New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-14
A LETTER FROM SMITH O,BRIEN.

LETTER FROM SMITH O'BRIEN.
There are good many born Americans, beside all
Irishmen who love their native isle and hope TO see it
once more the home of Free Nation who will read the
following manly and candid letter from the exed Patriot
WILLIAM SMITH O'BRIES with mostened eyes and
swelling hearts. To few of lis who tried to aid the wri
ter and his associates in their gallant but msudgng eff
fort for Irelands liberation in ISIS it brings assurances
that we not mistaken in the chief though he was in
the People he brayey volunteered to lead and its tones
will ring chcery in ears long after the backguard
SCOTS at Slevegammon and its aduncts shall have sunk
into oblivion.
This letter was addressed to the Editor OF The Nation
Dubin who says that later adyces from the writer etC
him in good health, and adds:
when We say his address is ,ngularly characteristic
we mean that il exhibit, the Tnkucss. courtesy genero,
w. and scrupuous veracity which distinguish the IL
/, picture of the mind and character ot true genemln
in vi ich truth reign, supreme whore the extremes good
and i'll fortune have not been able to unsee it for mo-
mcut
among the best men i'm Parliament desire him
stored To hi. country which and believe
long remain mtrutul. His patience aud maSnnmiiy
might move the dule,t hearts.
Here is the letter of the ilustrious exile
GoHe NoJHly Clcrgy. Nmicrs # ParIint'aL Corporate
Bodies. aud gentlemen Tko h0rf Miaoriai-ed IN tIror
Of the IriA Stot Pyis0Hers nor Ariag IN penal erie
al Van IifHHiH' L0Ud.
NJ LORDS ASD GENIIENEN-DUrnC the lastioUr years
havc been induced by various considerations to abstain
much possible from cyer sort of appeal to public opn
ion In, feel that should BE- Justly chargeabe with in
gratitude if were 20 refrain from Offering ny best ac
knowl dgmen for the generous sympathy which has spon
tmeouSy prompted you to cadeaY"r to procure Tor the
Irish Sat Prisoners restoration o orr homes and families
Moran AT liberty To leave wholly mnotced the IAN
guage which has been applied to Us 10y the Nceroy OF Ire
land in answer 90 your memorial.
Ii difficult or me at so sr at distance To understand
fully the impulses ofpublc feeling in Ireland butt believe
tlat / not mistaken in -uppo'ng that the memorl.lsts
may for the most part be- divided into two distinct classes
The first is composed of those who concurred in many
Of our sentiments with respect 10 the grievances OF our
country, butt thought that rsoto arms ~" the purpose
Of procuring redress either not Justhble or not
ptdcut
thcs of tli, class OF our fellow counrymen.
The second is composed of persons who cOncurred
neither with sentiments respecting the wrongs OF our
country. with opinions To the best mode OF VIM
dcating is rights and of ayerting is ruin.
These men, though they now seek 20 mitigate our SUI
ferngs would have boldly encounteredu IN the field but
with magnanmity thcy do not shrink from an avow
of their belief that mpeled to unsuccessful
efforts by pure and honorable motives Nor are they so
d,t,tu of the strength o the institutions which they up
hold believe that the return OF five men to Ireandcan
endanger their institutions.
Know not which of these two classes is entitled to
the tribute of thanks which am DESTROYS to offer.
can admire brave and generous foe much as love
a faithful and attached trend-as much as scorn mean
and yindicye enemy and am proud OF my countrymen
when contrast their noble bearing towards Us with the
pettv malgnity which has been displayed by those who
claim be opponents oil the sentiment OF the EnSlsh
From the hour when | was arrested to that in which
Lord Felinton delivered hi, answer To your memorial
English Statesmen have h0orei To- b.arken the character
81 the Irish Patriots Of l. either by personally mputng
20 them tie most unworthy motives, or s IN the case o
Lord Clarendon and Birchj by hiring caumnntors to de-
I'm mi, icnobe warfare against who no longer
f,t,nd themselves they have been Wen supported by the
l. Int uifl4-faf ftu- gf
have recently taken place in America a. well a> IN ireland
manifestations unequtlled in extent and IN some respects
Unprecedented in character in the history OF political
on Enthusiastically cvnce that they have utterly tailed 10
accomplish their l-orious design.
Leaving uuuotced the indications of this spirit which
~ d. found IN the answer of Lord Eglnton. proceed 10
M W. mark r,on the reasons which his f. cheney
h., urged as ground, Tor the refusal Of your request
None OF tie pen SONS. he SAYS, IN whose behalf my m
reference solicited have expressed coHtrHtoa PR hetr
eyi,g. or manifested any of grgttude o. hyaty 70
H. gracious Sovereign whom they have 80 greyou-ly
offended and whose clemency some Of them are indebted
Tor their live.
To- vou nv lords and gentlemen have hesitation in
admitting that the effort which made in IS to excite
insure elton Ireland was rash and ineHPedent Event
roved that had miscalcuated the chances OF success
.,-rr hat fl rt much account OF the conse-
ouences which il mas entaed upon myself as because |
believe IL 10 have been disastrous my country but until
nv sentiments of patriotic duty shall undergo such change
as do not contemplate never can De brought 70 *
ure-s of il contrti0u r for crime
ain couteuied o. the Vudcaion oi my design upon
the revelations Of the Census Of I-5I have read in
history OF desolatou occoned by conquest peslence,
famine and civil war, but can find ia which two
millions Of human beings have been swept from rei native
,o Or consigned 10 premature grave within period OF
fve wears through the conduct of their rulers conci-
eutou,y believe that this appalling sacrifice ~ one fourth
OF the irish nation well the general suffering with
which Las be- accompanied might have been altogether
prevented by vie and benchcent government. Under
these circumstances may acknowledge that committed
mistake in supposing that should be supported by the
Irish people in the attempt 20 resist unconstitutional leg
aion and avert national ruin by an appeal to arms but
cannot express contrion for such attempt if it
a crime
Ii be a crime 70 have loved the land Of my fathers with
fanatic afecti0n-then ANA criminal fiji be crime TO
have devoted the welfare of that land life OF unre-
hitting toil-then | am a criminal II il be a crime TO
have orgone for its sake every object of personal ambi-
ton and what | prize still more-the endearments of
domestic association in the bappiest of homes-hen am
criminal If be crime TO have encountered for its
sake every of oboquy and danger-then am Grim
na II il be crime 10 have humbed myself for It's sake
TO political adversaries beseeching them to unite with me
in a common effort common counfry-then
am criminal If it be crime TO have stopped for its
sake 10 solicitations from the British Parliament CALLING
alike TO personal and national prde-then am criminal
il be crime when found peaceful remonstraace UNA