Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-04

Public Reception, OF the Exile Mitchell at
New York.

Public Reception OF the Exile Mitchell at
New York.
A public dinner was given in New York city
on the 10Th Of last month, to Mr.. John Mitchell,
one Of the Irish exiles from Van Dleman's Land,
congratulatory of his escape from that penal Colo
ny. The dinner was attended by some twelve
hundred persons, and Charles O'Conner, Esq,
United States District Attorney, presided.
In reply to complimentary toast, welcoming
him to this "land of freedom" Mr.. Mitchell res
pended in an eloquent speech, from which the
New York papers furnish some extracts. In the
first place, Mr.. Mitchell thanked the citizens of
New York, in exalted terms, for the cordial vel
come extended to him. But he changed his tone
when he came to speak of Mr.. Secretary Marcy
and his Koszta manifesto. The complimentary
strain gave way to one of keen irony as he spoke
of the Hon. Seere,ayy's eultivating international
comfy" as an important "branch of good man
ners.0 He said that ''actuated by the incest
sense Of diplomatic courtesy" the American Sec
Rotary had taken care to warn all Adventures and
seditious propagandists that the United States
would in no wise sanction or protect them if they
engaged in fraudulent Vaccinations for disturbing
the internal quiet of other nations; and declared
that this exhibited "more Of comfy towards the
scepered conspirators Of Europe, and less of gen.
erosity toward their exiled Victims" than, in his
opinion, was ''oeftting in the manifesto of an A
merican Minister" The following extract, we
think, must be highly disapproved by all good
citizens:
"Citizens of New York, thank you; and
have repsid your kindness at least with candor.-
No Secretary or man shall charge me with fraud.
| am protested revolutionist now, an sdveniu-
rer, a seditious p npagandst. | mean to make
use of the freedom guaranteed to me as citizen
or nchoate citizen of America to help and to slim
ulate the movement Of European Democracy, and
especially ofIrish independence. mean to claim
! for the revolutionary refugees here not only the
hospitality and the comfy of America, but alse
her sympathy and active friendship; nay, claim
for them that America shall be to them the very
standing ground prayed for by Archimedes, where
on they may plant lever that shall move the
world"
Now we are as willing as any one 10 see 8
warm and cordial welcome extended to the eyiles
from every country when they seek in our happy
land shelter from the oppression of their own
But we confess that our indignation is excited
when such persons, at public meeting assembled
to do them honor, insult our highest officers o.
State and call in question the gravest acts of ou
Government. Mr.. Mitchell no sooner finds him
self safe under the protecting folds of the "stars
and stripes" than he commences severe and un
just criticism on the management of delicate for
eign question by the very Government that pro
tscts him-a modesty truly becoming in an Sin
choate citizen of America" Mr.. Mitchell, We
doubt not, has been harshly and unjustly, perhap.
Illegally, treated by the British Government; ht
therefore has our sympathy; but this is no war
rant fer his singing, adder like, the bosom tina
warns him. With these foreign political adven
turers who seek our shores under the pretenc,
that they are the victims of tyrannical and crue
Governments at home, and are no sooner landed
than they commence with oracular wisdom ant
"Pot"it ioOiVhOO " ONiiSulCh 10 upOH TIC lIut
meaning of Washington's Farewell Address, ant
to lecture our Secretary of State on the proper
mode of conducting our foreign intercourse, we
have no patience. Nor do we desire to see any
foreigner, however eloquent and accomplished, be
come an ''inchoatc" or any other sort of either
of the United States, for the avowed purpose o.
more effsctually stirring up rebellion and rovolu-
ton in Europe-who, in the language of Mr.
Mitchell, desire merely to make this country the
Archimedean point and our free institutions the
lever with which to agitate and overthrow the
Governments of Europe. Such men deserve nei-
ther countenauce nor sympathy from our people
seeking country for sinister purposes, they can
never become good citizens. They seem igno-
rant of the fact that whilst citizenship in the Uni
ted States confers privileges and secures rights, il
also imposes obligations and prescribes duties
No man ought TO be allowed to enjoy the former
and neglect the latter.