The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-23
The Irish ExtIod Patriots.

sons, in behalf Of the Irish patriots in exile
under decree Of the British government. 10 be
presented to the President of the United States.
Accompanying them was Thomas Darcy McGee,
esq.. a delegate from numerous petitioners Of
Maine and Massachusetts on the same subject.
A committee having waited upon the PRESIDENT,
and made known the purpose of tho delegation,
President FILLMORE returned answer that he
would be pleased to receive tho delegates at four
O'Clock p. IN.
The deputation received hero by committee
previously appointedi and, at the hour named for
an interview, line OF procession was formed in
front Of the National Hotel, under direction Of the
following gentlemen Of the Baltimore delegation:
james }. Lawn, chief marshal; Captain Richard
France, Colonel Mendex L. Cohen. william p. Pou-
der, esq, Captain Richard Lilly, Colonel J. M.
Turner, Colonel J c. Logue, and Charles McColgan,
esq, assistant marshals. And the following gen.
tlemen of the delegation escorted several mem
bers of Congress. at tho head of the procession:
Colonel Sol. Hillen, Hon. John II. r. Jerome. Co.
lionel jacob G. Davies. Thos. Swami. esq, Henry
Tiffany, esq, Capt. Ryan, DR.. J. Hanson Thomas.
NJ R. Mentally, esq, Robt. NJ Magraw, esq, and
F. M. Baughman, esq.
Arriving at the Presidents House, the EAST
Room" Of the building, which had been opened for
the occasion, was soon occupied by some three
four hundred persons.
President FILLMORE. soon thereafter, made his
appearance.
THOMAS YATES WALSH, of the Mary land dele
cation in Congress, thereupon introduced DR.. ED
WARD j. CHAIsTY to the President the spokes
man Of the Baltimore population.
Dr. CnAIsTY thus addressed the President:
"In presenting to your excellency in the name
OF the citizens of Baltimore, and of the highest
dignitaries of our State, this memorial 80 hume
az faaI
of the holiost duties that occupy the attention
of man, and that are about to impose upon you,
the father of the American people, task which we
trust it will be your pride and pleasure to perform
"Prompted by feeling OF sympathy, We have
assembled around your exccllency this day to en-
kindle in your bosom the nobest affection which
dignifss the human heart, and to awaken in your
breast lively interest for the sufferings OF men
whose ardent attachment to the land Of their IA.
tivity and whose efforts to win back the H,erties
of her sons, constitute their only crime. and have
drawn down upon their devoted heads tho severcst
sentence of the law, and puns. ment which, in
this land of freedom, We deem, disproportioned to
the offence.
at 49, them may ga, for patriots that plead;
lor what mas oeeh. done by OBrien, Mitchell,
Meaghcr' ana "-c rest of that gallant band, that
the paio' o. every land docs not feel that is his
OF b,.,r country; they have proclaimed them in the
neasured notes Of the poet and the thrilling tones
of the orator; they have taught the people that
which history has chronicled for ages-that Ireland
wac a nation; and they have sighed for the
restoration OF the glory of their sires Farther
than this, with all their aspirations for freedom,
they have not proceeded; and, deep and abiding
has been their of wrong, the blood Of their
foes sullies not their hands. And yet their deeds
and their hopes, their sentiments and tears, have
subjected them, in the land in which they lived, TO
the charge of felony, and reduced them TO the gno-
minious companionship with the basest of man
kind. To the cultivated mind and the proud
heart what sentence brings more bitter pain than
that which consgns their posscssor to the terrible
communion with spirits that the soul nbhors
1.-The generous sons of our land, sympathzing
with these unfortunate but noble exiles, have re-
solved to make one grand and mighty effort for
the Liberation of these unhappy men. Hence it is
that we have assembled within these halowed
wnlls-hcncc this imposing array Of delegates
from sister city, anxious TO give expression 10 the
fooiiugs Of their hearts. As the father of
mon country, we have selected your exccllency to
be the organ Of communication, and To interpOse
with the friendly power of Great Britain the kind
Offices Of our Government for the mitigation Of the
punishmcnt and the release Of those unfortuna te
oxilcs.
1--WE, rust that the services Of the Irish people
who by adoption have become citizens Of our happy
republic, and whose devotion to the principles Of
our Government ia daily exhibited in the strength
of their attachment to our glorious Constitution
and in the position which they hold amidst the
Earring elements Of sectional strife. will prove a su
hcient inducemcnt to awaken in your generous
breast deep and lively interest in the fate OF their
brethren, who, through the indscretion into which
they have been hurried by the promptings Of pa
triotsm, have fallen beneath the sentence Of the
law. and lingcr out a miserable existence, sur.
rounded by convcts stepped in guilt aud attaintcd
with the worst OF crimes,
Let then, the voice Of the American people be
heard duplicating through the lips of the father OF
country in behalf Of those unhappy beings torn
from all the delights OF home. Of country, kindred
and Of friends. In the name of humanity be-
soech your cscellency send forth from ,bi. tenn.
pie Of liberty ark OF frcodom-the proud bird
Of America that. like the dove Of old II may sweep
across the waste Of wsters, and return once more
bearing in its beok the olive branch of peace"
President FiLLsops. in reply, said
STA: II quite natural that natives Of Ireland
residing in the United States should feel deep
sympathy and COMMUNICATION for thoso Of their
c,untrymcn who have been condemned to a long
imprisonment in a distant land. Indeed, all the
humane and benevolent lament severe suffering
wherever il crists, and by whatever cause ocoa-
stoned.
&" have become acquainted with the memorial
which you have presented. II is ably written, and
contains suggestions which are entitled to weight
with all Just minds, and cannot fail TO awaken in
every bosom strong desire for the accomplish.
ment Of its humane object. Frsnkncss, however,
compcls me 10 cay that the request which il con.
tains cannot be made the ground Of any official
proceedings; yet any personal good Offices in aid
of your wishes, 80 far may be compatible with
duty and obligation, will be most checrfully rem.
dcred.
at is n principle well settled and which ia alb
solutciy nccessary to all national independence,
that one nation cannot claim right to interfere
with the internal concerns Of another. The Uni
ted States Government would be the last 10 yield
20 any such claim by foreign State; and, there.
fore, from its very origin IL has cautiously alb
stained from Getting up or exercising any such
claim or right tself II has never in any in