Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-28
FROM THE NATIONAL ISrELLregNcER OF FRIDAY
PETITION TO LIRERATm IRISH ExILES.

lhe Delegation q! tue II IieHuS VI 1H0 iIiSH On
lies. O'Brien, Measher aud Mitchell, arrived here
on Thursday IN the second train OF cars, at about
half pas, twelve O'Clock, having been detained two
hours on the way in consequence OF some uneXpecl-
ed deranpement of the cars. The delegation from
Baltimore was quite large one, numbering. as we
have been informed, upwards OF two hundred
They were met at the cars by committee, and
conducted to the National Hotel. whence, SION al
ter three O'Clock attended by large accession OF
symps thyzing friends OF our own city, they walk
cd in procession To the Presidents House.
The East Room being the only one in the Pres
idental Mansion anything like cep,hle OF accom-
dating SO large depitltOn, the President met
them there On entering the room. and the pre-
lminary ntrndurti)ns over De- Chaisiy, 1t Biltl'
more, on the prtt of the de legation from that CITY,
addressed the President at length on the subject OF
their visit and presented petition very nunerouIs
ly signed, praying the microscopy Intervention III
this Government with that of Great Britain to re-
nit the further execution Of the sentences OF the
sxiles. and To- grant them their liberty. Mr.. Nc
Ghee, editor of the BIs,oa 'Celt," also presented
a petition from Boston and the neighboring towns
and yil!ares, to which aver five thousand sigma
lures were appended. flo alsl addressed the Pres
ideut with much tervor, enquence and ability.
To these addresses the President replied as fol-
lows:
"Sir: It is quite natural that natives Of Ireland
residing in the United States should feel deep
symp1ihy and commiseratiOa for those OF their
cSunlry,nea who have been Condemned to long
i,nprisonment IN 8 distant aad. Indeed all the hui
name and benevolent lament seYere suffering wher-
ever it exists and by whatever caused occa>loucd.
al have become acquainted with the memorial
which you have presented. 1t is ably written. and
contains suggestions which are entitled to weight
with all lust minds. and cannn! fail to awaken in
every boson strong desire for the accim pIishment
of its humane object. Frankness. however, com
pels me to say that the request which 1t c1nAns
cannot be made the ground Of any official proceed
ngs yet any par5anol god offices in aid Of youI
wishes, SD far as may be compatible with duty anu
obligation, will he most cheeftully rendered
sit is a principle well settled aud which is abSo
lutey necessary To all national independence, tina
one nation cannot claim 4 right to interfere with
the internal concerns of another The United
States Government would be the last to yield to a
nv such claim by far'ign State and, therefore,
from its very origin. il has cautiously Sustained
from setting up or exercising any such claim or
right itself Ii has never in any instance, interior
oil in such a case as you present.
"Nhen the great Father of his Country was
President Of the United States, his companion in
arms Gen Llfay cite, beloved by him like broth
er, became prisoner at Oimuiz, IN Austria. The
President was most earnestly and unfortunately
suiciled to interfere Officially fir his release. But
this ne steadily declined although, at the same
time. he made every private and pers0na effort To
accomplish purpose 81 dear to his own heart. |
shall regard the principle of this precedent, and to
gether with those whom cpusult on important
questions. shall consider what can be done in aid
Of your object consistently with such principle.
'.YOu aud your friends sir. will pnIbahy sac, on
reflection that nothing could be mare likely To de-
feat the desired object han any interference, which
Inight be Justly deemed offensive according to the
usages of nations and the well settled principles Of
public law. Nor can 80 Ear disregard what is due
TO the dignity Of this Government as to make any
application. as its head, to another Government,
which such Government might treat with disres-
pect and be justified in so dung by thu rules of IN
,ernatiunaI law You refer to what has been done
in rsgard to NJ Kssuth. But in his case this
Government nnde NJ representation or application
tothe Government against which he had commit
cd alleged Offences. The representation of this
Government was madeto Turkey, and not to Aus
lria.
"In regard to oar own citizens. the case would be
different. The paternal care which we exercise or
the welfare of our citizens would justify such inter-
oessian Tor one Of them. THIS has been done by
mysalf & by my predecessors, in several instances
But Wa have never in,ertered between Govern
ment and its subjects or citizens.
''Be assured. sir, that it would give me sincere
pleasure to see the prisoners to whom your memo
;ai refers set at liberty. Whenever that happens
which hope may be soOn-should they see fit
10 come to this country, they will fad safe asy
lam aud full protection under its laws.
Accept sir. for yourselfaud your friends, my
respects and good wishes"
Al the close Of these ceremonies the party return
ed in the same order that they had observed on
their entrance.
A Complimentary Dinner, given to the dePuta-
ons from abroad by the Irish citizens Of Washing
ton, came off last evening at Carus's SaluOn, to
which some two or three hundred sat down. As
migSt he supposed IN such an occasion, everything
went off INST jnyously. Addresses were delivered |
by Senator Dougas, q w Gusts, ESP, Mr.. Nc |
Ghee, and other gentlemen.