, 1862-09-20
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Boston,
Ju1v Dad 1850

July Z3d, 1862.
To A. X. P. Welch, Esq, Cambridge, Mass
My Dear Sir In the note of this days date
which have the pleasure to acknowledge, you
remark that it is generally understood among
our Irish citizens that you have refused to commits
sion any more Irish field officers, and that they
therefore are disincned to enlist, feeling quite
naturally that their services are not fully appre-
cated and Acknowledged as adopted citizens."-
And you indicate desire to meet the allegation
authoritatively, as having injurious tendency.
And you are right in that wish.
This understanding is doubtless the twin of
a similar " understanding which appeared, with
appropriate comments, several weeks ago in a
Maryland newspaper. But l cannot imagine the
origin of such perverse untruth. If any man can
be found who pretends to have any proofs on which
to base the assertion, pray youto bring him face
to face with me, instantly.
The fact is that we have raised two Irish re gi-
ments, the 9th and the 28th now in the field ;
that for commission in those regiments the utmost
pains were taken to secure gentlemen of Irish or
igin, both in the field and line. | wish to add,
however, that the only reason which has operated
on my own mind as valid for attempting to raise
regiments having such distinctive character was
this The large majority of our Irishborn citizens
are members of the Roman Catholic communion ;
and they naturally prefer to enlist where they can
be sure OF receiving in sickness and in danger, the
consultations of their own church. The chaplans
of those two regiments are therefore always gen
tlemen approved by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fitzpatrick
or his vicar general.
Conscience involves no question of nationality
and, while respecting the religious conscience of
all persons, | confess that | have no sympathy
with the spirit which would make or keep up ar
tiicial distinctions between our citizens | desire
n terlv tO iOuore thaao oil ocpoo;oI, d;s+;oo
ton of birth. Whether born on this spot or that
one, and whether the inheritance be of poverty or
wealth, the man who is most likely to protect the
comfort, safety and honor of our troops, and to
win victory is the jewel for which seek. And
this is the desire of our intelligent citizens wheth-
er native or foreign born.
But the story to which YOU allude is not the
only falsehood intended to discourage recruitment
of which have had recent report. l have heard
of other base charges affecting the proposed dis
tribution of military commissions at the State
House. which, like this one can have sprung only
from the malicious intent to dampen the patriotic
ardor of the people. There are, unhappily, an
exceptional few, even in Massachusetts, hypocrites
and traitors at heart, who, making loud pretenses
of devotion to the Unon-hoping among other
things to defeat the present enstment-resort to
every measure their treachery can devise to break
down the Cause, the Government and the people.
Let every patriotic citizen beware. Few men
really know how literally true it is that we are
fighting to-day the battle of Republican Govern
ment and Popular. Constitutional Liberty. But,
trusting in the God of our fathers and in the intel
| ligent virtue of our people, whom I believe it is
impossible to pervert or misead, so clear are THEN
interests and their present duties to themselves
and their children, mean, as a citizen and mag
strate, to stand in my lot, nor bate one jot Of
heart or hope" until this