President, through motives OF State policy,
should decline 70 interposc diplJnacy in behalf Of
these patrios still let the resolution be passed. the
1 symEathy 81 the American Senate and Of Congress
will have gone forth 20 the world, and that csprcs
SION would have It's etr.t. The resolution would
not be without its ciT Ct, whether It received the
signature of the President or not.
Mr.. BUTLER had every disposition 10 take an
active part IN any measure having for lie oljcct
10 obtain pardon Tor thee parties. But il the OBJ
,ccs Of gentlemen was 10 get a pardon for these
men, tie means taken were the very worst 10 &C.
cOmpsh that cud. II 40 appeal were properly
made ~ the BtitI.h queen, o.! % her minister he
bod no doubt but IL might be suf cessini a. On ID
peal % her maJcsty's clcmcncy. lie would be glad
u Mitchell aud O'Brcn aud the others could get a
pardon; bot II, IN applying for their pardon and
Z rcl.asr you rcprOach the British government with
acts Of tyranny sad oppression, you will most Ger.
taIuly defeat the very oLgucs you have Ina view.
You may, by this course, rouse tbc fGelL 20 " the
Irish; you may &c, iheir applause. and perhaps
cure their support; bot By Wcli.titncd and well.
directed eflOris hey would more probably secure
the object la y.cW. lie sympathizcd with tbese
] people, bot be Nas 0ppssst io any step which he
/ vas convinced would result ia is.l-Te
/ John Boil Rad resentment enough 10 hur Dsc Z
upon you any ssch attempt 10 enact a dcInoustrs-
lisn Of this kind. he We opposed to taking any
filse strp in this matter. lie would vote for any
resolution which would approach the British
queen, and, % An at Of clcmcncy to these men,
| solicit their pardon. But any such course az this
jf asking their pardon, and indirectly censuro and
fopagach the British government, would most GER
iainly defeat tbeyery end contemplated
| Nr. SHIELDS sa4 there wac great force i'm what
bad bccn said by The ScnatOf from South Carolina.
he would BE- glad 90 have uiis subject considered
AZ an rsriy day. IL would then propose uiodih.
cation II bc resoluii9n "a 10 avoid any necessity
Tor any diplomacy IN toe mater, aud to prevent
the possibility Of our Government being fcpulsed
BY the Briti-h government.
The prOceedin - and resolutions were then laid
20 the table.
WAatuS6TOS PonT o. rNray
Nc SHIELDS preseuted the memorial Of the
Mayor and Board II b0tfigeb Of this city praying
that W arlington city he made POI. n entry.
IcE roArE Of THE POTOMAC.
Mr. RUSk, from the Committee on the Poet
faN ID u. 4