Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-11-18
Archbishop Hughes on the War.
SiMI-OFFIcIAL REPORT OF HIS EUROPEAN MISSION
THE WAR MUST BE BROUGHT TO A
SPEEDY CLOSE.
NEw YoRK November 10, ls09


between Albany and Utica Opportunities 10,
riltyating more intimately that first acuuantauc,
have been few and far between still us i
lersonnl FRIEND apnrt from what they c0mmonl,
c,ll politics, have always recognized YOU. in N,
own mind, as true, uniiinching man, Of uprigh
lrinciple.
As for myself, cannot say that ever belong
Ell To any political party, aud, yet, since my re-
turn from Europe, certain nominally Catholic
papers have written me down ns u politician
Much allowance must be made for such writer's
lhey assume that my going to Europe was for II
political, and not II national purpose in fact,
they seem, or choose to appear, az nconIpetcnt tu
distinguish between what is vu,garly called II
politician and d patriot Of the two, | would
lrefer to he considered II patriot to "a politician
before the outbreak of this melancholy civil
war; 1t is known'to you, my dear Governor that
furesaw the coming calamity, wrote to dis
tnguished persons IN the South praynE and
heseechlng that they should exercise their iu-
iuence for the perpeluation of peace or rather
against the disruption Of the Union. In my own
sphere in New York left nothing undone 10
soothe bitter prejudiees, especially on the part of
Abolitionists, with view, and even in hope, that
the domestic strife which has since overtaken us
might be arrested aud turned aside.
IL just one year and eight days since it was
desired, by telegraphc communication. that
should visit the city OF Washington on public busi
TESS. obeyed the summons. / spoke my
mind freely. 1t was thought that in the periis
OF the nation at that time, | could be useful in
promoting the interests of the Commonwealth
ald of humanityif would consent to go to Europe
aud exercise whatever llttc influence | might
plssess in preventing France and England from
iutermeddling in our sad quarrel.
II has, no doubt, escaped your memory TINT.
during the fourteen or fifteen hours which spent
in Washington, I declined The acceptance of ipAat
piaid be 10 persons not Of my rank a grrdi honor.
lid not absolutely refuse before deciding. hut
wished to consult one OF iva persons very near and
dear To ne 10 New York. Finally, aud At the ycry
last hour, there was q word uttered to me, not
by any special member Of the Cabinet TO which
yeu Belong, but by the authority which il pos
sesses TO the effect that my acting as had been
suggested was u personal request, and would be
Considered as personal favor. Ia three minutes
decided that, without consulting anybody,
should embark as n volunteer To accomnlish wbaf
might be possible on the other side of the Allan.
iln IN favor of the country to which belong.
What occurred on the other side | think il
w11d be, at the present time. imptoper to make
public. am not certain that any y ord. or Act
or influence of mine has had the sightest effect
in preventing either England or France from
planging into the unhappy divisions that have
Threatened the Union OF these once prosperous
States, On the other hand, may say that no
day no hour eyen-Was spent IN Europe in
which did not, according to opportunity iabor
iol peace between Europe and America. So fnr
that peace has not been disturbed Bit lei 41a,y{.
ca beprPdred There is no iors for Hs tinted St,ss
on tie other side q The 'cater, Generally sneak
my on The oiher side n he Atlantic lie fgis3
States are ignored u not despisrd; treated in con
vetsation in the same cOntemptuous language ns
We might employ towards the inhatitauta Of the
sandwich Islands, or Washington Territory. or
Naneouyers Island, or tho settlement q. the Red
river, or OF the lludson's Territory.
This may be considered very unpublished. almost
language proceeding from the pen Of
athollc archbishop But, my dear Governor.
