Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-07
KILLARNEY. October 2s. lsf

KILLARSEY, October %. 1863
Ny Dear Smyth: perceive that our friend
T. Y. Meagher, not satisfied with having made In
America a series OF brilliant oratons in favor of
a continuance OF the civil war that has ragged
during nearly three years In the United States.
has sent dispatch 20 Ireland which is evidently
intended to induce Irish emigrants 10 enlist under
the Federal banners, upon their arrival In Amer.
icA.
perceive also that you have endorsed the
opinions contained in that dispatch with your ap-
prevail.
Nevertheless, address this communication to
you in full confidence that you will give to the
public an opportunity OF considering ideas that
are totally at variance with those which have been
put forward by you and by Gen. Meagher.
Two years ago, ventured 10 address 10 such
Of the politicians of America as have shown a
disposition to pay respect to my opinions, an ear
nest prayer that they would submit to an AMIGA
BILE adjustment the questions which had rent in
twain the Unitei States, rather than that they
should continue TO massacre each other.
Ny suggestions were received with Difference.
but / can scarcely complain that they were not
adopted when the mediation Of the Emperor of
the French declined by Congress in terms
which induced that any offer of this would be
considered intrusive.
Whilst such a spirit is eyinced by the Federals.
the termination Of this war are sienced should
not have broken this silence IL Gen. Meagher had
not made an appeal to his fellow country men,
which, IL left unanswered, might induce many
thousands Of lrishmen 10 sacrifice themselves in
a contest for which their Intervention is not de-
manded By any obligations Of duty.
can not calculate at less than two hundred
thousand the number Of lrishmen who have al
ready fallen in this horrible warfare. These men
I'll =. a. al. ~f
youth and strength. Had they fallen in contend
ing for the freedom of their own country, their
memory would have been consecrated by the
annals Of patriotism. Their heroism would
have been admired even by those who bate
nati0n-but truth compes me to say that these
brave men are now regarded as mere mercena-
ries, who tor the sake Of a handful of dollars,
enlist themselves in a strife. the sole OBJ
ject OF which is to determine whether one-third
Of the citizens of the States shall be governed
according 70 their own free choice. or shall
be coerced by force to suomit to a connection
and to a government which they repudiate and
abhor.
shall not inquire how many of these Irishmen
have been induced by the eloouence of General
Meagher TO ding themselves into a prematurt
grave, but feel convinced now, in 1861, that
if the Irish population of America had thrown
the weight Of their influence into the scale in fa-
vor OF peace, the miseries Of war, which have de
vastated a region that ten years since enjoyed a
greater amount OF material prosperity than any
other portion of the globe, might have been
averted
feel il to be my duty to take issue with Gen.
Meagher on this point Immediately after his first
grafton at Boston in favor of the war. Nv re-
monstrances were at that time unavailng. He
raised his brigades Where are thew now? Yet
feel convinced that the time will arrive when
sll Irishmen viii regret that my advice did not
prevail over the exhortations Of our eloquent and
popular friend.
Nothing but sense of duty could place me IN
antagonism to a comrade who shared many of my
hopes and dsappointments; but as there are some
in Ireland, and in America, too. who pay atten-
ton TO what say, / feel il TO be incumbent upon
me- at time when thousands upon thousands of
Irishmen are quitting our shores, to declare that
IL would be infinitely better for them to remain at
home earning a shilling day than TO be seduced
by the glitter of military trappings-by the So
licitatons Of crimps and man -brokers-or by the
invocation Of the most splendid oratory-to per-
ish as mercenaries in the unholy strife which now
desOlates the States Of America.
General Meagher complains that the Irish peo-
pie have identified themselves with the Orange
men and Tories of England in their sympathy
with the rebels OF the South This charge pro-
ceeds from a misconceptiOn of the state of feel
ing that prevails IN THIS country. Inere are lew
Englishmen or Anglicised irishmen who do not
reUice in the separation which has taken place
between the Southern and Northern States, be-
they were accustomed to feel that the
nrowth Of American power under the Union was
so rapid as 70 become extremely formidable TO
England. On the other hand the patriotic party
in Ireland deeply regret the severance Of these
States because they found the increasing strength
OF the United States guarantee against English
night be useful for the protection OF Ireland
But after this war had unhappiy broken out
when from the course of eventsit became mani
fest TO all mankind that there is between South
and North an alienation OF feeling which canno'
be recOnciled-when il became evident that the
South. even If conquered, could be retained ir
connection with the North only by coercion
then the lovers of human freedoui-the uphold
ers of the right of selfgovernment--bega tc
feel that though the dissolution Of the Union
might be a great calamity, its maintenance BY
such means are employed by Russia 10 orde:
to retain Poland under subsection would be
greater evil. Instead therefore, of bounding OF
the conbatants to mutual destruction. we earn
estly rray that the Americans may settle the
differ snces by smcable adjustment. even though
the operation my be injurious to US.
Iermit me further TO observe that whilst th.
pstriots of Ireland deeply lament the destruction
s1d rapine which now desolate America, thos.
Englishmen who hate the Americans-and the]
are not few-rejoice to witness the fury will
which the Northerners continue to carry on th,
war, because the exhaustion Of resources which
var produces to both the contendiDg parties
strengthens the relative ascenGency of English
power. Those Englishmen, also, who hate Ire
land-and they are not few-are delighted tC
find such man ss Meagher stimulating his Eel.
low couEGymen 10 rush into the SHAMELESS il
which butchery awaits them They know tha
every lrishman who has fed TO America is AT
enemy of England. Naturally, therefore, the,
rejoice when they learn that the number of thei
enemies is diminished weekly BY the operations
of relentless war We, then. who wish fo
peace entitled TO rebut the charge of Genera
Meagber by declaring that he is acting a par
which Is acceptable TO those whom he calls 9TH
Orangemen and Tories Of England
An impression prevails in the minds of som
Of our deiudsd fellow countryuen. to the effec
that Gen. Me&gher is exciting them with sucl
sarnestness 20 take part in the civil war o
America with view 70 prepare item for the In
vasion Of Ireland. more absurd mode of pre-
pairing them TO attack an enemy was never de
vised by the imagination Of man. 1t is not coll
bow many lrishmen who enlisted in the Southerl
armies have been sent into another world b
Meaghers brigade; but Il has been stated II be-
iisve on bic authority that he carried twels
hundred fBe young frishmen into the battle o
fredericksburg. and that he brought out Of tha
engagement unframed only two hundred an
fifty. Could The worst enemies OF Ireland desr
that the Irish should be spurred to destruction
by infatuation more insane than that which tn,
induces Irishmen 10 butcher each other in tai
sccursed war.
General Meagher excuses us on the ground tina
We are ignorant respecting American affairs, an
abstains from imputing base motives 10 our de