The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-11-22
Letter from William Smith 0'Brien en-
the War in America.
.1o:at7q G DrBrrs, Oct. 2I, 1861.

Y
| Mr. DEAR MEAoHEs Il have read with
much interest the speech recently deliver
| ed by you at Boston; but though admir-
ed its fervid eloquence. aud agree with
| MANY Of the sentiments which it contains
| differ altogether from the conclusions
which YOU endeayor TO enforce. am
therefore, prepared to break a lance with
you in argument, and 10 contend that the
Irish in America ought to appear as me-
dia,ors instead Of pariicipa:ors, in the fra
tricidal strife which is now desolating the
fairest portion of the Western Hemis
phere. .... ...... ...-
am not, indeed, surprised that Won
have taken up arms in defence of tho Con
s,itution and of the Union. When / first
heard Of the attack made by the Southern
ers upon Fort Sumter | fel. tha, if | had
been resident of New York l should
have said 10 myself-"Since the South
erners appeal TO arms we must not shrink
from the struggle. We will not yield
to force what we might have been willing
to yield to negotiation" This WAS the
first impulse which excited the dormant
passions Of tie North, and it is so natural
an impulse that it cannot be said to merit
condemnation. Had the Northerners OBJ
tanned any marked advantages in the
present war they might have been ready
to listen to mediation, but pride now in
tercepts the voice of reason, of humanity
and even selfinterest.
You have denounced as "conspirators"
and "propzgandists of national dishonor
and Of national ruin" those Americans
who advocate peace. These terms can
scarcel ely apply to ME, though am an al
vocate o. peace. SO far am from con
spring against the unity Of the Great Re
public of the west that 70 event which has
occurred in foreign countries ever occasion
ed so much sorrow as the disruption OF
the American Union; and this sorrow has
been intensified when have observed the
delight with which the enemies of the Re-
public have watched and glcated over the
events which appear to reader reconcilia-
ton impossible.
Neither can l consider myself IA pro>
pagandist Of national disl,onor and Of ma.
tional ruin" when urge the statesmen Of
America, as well as my own fellow-coun.
trymen, to put an end to this fratricdal
war bv mutual forgiveness and mutual
concessions, which shall avert, national
ruin without compromising the honor
of either Of the cortending parties
shall not take upon myself TO deter
mine whether the North or the South has
been most to blame in regard 10 the inju.
ries, examinations, and recriminatons which
have brought the North and South into
collision. Every one who reads your
speech must observe that You have not
fairly stated the case Of the SouthernerS
, but even if it be admitted that they were
f no, justified in appealing to arms We oughi
to consider cal ly what will be the even
tuni issue Of this contest. .E
Let Us first contemplate the case in
which success shall have crowned the ef
forts of the Uunonists, and that Charles
ton, Augusta, Savannah, Montgomery, Mo.
bile, Memphis aud New Orleans shall Lt
in possession Of the Federal troops.
Will such conquest tend to reconcile
) the Southerners TO acquiescence in The
. Union9
Does not the whole course of history
show that conquered nation can he KEEP
in sulieclion only by the same means by
which it was conquered
At the end of the struggle the minds 0
the Southerners will be more exasperateC
against the Northerners than they were
at its commencement. 1t will, therefore
become necessary to keepthe South in sub
lection bv the force Of arms-by the
means which Russia uses in Poland. and
which Austria uses in Italy. ! have re
Gently passed through that little angle o
Italy which still romans subject to Aus.
tria. cannot state the exact number 0
5 Austrian troops which are employed tc
retain ii in sutjeclior, but have reason
70 know that more than thirty thousant
Austrian soldiers are now quartered il
the town Of Veron, alone, and II at th
: other Austrian garrisons in Italy are main
t ta;ned upon a scale propor,ionate tc
this number.
Have you estimated what number Q
: men viii be required to keep in suhjec
ton a territory which is nearly as arg
as the whole of Europe. or what will b
the annual expense imposed upon the Tn
y ion by the maintenance of such foreel
Have you considered the probable on
e GRAFTON of this system Of military govern
y ment upon the conquering and the con
ouered States Of the Union
Doyoa believe it possible TO maintain
Republican form of government. in til
!, conquered States
Y If representative institutions are allow
ed to subsis', will not the discomfort Of
!, conquered people break ont, not only j
. impatient Inurmurs, but in perpetual c
> forts to conn,eract the policy of the Ut
= ion +! - . = - ~ - -
Y On the other hand, are YOU prepared t
domineer over ten millions of poop
and their observation-disclosures all lin
} by the coercion Of military pewer'
i. DO YOU believe it possible TO maintai
the Republican insii,u ions Of the Mort
!, concnrrently with The maintenance Of
> Standing army consisting Of half millio
5, Of soldiers, who mas, Hecessariiyrbs plae
Ie ed at the dispossi of an executive ebi,fl
!. These will be ths results Of sn issr
Of the present contest, which shall be fa'
+. orab.e 10 The Nor,herners. e. ~. 80.