Z IL unquestionably true, and | am sorry il IA
10. If you. in Washington are not able 10 de-
end yourselves in case Of need, do not zee
shsre, or from what source, YOU can exnpct
friendship Or protection. Since INV return
made kind OF familiar address to inv peorle
'ut not Tor them exclusively, in st pntrick's |
'athedral. Some have called it not sermon
ui discourse, and even war blast. in favor
4 fbood-spilling. Nothing Of the kind could he
'arranted by knowledge Of my temperment or
It my eooleslasca training From the alipht |
nIrespcnuehce between us, you can bear me
fitness that pleaded in every direction for the
ope OF its preservation remained When nil
lope Of this kind had passed away, I ,gs Tor
yp{oHs prosecution Qf our meidHcholy pfr. so mai
ne SUI Or The ottrr SAould fad iseif m fhe 5xceo}
lcy
On my return from Europe | knew il was
expected that should make, in writing or other
Use, some observations of my experience abroad
hat would reach the public generally. These
OseiYa'lons were made in the cathedral Of st.
atrlck on the 10Th of August. They consisted
u very simple narrative Of my experience in
lhtrent countries Of Europe during my absence
ON New York. Towards the close OF nv re.
ark4, two ideas venturei to express with per-
APPS more energy than had been EMPLOYED in
le simple narrative.
"he was the advocacy Of CONSUMPTION, in pre-
renee TO the dragging business of enlistment
MT volunteering. Perhaps some may bnye
fought that it was unbeooming for me Ia "A
1Ihoic pulpit to have expressed my opinion on
MS topic. But knew that the country. which
had no reason not to love, was heing agonzed
J, c'il war And besides, on reflection, CON
uefel thal consumption, sometimes called draft
~ y the only fair, open, honest mode by which
nation can support its rights, and, IN case of ,
anger its own independence
Many otmy hearers on that occasion confound
Tue prlciple of cOnscrption with the abomi
Able practice OF the "press gang" during the
ut between England and France. This. of
'urse, was their mistake not mine. France IL 4
military nation, and Il great nation anl IN
stem OF eonscrption, although Mt periods of
eaI national necessity, verging in It's operaiion /
utmost cruelty, IN taking from the family one E
'er ehu'heri ul the sons who might be other j
use Tue hope, and the stay, aud consolation Of 4
elr aged parents. is, Notwithstanding, still The ,
npetal mode of providing for national defence a
III honor Yet, on the whole, there is no system a
ely'l2ed countries so Just, 30 equitable, and 8
ehlelent IN raising an army of defence az The +
stem Of CONSUMPTION rightly administered. If '
cnn he dispensed with by the multitude of Ii
iunleers, of course their would be no objection n
'hai result, But government must execute
G ONCE Tor which it was appointed, aud for the
euGuoh OF tue functions Of which it is sup d
srd 10 have ample means. or else it should =
licate
me other idea was that either by volunteers /
hy eonscription, if we have II Government .
non we recognize as legitimate it shonld mul. /
by i'a powers by thousands, and hundreds of /
ousahds, even millions. to the extent Of existing
aessty for the putting down of civil war. rhi. /
Is not expressed as tho gtatuitous advice of n 4
eaker in the pulpit, but suggested AZ an init. 4
alton that il he had amy advice to offer tho
uhcils oil the nation, that advice w0nll be what d
has new expressed ii
On this question there may lie different oniu n
ns, in regard to which have not an additional G
'rd to say. 1t may be humanity to allow oon. "
cnhg brethren of the same nation To protract II
d drag onwards for period of even ten yenrs L
come the bloOdshed with which they arc re- ii
,roeally now 80 familiar. d
Another view of humanity aud mercy il that n
iich suggested--nam,ly, that the emelancholv
nteat should be bruughtto close with as litte cl
lay MS possible. Tho reason that opetate1 o
still operates on my mind, in favor OF this "
w OF humanity, as compared or in contrast fl
til the other, is, so far us my knowledge ufhis-
y warrants conclusion of the most humnpe
tile In AnY nililnrv airiIn niLI.nr Of - -