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

The Senate having resumed the consideration Of the
solution of sympathy with the Irish cxilesthe pending
question being upon verbal amendments moved by Mr.
SEWARD to the amendment
Mr.. SEWARD said: Mr.. President this proceeding
neither nconsderate nor unimportant II is
resolution which must have the of both Houses
Congress and the appreciation of the President of the
United States, and will become national act II re-
commends-I might perhaps say solics--clemency to-
wards the patriots Of Ireland who suffering mprison
ment in penal colony 1t is designed for the informa
ton Of the British Government and therefore may and
ought to be regarded appeal by the United States to
the Government of Great Britain think this proceed
ing is defensble upon the grounds of abstract justice and
propriety, as well as upon due consideration Of
lations to all the parties concerned
beg leave to say in the first place. that it is alto
gether novel In its character and principle The patriots
Of Ireland who the subject of this resolution are
fering Imprisonment by England on account Of an effort
honestly made to restore their atherand liberty and
independence The sympathy whchis expressed by this
resolution springs from the from which that
sympathy has sprung which has always been exhibited by
the people of the United States towards asserting
the same rights the same sympathy which shown by
the people of the United States towards France in 1893
in 1880 and 1913; towards Greece towards the rising
South American Republics towards Poland towards Ger
many, and towards Hungary Even in form it approx
to the action of the Congress Of the United States
in regard to Louis Kossuth who has been through their
nerposton released from imprisonment in Asia Minor
and brought hther and received and welcomed as the
guest of the United States The interest that is
in this resolution for Mr. Smith 0Bren like that which
expressed towards Louis Kossuh merely per-
sona but il is the reyeronta compassion which the peo-
pie OF the United States indulge for n fallen
"Nation in comprised"
Ii is then the case Of Mr. Smith O rien and his MS
sociatcs, but it is the Of Ireland.
nations cause requires review not merely Of the
particular accidents and incidents which bring il up be-
fore u.s. but of the whole life of the nation SO our fore
fathers in adopting the Declaration of Independence re-
viewed our entire colonial experience in vincatnr the
act Of aburation of the allegiance the British throne
Ten centuries ago Ireland an independent nation.
possessing the elements and the forces OF national stab
y Ireland was guilty of enduring crime il was the
crime Of proximity TO England Ireland labored under
one enduring misfortune IL the misfortune that for
many centuries she remained uneonquered and uncon-
querable The crime provoked the cupidty Of England
the misfortune, begetng divisions into secs and clans
favored the invader At the very moment when the Nor
man King Of England Henry, the second Of that NAME
think, was (as the chronicle says casting in his mind
the conquest Of the adjacent island" because IL
commodioas for him, and It's inhabitants seemed savage
and rude he appealed 10 by dcposed Irish prince 10
rcnstate him upon the Throne The invader enjoyed one
vast advantage Englaaa had been successfully snbiu-
gated by the Romans, the Danes the Saxons and the
Normans and in that rough experience she had acquired
discipline which, combined with the energy resulting
from the commnglng Of and the ambition SPRING
ing from an nsuar position, has enabled her almost 10
"haye the world in empire" The INVASION Of course