Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-07-18
Letter from Archbishop Bughcs-,p-
peal IN the Catholics OF New YORK
rHE coNsoRIFTIoS-rHE HIor

mon dire ~ after hs la-t return from hufOpe
last year tie condemned the reliance On volun-
teering ne hazardous. and ~ placing too large q
share Of the burden on the generous and public
spirted urging that. since the obligation TO serve
restesl equally on all the liability or rsk should
be spport one accordingly
EDfroR HEnsLp; The foregoing paragraph -
taken from the Tribune OF this morning II u
the latest Indignant article against the under
signed with which the Hon Horace Greeley has
been IN the htbit Of fayorng him for some time
past
Permit me TO request OF ron the insertion Of a
few remarks in the Herald. which may throw
light upon the subject which Mr. Greeley msrep.
resen,- and affects 10 msunderstand lie SAYS
that condemned the reliance upon volunteer
ing haz ,rdous and a placing too large a share
Of the burden on the generous and public 50 ritel
urging that since the obligation 20 serve rested
equally on all. the liability or risk should be ap
portioncd accordingly"
l. | did not condemn volunteering.
2 I did not recommend n cocrciye conscrip.
ton. bat that the people of the North. who stand
by the Federal Government, should demand con.
scrpton by their own voluntary choice and act
This would be their own system of volunteering
The main object Of nv remarks on the occasion
referred 10 by Mr. Greeley. was % bring the war
a. n speedy conclusion. The last and decisive
battle in every war il necessarily the most mer
ciful in it, results since il puts an end 10 the
further shedding Of human blood
This was the main object regards the inter
ests Of the country az large Ny remarks were
not intended for the congregation whom was
addressing. but for the whole people. Since that
time many most sanguinary battles have been
fought IN which blood sufficient 10 float u ship Of
war has been shed; aud ye, y seems that many
other similar battles are vet 20 be fought before
come 10 the final struggle which shall decide
the question.
have been attack ell by three Catholic laymen,
editors OF the Baltimore Mirror ard by priest
OF Bedford, Pennsylvania, AS IL we're man Of
war. and IL the idea of bringing the TO a
speedy termination was cruelty instead of nj
lowing j, "a fertilze the fields of Tennessee. of
Virginia. Maryland. and even Pennsy lvania. with
periodical supplies of human gore.
This j. the idea of mercy and humanity enter
tanned by the proprietOrs of the Baltimore Mirror
and the gentle shepherd OF Bedford rs to what
constitutes humanity and mercy.
3 Another reason that influenced me on the
day on which | preached the sermon referred 10
by Mr. Greeley, the fact that on my return
from Europe found the number Of able bodied
men, fathers, brothers. husbands in my cOngrega
tons vastly thinned and the widows aud orphans
multiplied all around me How could this have
happenedr Was IL all voluntary ON the part OF
those who abandoned their homes to defend
their country know that To great extent il
Was voluntary and patriotic. especially ut the
commencement of the war. There were militia
regiments in New York who felt that. whether
they were Catholics or not, whether they were
natives or foreigners, deemed with honorable
chivary that having donned the national uniform
they were bound To rush and rally for the defense
of the country. which they did This would be
one class; and they were numerous enough to
leave not "A lev destitute widows and orphans far
from the field on which they were slaughtered OF
taken prisoners. But there was another class
it was composed Of those Irish and Catholic cit
zens or laborers employed by men of wealth in
factories or in other establishments OF honorable
industry.
What | am now about to say il more than |
can youch for of my own personal knowledge
Ii was stated TO me on my return that the EN-
ployers of these men. Immediately after the war
broke out. suspended their factories and other
departments in which human labor had been EN-
ployed, to compel these Irish and Catholic ope
rItves to enlist, in order that their families
might not starve: and that all this was adrotly
accomplished under the plea that war had
dered It necessary To suspend all manufacturing
establishments; that this pretended necessity was
only for the purpose of sending fighting men to
the field, by which the neghborhOOd weuld be
relieved from the presence of workmen of for
eign birth; that, in point OF fact, as soon as ne
cesSity drove that class away. their places were
promptly supplied 10y other operatives whilst. in
in the meantime, such manufacturers and traffic
ers upon the public calamties of civil war have
been vastly more prosperous than ever before
Sooner than witness such mean and base tricks
upon unfortunate laborers. was then am now,
prepared to approve of a thousand conscriptions
openly appointed by the Government: provided.
however. that the same shutting and low tri, kerry
shall not be employed to expose the poor to the
dangers OF battle and leave the wealthy TO be
come wealther in their quiet homes
No language of mine could ever be inter
preted as recommending the Government To enact
a coercive conscription; but, Judging by INV own
feelings. supposed that the people OF the North.
If they had Government such their fathers
institutei-a government of which they would be
worthy. and which would be worthy of them
they would have patriotism enough to stand up
one man and say. This thing cannot be al
lowed to 60 on; either those who have rebeiled
against the Government must have their rebellion
thoroughly put down or they must put us, who
make rebellion. under their triumphant do
muon But at all events this thing ought not
to go Oh All wars must come to an end es
pecially when ouly one side is disposed Ia offer
peace which the other ScOrniully rejects " The
substance of what has Just been expressed will be
found in the following extract from my sermon
which offer for the reconsideration %! the Hon
Horace Greeley. the three publishers and propre
tors oi the Baltimore Mirror and the Rev Thorn
as Heyden. ct Bedford. Pennsylvania After
having spoken of nv observations in Europe
among the highest authorities and guides of pub
lie opinion on that continent. | made known that
according 10 my observation. there was no good
feeling toward the United States even IN this
struggle for self preservation. and at the close OF
this narrative II seems, by some reporters account
OF nv sermon. that used the following words:
do not know what NAV happen in case this
war should continue. as IL has continued since
left this country The news renders all attempts
At judging fairly impossible, because il il CONTRA
dictory and confused Ii is difficult for one even
acquainted with the country TO comprehend how
the land lies; much more i il so with those who
are not acquainted with it. Nor Is it in any ones
power 70 say with absolute certainty what must
time. what l. the prospect of It's coming 10 an
endf DO not see any prospect There does
not appear 10 be an issue; and IL NAV be that
God for some design of his own. which future
generations can appreciate. has allowed this war
90 ,courge u in order 10 bring future benefits to
the human race There are things that no m N
can pretend 10 f,thom-questions that depend on
so many additional circumstances for their solu.
ton: but there l. one thing and one question that
shOul,; toe clear 10 every mind IL J. thiS. that II
a war Of this kind should be continued for many
years IL i recognized A. berg allowable for other
nations TO combine in their strength and put an
end 10 it Better for the people themselves to
put an end to 1t With A. little delay a possible
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