Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-04
wiIIi.m smith o,Brien.

This distinguished -Irisfman reached New
York, on the steamer Prince Albert last week.
He was welcomed by number of his conn-
trymen and friends, and in reply to an ad
dress of Welcome he stated his motives for
his visit as follows:
.Mr. O'Brien replied to the effect that the
Committee was quite right in supposing that
be did not come to the United States with
view to call forth any demonstration by way
of parade which might be made tn himself.
At the same time it was agreeable for him to
receive.-in an informal mannsr as stated by
the Address those gentlemen who wished
to make his acquaintance. He wished IL tobe-
distinctly understood be did not come to New
York for any political purpose or to make
any political manifestation. Daring the
greater part of his lif. he bad wished to study
the institutions this country without being
biased by the opinions of travellers, partleu-
larly as many of them were written in the
gall of prejudice. He therefore came to stndy
the institutions of the only country in modern
times which owned repnblic, rather than a
monarchy, on a large scale. He had also
come to see how the millions of his country
men, who, under adverse circumstances. had
made this place their home. wfrtsituated. No
doubt he would see many of them even in the
far West, and he w uld go home and tell how he
had seen them, and how h. had been received.
One thing he would say of them, that they
had an undying attachment TO the land of
their fathers. (Applause.) In presence of
Mr. Meagher. he might say that be had anoth-
er oljact in coming to this country, and that
was to see those friends from whom he had
been separated by adverse d'stiny: and in
shaking hands with Mr.. Meaghrr. to do it was
a source of regret to him, that he (Mr. NJ
was not in the same position as he (Mr. OBJ
was, namely, able to return to his own conn
try. And he would say that the policy which
still exclndt d him therrfrom was unworthy
of the British Government (Applause.)
He would not affect to say that he was in
different TO those manifestations of feeling,
which had been shown to himself while in ex
lie. At time when he was in confinement,
the people of the United States, including not
Irish people alone but large proportion of
native citizens, commencing in Baltimore.
had called upon the President of the United
States, to intercede with England for his re-
turn. Nor was he insensible of the sem
timents expire sed at a great meeting held
in the town hall, when an address had
been presented by number of indivi-
duals such were not known in any
country in the world except the city in
which he now stood. without arrogating
anything to himself he confessed he liked
the demonstration thus made by SO large
aIn1 respectable a delegation on behalf of
his countrymen. and although not liking any
thing resembling an OSCILLATIONS parade. the
Committee were at liberty to say to his friends
that he would accept the kindness which bad
been offered him here to-day. (Cheers.) in re-
gard to the future, he was very anxious to be
in Congress before that body would break up.
He intend d. therefore. to leave New York
on Sunday or Monday morning, so that he
might be in Washington in time to see a re-
publican legislature. From Washington he in
tended to go South, then to Charleston, and
perhaps he would return by ST. Louis when
he would visit Detroit, Toronto, Quebec. and
other parts of the North and then return to
New York, where he would arrive again about
the end of May, as to see what would he
interesting here, and then he would have the
opportunity of renewing his acquaintance
with those around him. 50 as to be ready. if
possible, to make this a private excursion.
He had almost forgotten TO say that he intend
ed to visit such objects of nature here AS
would excite interest. No one could enter
this beautiful harb0r without perceiving at
once that tn re enough to be seen. which
would amply reward the tourist for visit to
America"