New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-06-18
BISHOP HUGHES AND THE TRIBUNE.

To tie Editor Of ThsS J. Tr'bvHe
Sir: think you have taken very unfair advantage
in your issue Of Saturday of an Incidental paragraph
in the lecture of Archbishop Hughes, on the subject OF
the Life and Times of Daniel o Connell.
About the period when The rRIBrsG was estab-
shed or within two or three years aferward, the in
.rvew alluded to in the lecture land pardon me If
say unCenerously commented on by you took pace
between the Archbishop and the Liberator OF Ire
land. During several years before the interview,
OCoDnell being denounced by the Anerlcan press
for the violence Of his attacks on this country, not
merely on the question OF Slavery in general Out IN
consequence of his especial and contemptuous anu
,ions 10 the memory of Geo. Washington, Thomas JEFF
fersop and Others having been shareholders IN one
relation and hberatOrs in another. The American
p.ss had been in the habit of visiting their indignation
on O Councils countrymen aud co-rrigioDl,ts IN the
United States. These had suffered much 10 ieehng, NJ
least under the unmerited crDsure o mos VINO r.
,esed o Connslls disregard OF the country an its
great founders. ~ r 49,,
sides n that question between the phhpics OF y Con-
Tell and the memory of Washington. But at all
events the Catholics and the lsh OF the nited states
were becoming heartily tired of what the puoic press
c.noupced and what they taemsely's reg reed a. an
unauthorized interference, even OF VIZ. OConnel, IN
The private social aud political affairs of the people OF
All this was in the mind of the Archbishop when he
had the honor of being presented to ID imel )nhei
and he boped by few words of explanation To mi'i-
gate in the mind of the great agitator something Oh
that aspeity toward this country which Vas generally
col rued lees Of friendship for the slave tnan OF
host,lty to republic nism. Ii THk TRIBUNE VIII just
ard the matter OF the interview in this light, he will
perceive that the Arctbshops remark was merely TO
open the door for explanations which might possibly
have their effect upon the mind OF the lrsh oerator
without diminishing in the ast his natural horror oil
| boutaQe. neither civil, social or POLITICAL
| The NIw-YoRK TRIBUNE suggests very broadly
that OConne was an Aboltionist-hst II, friend OF
the slave-and that the Arcl bishop received rebuke
fOm bis DIST gulshed lay countryman as having been
then and row being the friend Of Slavery, and in feel
ing at lest Indifferent if Lot hostile to the condition
OF the bondsmen. This Is unjust The Archbishop Is
as much friend Of Freedom as o. Connel was, or The
Nrw.YoRK TRrBu yE is. Hisf.elings Of humanity and
philanthropy are, perhaps, not iess acute than
theirs. But the Archbshops relations 10 society are
different from those Of either. He is not profs-ed
friend of Slavery, nor a professed enemy. This per-
pie King question has been taken up pro and con oy
ibo-e to whom il professionally belongs. ana II might
not be too much TO suggest that the pohtca agatos
who trade upon this question do more injury 10 his
cause both on one side and on the other than II they
were fewer in number and understood more thoroughly
the difficulties implied in the prejecs OF its settlement,
and the dangers to which its violent sgaton exposes
this great and united country. -
The Archbishop was profoundly convinced OF OCon-
nel's snceriiy on the subject OF Slavery. But the
Editor of The TRIBUNE is not silly enough 10 imtgne
th6t the gre at hepeAef presenter ony "i"s "A0 ""
argument in biz -lencing retort. HIS statement was;
II would be strar &c, indeed, if should not be the
nj. nd of the slave throughout the wod-l, who vas
al bonn a slaye myself" The Editor Of The TRIBUsE
uu,t know that this answer no htting reply TO
the Archbishops objection. From the lips Of one who
trades pro CON- from political or mer,ensry motives,
on the unhappy question Of Slavery, would deserve
To be considered ~ a sentimental dodge-an ap'
peal TO pity to feeling, to humanity but not al 20
reason craftsmanship, or common sense. IL m'gh,
have been 'Connels m.fortu ne TO have experienced
the harsh treatment of a stepm0ther but this wouli
have been no reason for bis denouncing second mir
monies after the first had been dissolved BY the death
Of one Of the parties the argument iorsooth' Of rHE
TRIEuSH: How can be otherwise than sn enemy
Of &c, ond msIrsges-I, who have suffered the cruel
ties of q Eepmotber mysefW Or, be might have
been. like THy TRIBUNE, a decided and uncompfoms-
ing enemy Of Capital Punishment, for the very logical
resson that be bad been in danger Of the French gu
tine and the English gbbet himself.
The TRIBUNE, therefore, is quite mistaken IN imag-
ming o Council argumsntum I'D mtserdeord.am, coz
veyed or intended to convey anything like re-
bule to the Archbishop. II was one Of those large,
deep and comprehensive appeals TO human nature,
which In such circumstances and especially utefea III
tie .oft and musical Of OConnes voice, are II
resistible for their effect TO silence, but not 70 co.,
,ix,s u. !.