The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-09
Smith. O'Rrien on the American War

Tha following letter. addressed by Wm. Smith
Q 'Brien to M-. Richard C'Gcrmsn. appears IN the
Dublin Nation, of June 81
EILLIEEY, County Dii5lin. June lS 1862
My Dear Odorman-in common with alt srue
friends of the American people, I continue 10 It.
gard With horror the iuternecine waT which Is dcs0
iatipg the States Of America. The brutal asd dis
gus.ins proclamation W zen has recently been pr,
nulga,ed by General Butler at New Orleans, re-
siizes 20 cur .naSina.ions tbs Torst features oe
this s.rusgie- Have you end your friends Ee
bow this contention IL to enii inpiore you, i.
the naIne of humanity &c cas-: aside the illusions
with which an occasional triumph tlis the minds
OF the North-rns, aud to consider whether 1t Is
possible that you can subjueste the South. and
whether, if it were possible, such suh.ugatior.
ought to be desired by tie lovers G: fee ins,ltu-
tioGS. You know that I not an advocate CT
s-avsry--you know that deeply depl0red the
cession and condemned those who Provoked IL. /
may add, Siao, that would have Isjoiced il the
secession could have been put dawn at its COM
menceEient by the authorities OF the Repup.ic--in
case they had been supported aud assisted by q
majority Of the nhabit ants Of the Southern States
but. ever since tho battle OF Bail Run have fat
that. for good or for evil the secession had been
an aeeomplish she'd fa't, ('9 tait aeeomp-' and that
an attempt 70 bring together again by force the
discovered members of the Republic would
only produce disasters greater than those which
would resri' from breaking up tae Union into Say
firned these convictions. Triumphs have, indeed.
been won by the Federas we'll BY the Con
fedfIates; but WHIT evidence cau he broughJ 1oI
ward to prove that ary Impression has been
made in support OF the Union upon the
minds OF the Southerns by these tciunphsi l
willno; cal! them conFUescs because the Federal a-
mics have conquered no ground except that upon
which they stand The war has brought TO ail rs.-
ties the most costly sacrifices but 8ppearato lave
left the minds Of the eontendIug sections of The
population In state of more intense evaporation
against each otasr than existed at the Commence
nent OF the last struggle. Nor ought you TO for
get that E1auy Of our coultryuen IN America are
at this moment violating those tights Of self GOV
ernmeHt which they wish to apply In Europe not
only 20 Ireland but also to Poland 70 Hungary, to
Venetis- snd even to ths Ionian Isles the etates.
men Of England say that the government Of thee
islands by England Is infinitely better than any gov
ernnent could be whicnwould dapend upon Grarces
Ye. the Ionian Islandes continue to declare, year
Afer year that they desire to be Incorporated with
tbs kingdom of Greece rather than 10 bs protected"
by England; and ell the friends Of FIRE edom think
that they ought to be allowed to choose for them.
asiyes in regard to such G question in like :2an.
ner the inhabitants Of the Southern States Of Aino
rica MAJ or may not act very uDvseiv IN desiring
10 reestablsh for themselves al independent Car
fet.eracy but no one cen now doubt that such Is
thair deliberat choice and this being the case, 70
attempt to coece them against their will into
nection with the Northern States, Is violation Of
the right Of self government-is In fact, tyranny.
Has not the time arrived when calmly Judging men
such es you, can exercise Medatorial influence
Tie authorities at Washington ere compelled to
follow rather than to lead public opinion upon this
as upon all other occasions. You, individually
could render 10 greater service to humanity than
that which you would confer BY -frst oonvening a
lnediatorial committee at New York, and By subse-
quently inviting mass meeting to proclaim its
opinion In favor Of an arncable sdjustmen, Of diff
ferences on terms which shall be consistent with
tho honor and security Of ali sections of the Arner
csn people. Above aud bey ond all other conside
ratiOns, beware of foreign Intervention" OF
course you will understand that mean by this
term armed Intervention, not friendly mediation.
From the day which foreign arms shall be
brought to compel pacidcatiou, the prestige and
dignity OF both the Confederate and Federal states
will be lost forever.
Believe me, my dear friend, yours most sim
cereiy WM s. 0RRIFE.