The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-02
Another Esaliying Cry From
Thomas FraDc.s TEeagEser.

AHOtner BsalfyinE cry FROM
Thomas Frances FEeagEser.
On Saturday the people of Fairfield, Litch-
field, New Haven, (Ct.) and other counties,
turned out their might to testify their un.
swervipg devotion to the Union, and to de-
clare their determination to support the gov
ernment in the most vigorous war meas
ures. Among the speakers was Colonel
Meagher.
He began by sayiny was about twelve
years ago that one evening ship of war
slowly passed up fiom the southern waves
Of the Pacific amid wooded hills and azure
skies above it, c,ouded heights beyond, and
a tranquil scenery all about. As that ship
passed mp amid almost desolate seas, there
was one flag that met the eye of those on
board-that was tie stars and stripes
r ICheers. What ship was that? 1t was a
wal ship Of Great Britain, and he was apris
oncr on boarl. AMI laying tranquil on
those waters was this American ship with
the stars and stripes flying at the mast head
And he drank liberty at his prison gates
It was to him cheering omen. He forgot
his imprisonment, forget that ireland was a
ruin and wreck, and saw glorious future
not to his own native land alone, but to hui
manity at large. From that moment he had
been devoted to that flag which stood there
reminding him that there was a power in
this country to redress the wrongs which
were dealt upon oppressed humanity
| TCheers.l The Stars and Stripes had there
fore been identified with him in his exile. in
his trials, and what some would call his in
ordinate dreams He did not support Mr.
Lincoln during the canvass. But he was
duly elected, and it was the duty of every
citizen to obey the will Of the majority legiti
mately expressed. A few years since there
had been Know Nothing party, the cardi-
nal principle ofwhich was the prescription of
foreign born citizens. but had that party le-
ultimately elected President he would have
sustained him. [Checrs.l If such doc
trine were not assented to, then, instead Of
the American principle, which is that the
will Of the majority through the ballot box
we substitute the desperate Mexican rule.
which is that of revolution. COL Meagher
continued: Now, understand that there
are some of my ceuntrymen in this State
who do not go in for this war; [Cries of
at is mistake."l Well, want to put the
| thing clear to them. Irishmen have come to
me and said this: "A certain Governor a
few years since disbanded our Irish compa-
nies.' A voice-"That is so''l That is
not only so, but that is the fact Is that a
reason why you should give over your coun-
try, your honor, and your Government which
has been vilely insulted? Butyonr vengeance
is not in holding aloof from the cause in
which the flag is impcriled; your vengeance
/ is to prove that you are better than those
that were native born. But no matter what
may have happened in the little State o.
Connecticut; your duty has not been TO
Connecticut; your duty has been to the
Union. [Cheers.l When the Irish emi-
grant came here it was not to Connecticut,
or New York, or Alabama, or any State, but
to the United States As that oath was alb
solute, 81 should the object of it be COM
plete. Then have heard it said why not
leave the Americans to fight this battle for
themselves Why should not we Irishmcn
just fold our arms, fill our pipes laughter
and smoke away; and leave them to their
distress and to their disgrace?
4 Very good, if we could afford to do so.-
Very good, if this fight were not our fight
say that this fight is an Irish fight
!, lCheers.] And if Irishmen do not sustain
the only government under which they
have had reputation, fortune, and good
name, than any one who speakes to me OF
Irish liberty is dreamer and driveller.-
[Cheers.l This is our matter. Thousands
: upon thousands of Irish emigrants have
come here thousands upon thousands Of
!, Irish graves have been sunk in this Ameri-
can soil. With the Revolution, Irish names
and fortunes are strongly identified. Go tc
New York and ride down Broadway, and ar
obelisk rises and you see the name of Emme
: on it. On the porch Of that same church
) you see the name Of Richard Montgomery
In the times Of Catholic emancipation ther,
was no greater friend to that cause than tn,
! United States. [Cheers. have merely t.
ask my countrymen t, stand by this cause
J to stand by the stars and the stripes, t.
stand by the government which has beer
legitimately elected. Is this to be question
: Of party? If so, it were better that thi:
country had never been nurtured into free
dom. For my part, I care not what preju
dice or counsels the administration may hav,
} had. 1t is enough for me that the men il
power come and take possession of the sea-
Of government under the credentials Of tn,
J popular will and under the solemn sanction
J or the constitution. That being done stand
for it with all my heart, with all the vigol
that is in my arm. with all the fire that is in my
brain, with nv life, ,fthat is anything worth
TCheers. Many time have been taken by
the hand, and asked by lrishmen, why throw
your life away, why risk it, My answer
is this, that ifthe United States does not as
sert supremacy there is no hope for Ireland
Cheers You see that every monarchy il
Europe that has its Sc fish interest to main
! tain is banded against the United States
J. TLa o,,lx, ,,y,a that L,s oa,,,a ,>,,x,,.l 49,,