The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-13

iaiI teatihont al the handS OI the hepHDtc III
relation to his speech and resolutions OH the
irish exles. Replying to Mr.. BADGER in the
Senate, on "Wednesday, he thus referred to this
journal:
''That paper said. the day after my speech upon
this subject fortnight ago, that had made very
violent assault upon England. Why, sir, nothing
could have been in worse taste If it had bsen go;
and, besides, it would have been a very improper
occasion for me to indulge in any remarks hostile
to England. But, sir, from end Of tho speech
to the other there 10 not one word upon ~hich the
Inost sensitive person could put such oonstruc-
tion think the hardest remark which made in
the speech was in speaking Of tho 'hard fate of
those bsnished patriots
And further:
"But, again, the HONORABLE Senator has alluded 10
another topic which find In tho Same place; and,
although he does not 60 far as tho paper goes
he goes far he can; and that Is, upon the sub
jcct Of moral turpitude now annexed to strictly
political offences throughout the world. He who
has not marked the signs of the times in this re-
spect is entirely behind the age. He who does
not know that during the last fifty years there has
been wonderful progress in tho age. and a great
change in the political opinions Of the civilized
world in relation to the alleged turpituds OF polit
nation in the world"
That the reader may see the exact character
Of the remarks to which the Senator from Mi
chgan refers, we reproduce the principal para
graphs Of our article Of the 29th ultimo:
1.-The general took the ground that merely po-
litical oRences-offences against ones govern
ment-ars looked upon as light matters
days; and that their perpsration arc more gener-
ally regarded a. mcr,ting honor than punishment
We could not help thinking that this was . most
ungracious introduction to an appeal for mercy;
for. however General Cass may DO disposed 70 re-
gard offence agninst the laws or the government
of his own country. no can hardly expect that the
governments Of other countries will DO disposed to
pardon infractions Of their laws the ground that
such inlractions are mcrtorious."
"Mr. Butler expressed q sincere sympathy
for the Irish e1ilss, and particularly for Nit
choll and O'Brien; but he submitted that. if
the Senate had any desire to rescue them from
their miefortunes, or aid them in their sxtrem-
tics, it could mover DO by tho adoption Of such
resolutions a. had been offered BY General Cas-
and spoken 70 BY MIR. Hale. The government of
Great Britain would never consider or receive re-
solutions that accompanied . prayer for mercy
with attack on her policy, or disrespsctful or
denunciatory language. His idea was, that if the
Senate merely proposed to flibustcr little gen
ersl principles, there would be no harm in adopt
ing the resolutions Of Genera! Cass but if there was
= sincere wish TO intsrcede effsctually for the
lies, the Senate had bettor think twice before tax
ing any such action
"This view Of the case struck the whole Senate
90 forcibly, that General Shields Immediately rose
to suggest that at the earliest day no would pro-
Iy,,> IL,
lection Of Mr.. Butler. without which he thought
tho resolutions would certainly do more harm than
good to the cause of tho exiles."
The allegation that we charged the general
with having "made very violent assault upon
England" is, it will be perceived, net war
ranted by any line in the article indicated. We
pointed out the anomaly of approaching for
eign government in behalf of its exiled subjects,
with the declaration that virtuous patriotism is
the only cause of their punishment; and Msssrs.
BUTLER and SHIELDS saw the matter in the
same light. We are not aware that those gen.
tlemen have denied the accuracy Of our version
of their objections TO the course proposed by
General CAss, and, with those objections on the
record, we cannot imagine how the general has
plies. Any ground Of complaint that he may
have against US in this matter applies with
equal force to the Senators from South Carolina
and Illinois, whose remarks on the 2Sth ultimo,
as officially reported, are quite as damaging to
Mr.. CAss as those Of the article that has called
forth SO much of his virtuous Indignation. II
we have sinned, it has been in company to
which even he can scarcely object.
To place this beyond dispute, we quote a
passage or two from the speeches Of our Co
offenders. Mr.. BuTLER-following Mr.. Hale,
who had gone "ihe whole hog" with Mr..
CAss--remarked:
Permit me to say. that il the objec, Of gentle
men be to procure the release and pardon Of John
Mitchell and William Smith o'Brien, believe they
taking the very worst course that could be sug-
gcstsd to accomplish the object. ia proper appli-
cation to be made to the British queen. by an
appeal TO ,he British minister, or in soms other
mode that would be likely to DO acceptable, an
appeal to her clemsncy, perhaps the object nigh,
be attained. But IL. in applying for the pardon OF
these patriots, you use the language IF rsproaoh 10
The British government. you might a. we'll expect to
release victim with his hand in The VOLTS mouth,
by irritating the wolf If you expect 10 attain the
object contemplated-and am sincerely disposed
TO take every reasonable measure to effect lit is
no. to be done by reproacbng tho British govern.
msnt."
The idea was reiterated BY Mr.. SHIELDS,
whose words were:
81 do wish to say 10 my friend from South Caro-
lima that feel there is great force in the remarks
be has made this morning. feel that the objsci
cannot be accomplished by attack upon the Brutal
government. My object lie 90 TO modify
| the resolution TO avoid the possibility OF re-.
pulse on tho par, Of tho English government.
should be very cory to sce this Government make
An application, officially TO tho British govern.
mcnt. which that government would be authorized
to treat with contempt. AS citizen Of THE coun
try should bs OF the lnst to sock to place thi,
Government in that condition. My object, tbsre
fore, IL TO put tho resolution into such form n,
that, willis indirectly il will accomplish the oh
| jsct, as trust il will. 40 shall ~ The same Tins
preserve the dignity Of this Government under nj
circumstances. and give no earthly or reasonable
| cause Of offence whatever to the Brinsh govern
| ment"
| Neither referred To particular eypresslone a.