The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-07
Editor and Proprietor
! From The Dnbln Ureana) pemscrat1 -...r,
Mr.. Smith O'Briem and the American
~a Rebelltom.

@Eas RCOCAtoms
Our readers will reeollect that Mr.. Smith
o Bfien, several months ago, addressed let
ter to Mr.. Seward Offering his services as
mediator between the Federal government
and the rebels, but that his kind and gener-
Gus oher was respectfully declined. The
American statesman, in his reply to Mr..
OBrien, declared that mediation could effect
noting in the way of peace, and that nothing
but the sword could arbitrate between the
contending parties. ssa
Undeterred by these remarks, Mr. o. Brien
has again taken up the question, and on the
18th inst. addressed letter to Mr.. Richard
OGorman, of New York, in which he says
Have you and your friends at New York
calmly asked yourselves when and how this
contention is to end? implore you in the
name of humanity, to cast aside the illusions
with which an occasional triumph fills the
minds of Northerners, and to consider wheth-
er 1t is possible that you can subjugste the
Southi and whether, if it were possible, such
sabjagation ought to be desired by the lovers
of free institutions. ad-r a.s3-# ls.
"9ou know that l am not an advocate of
slavery-you know that deeply deplore the
secession and condemn those who provoke it.
l may add also, that l would have reioiced If
the secession could have been put down at its
commencement by the authorities of the Re-
public-in case they had been supported and
assisted by a majority of the inhabitants of
the Southern States; but ever since the battle
of Bulls Ran | have felt that, for good or
evil, the secession has been an accomplished
fact (Rn fGit GcconipH,) and that an attempt to
bring together again by force, the discovered
members of the Republic, would only pro-
duce disasters greater than those which would
result from breaking up the Union into several
sections.
gThe progress of the war has confirmed
these convictions. Triumphs have, indeed,
been won by the Federals as we'll as by the
Confederates bat what evidence can be
brought forward to prove that any impression
has been made in the support of the Union
upon the minds of the Southerns bv these tri-
umphs? will not call them conquests, be-
cause the Federal armies have conquered no
ground except that upon which they stand.
The war has brought to all parties the most
costly sacrifices, but it appears to have left the
minds of the contending sections of the popu-
lation in state of more intense exaspelatio
against each other than existed at the COM
mencement of the struggle.
"Nor ought you to forget that many Of our
countrymen. in America are at this moment
violating those rights of self-government
which they wish to apply in Europe, not only
to ireland, but also to Poland, to Hungary, to
Venetia, and even to the Ionian Isles"
We cannot observe by what process of rea-
soning Mr.. o Brien arrives at the conclusions
stated in his letter. We cannot conceive how
he considers the secession an accomplished
fact. The rebels have been beaten in every
direction They cannot stand before the army
of the North. They have no money, no credit;
| their war material must be nearly expended,
and they are retreating before the victorious
hosts Of the Federal army. Under these cir
cumstances the secession cannet be an accom-
/ plished fact. On the contrary, it is an accom-
plished failue, and il is more merciful to ex-
tinguish it altogether, than to permit such a
detestable thing as o new nation of niger
whippers on the American continent. That
nation would be a blot on the world, with its
markets and auction marts for the sale of hu-
man flesh and blood. a .aaHa
Again, we cannot see how Mr.. OBrien is
justified in saying that the Federals have won
only the ground they occupy in the South.
Let the army at Richmond, and that under
Beauregard be destroyed or scattered, and tho
South will return to its allegiance. Vast null
titudes in the South, we have no doubt, detest
the rebel rule but it is not yet safe to say so
! openly. But when the rebel mobs are scat
| tered, then it will be seen how reioiced the
people will be to escape the fraud and despot-
ism forced upon them by the perjured emissa-
ries of Jefferson Dsvis.
s Mr.. o. Brien thinks the Irish in America
are violating the rights of self-government,
which they wish TO apply in Europe "not
only to Ireland, but also to Poland, Hungary,
Venetia, and even to the Ionian Islands" We
wonder Mr.. o Brien does not see that there is
no analogy between the cases. Looking at tho
American question plainly, we must applaud
the conduct of the Irish. They have swern
fealtY to the Republic. They have sworn to
be true to the entire Union; and, like brave
and true men, when they observed its integ-
Lad hop ~ IoA
on their armor and went forth to fight in its
cause. " / have sworn obedience to the Re-
public" said Archbishop Hughes, "and l
know no other flag than the stars and stripes"
That is the answer to Mr.. OBrien's remarks,
| and we think he will himself admit that it is
\ incontrovertible. l9 = zb s
With regard to the assertion that the Irish
in America are 'violating those rights of self
! government they wish to apply to Europe" it
! is an egregious error. They do not wish to
domineer over the South as England does over
Ireland. They do notsay TO the Southerners,
! "you must be subject to our will whether you
| like it or not" That is not the object Of the
Federal Government. The grand object is to
reunite the South with the North, for the BEN
| eft of all parties concerned. All will be un-
| der one paternal government, and enjoying
the same rights, the same advantages, and
forming one nation, free and independent.
We wonder Mr.. ~ Brien would for one mo-
ment favor the idea of Secession. In doing so,
he is damaging Ireland, by crippling her best
/ friend; and serving England, the inveterate
| foe of his native country. Weaken America,
and England becomes strong; and whilst that
strength lasts, ireland will be obliged to suffer
from insult and injustice. Ireland's best policy
is to advocate the union of all Americans, and
the wisest course for the Irish in America is
to aid in destroying the rebellion. We should
| rather see Mr.. o Brien telling ten thousand of
his countrymen to take trip with him across
the Atlantic, and that he would find glorious
work for them there in reaping President Lin
coins harvest next August, than acting as he
is in saying one word t0lerating the rebels, or
the wicked rebellion. That the rebellion is on
/ its last legs we have no doubt, and when it is
finally destroyed, the news will be glorious
ho.A, r. IRELAND and America