Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-01-27
PETITION TO LIBEEATE IRISH EXILEs.

Pc TITION TO LIBEEATE IRISH EXILES. |
The delegation of the Friends of the Irish Ex-
lies, from Baltimore, which numbered upwards oil
two hundred persons, arrived in Washington on
Thursday They were met at the. cars by
loommittee, and conducted to the National Hotel,
whence, soon after three O'Clock, attended by
arga accession OF sympsthizing friends in Wash
on, they walked in procession 10 the Presidents
House The East Room being the only one in
The Presidential Mansion anything like capable of
accommodating so large deputation, the Presi-
dent met them there On entering the room, and
the preliminary introduction over, DR.. Chasty,
of Baltimore on the part of the delegation from
that city, addressed the President at length on
the subject of their visit; and presented petition
very numerousiy signed, praying the intercessory
Intervention OF this Government with that of Great
Britain to remit the further execution of the sen-
fences OF the exes, and to grant them their lib
erty Mr. McGhee, Editor of the Boston .Celt,,
also presented petition from Boston and the
neighbouring towns and villages, TO which over
five thousand signatures were appended Healso
! addressed the President with much fervor, eIo-
quence and ability.
To these addresses the President repli ed as fol-
lows:
"Sir: Its quite natural that natives Of Ireland re-
siding in the United States should fee deep sympathy
and enumeration for those OF their countrymsa who
have been condemned to long imprisonment in is
tant land. Indeed all the hum and be nevolent
lament suffering wherever it exists, and by what
| ever cause occasoned.
81 have become acquainted with the memorial VIII ich
you have presented. Ii s ably written and contains
suggestions which entitled to ght with all Just
| minds, and cannot fail TO awakea in every bosom
strong desire tor the accomplishment of its humane
| object. Frankness, however, compes say, that
the request which 1t contains cannot be made the
| ground OF any official proceedings yet any personal
good offices in aid of your wishes, far may be
compatible with duty and obligation, will be most
at is principle well settled, add hich is absolutely
necessary to all national independence that nation
cannot claim right to Interfere with the internal
Germs of another. The United States Government
would be the last TO yield to any such claim by Tor
eign State; and therefore, from its origin, has
ously abstaned from setting up exercising any such
claim right ITSELF 1t has never, in any instance,
efterad in such ease as you present.
"When the great Father of his Country was Presi-
dent OF the United States, his companion in arms.
Gen. Lafayette, beloved by him like brother, be :
came prisoner at Olmutz, III Austria. The President
| was most earnestly and UNFORTUNATELY solicited to in
terfere officially for his release But this he steadily
declined although at the same time he made every
private and personal effort to accomplish purpose
dear to his own heart shall regard the principle OF
this precedent tOSe-ner Win tnOSe Wnom
suit on important questions shall consider what can
be done IN aid OF your OBJECT consistently with such
| principle.
.'Y GU and your friends sir, will probably see on
reflection, that nothGg could be likely to defeat
the desired object than any Interference, which might
justly deemed offensive, according to the usages oil
nations and the well settled principles OF public law
Nor can so far disregard what is due to The dignity
OF this )vernmeni TO make any application,
head, to another Government, which such Government
might treat with disrepec and be justified in doing
h9t
, has been done in regard TO M kossuth But in his
! case this Government made no representation APP
plication to the Government against which he had
committed alleged offences. The representation Of
, this Government was made to Turkey, and not to
Austria.
"In regard to our citizens, the case would be
different. The paternal which exercise for
the welfare OF citizens would Justify such inerces-
5 sion Tor OF them. This has been done by myself
and by my predecessors, in several instances. But
have never ineriereG between Goyernm ent and its
subjects citizens.
BE assured, sir that would give me- sincere plea
see the prisoners to whom your memorial refers
set at liberty. Whenever that happenswhich hope
may be soon-shoud they fit 10 this coun-
try, they will hnd safe asylum, and full protection
Accept sir TOR yourselfand your friends, my respects
and good wishes"
At the close of these ceremonies the party re-.
turned in the same order that they had observed
on their entrance. At night, Complimentary
Dinner was given at Carusi's Saloon by the Irish
citizens of Washington to the Populations from
abroad. Between two and three hundred gentle
men were present Addresses were delivered by
Senator Douglas, G. w. Gusts, Esq, Mr.. Nc
Ghee, and other gentlemen.