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

uePeHu5hco ii II ND not succeed, II rebeIh0n II
IL did, IT revolution Its condition in the eyes of
God and man. whether it succeeds not would be just
the sae far the character and the real object OF
the parties concerned and his what constitutes the
offence, and it is only this which constitutes the moral
turptude Iconended in my remarks the other day that
these Irish exes not TO be cassed moral offenders
Washington and his coparios offenders against the
laws Of their country in attempting make reyoution
but no nation under heaven classes them with thieves
robbers, and murderers say that il does follow
that because interfere for the pardon of such men,
should enter into long catalogue of human offences and
ask for the pardon of those upon that ground do
not think that the English Government have shed drop
Of blood for political offences for quarter perhaps
third OF century Such the in France Political
offences recognised there not calling for the efu-
sion Of human bood-as not being accompanied with
moral turpude When, therefore, said the other day
that they offences againet the law but viewed in
the light Of other crimes expressed what was the opn
ion Of the age and repeat that the urpitude and
condition of the offenders depend entirely upon the
Of the country and not in the effort make change in
the Government
My friend from North Carolina (NIr BADGEn) went on
and supposed two three l not going into
them at all am not going into the subject to any de-
gree But said the other day that, when such
this should happen and the English Government should
take the interest in it, and from the similar
motives, should be happy to hear them in reference
it, Now in reference to the Of the Chrisana peo
pe to which the Senator alluded the with which
they charged not that treason which shakes
Governments and makes revolutions 1t the construc
tive treason Of Congress- by which the efforts they made
to put down particular law for particular purpose is
construed into treason But do not go to England for
pardon for any such persons That is not the class of
that say would be entitled to the respect of the
world Again: the honorable gentleman presupposes
that because apply to England to procure pardon
for these men, shall be obliged to yield to England any
requests of the kind she may make of do not think
We shall be just free after this request shall have
been made now, and will she be- say that
under the circumstances that surround this question:
large portion Of people being counrymen of these
exiled rshmen and taking deep interest in their vel
fare ask the British Government to extend cemency
to them. They at full liberty to refuse to grantt
Suppose they ask us to do thing which will be preju
dice to must we grant it No, sir The granting of
request by that Government imposes kind of obi
CATION upon to grant theirs And yet from the tenor
Of the remarks of honorable friend it would that
he bases his argument upon the fact that if ask this
Of England under the present circumstances we must
grant her requests under any circumstances discaim
it entirely She is just free against applica
ton for it. and just free in any act
fer against any application she may make though
we had made That is my view of the matter
Mr.. BADGER. am extremely obliged to my friend
from Michigan Mr. CAss for mentioning what he does in
regard to the article in the Republic for it gives
opportunity of saying that not subscriber that
paper and do not take it.
But have one remarks further to make in reply
to the honorable Senator He to suppose that it
would be very grevous thing for men to assemble,
the OF these Chrstana rioters for the purpose of
resisting of the laws of this Governments but the
parties concerned in it would lose the character
Of men Influenced by immoral motives, if their object
to destroy entirely He says that the assembling
gether and concerning by force overtrn law is
that kind of political offence which public opinion does
not attach moral urptude But if their object is to put
down the whole Government-to destroy all the laws and
authority of the Governmenthen the parties lose their
morally criminal character and only offenders against
municipal laws. Now, do not think any such dstinc
ton that can be made.
The honorable Senator refers the of Washington
and his associates Surely the yindcaton of Washington
from moral turptude does not upon the fact that he
here, but upon the fact that he engaged with his
countrymen from ustfable reasons and the ends which
he sought to obtain lawful and justfable There
FORE that argument of the gentleman has nothing to do
with any refutation of the laid before the Sc
nate against this resolution My found
ed at all upon any determination Of the question whether
not Mr. Mitchell and his associates had justiabe
grounds for the proceedings which they adopted sepa
rate Ireland from its present connection with Great Bi
tain; not at all. My argument this Great Britain
did not think the English Government did not think
That Government considered them not only
gagged in the prosecution of unlawful enterprise but
enterprise of wckedness because in their view it
enterprise in the of which the United King
dom Of Great Britain and Ireland would be destroyed
greatly injured. My argument is this That insomuch
the Government of Great Britain have caused these
gentlemen to be prosecuted for offences and sentenced
them to the punishment of death-which sentence
afterwards committed to Punishment from the country
she would regard interposing in behalf of who
do not merit such interposition That Government
recognise these gentlemen being noble patriots
engaged in doing what their country requredwhat was
act of honorable self sacrifice in them endeavor
achieve If So why send them Van Dieman's Land in
the first place? IL the Queen of England looked upon
them possessing the character which the honorable Sc
nator attributes them, she had just much power
pardon them entirely at the first she had to commute
the punishment And therefore the consequence is that
interference here would justify the interposition of
Great Britain in behalf just such offenders the Chris
ana rioters had they been convicted of high treason
against this Government. And think that if such
application had been made the Government would
have recognised the reasoning Of the honorable Senator
from Michigan, (Mr. CAss.) His reasoning would be
We ask you to interfere in behalf of Smith OBrien and
his associates because they influenced by high and
merioriou motives and only sought to destroy the
sttuon of the united empire only sought to throw off
lists between all the parts Of that mighty empire But in
destroy the Government and constitution Of their
try not at all They only sought to prevent the
ton of but of its laws and therefore it is utterly in
olerabe that for such great offenders these good Offices
in their behalf should receive the favorable consideration
of this Government.
There is nothing in the distinction which the honorable
Senator urges which have any application the OBJ
ections which advanced do not undertake decide
the question whether Smith OBrien and his associates
right wrong but will assume, for the purpose
of this discussion that they right that their country
laborng under ntoerabe oppression and that il
their duty and their right endeavor free her
from it, Assume that position and pass this resolution
and how easily Great Britain turn npon and say
that these Chrstana rioters noble and generous
spirits indicators of oppressed humanity rushing for
ward their personal hazard with individual interest
in the question, and sacrificing their all prevent those
g. Al.s-.