Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-13

V
WHEREAS. Certain questions connected with the
general politics OF the United States. xith local
partisanship in matters foreign TO Irish freedom.
with differences Ia reli siOus faith. The great
obstacles that impede the successful working o.
the Fenjrn Brotherhood anu DELAY The redemp
tiou of Ireland By lerpeiuating IN this country
the ancient 'iis-cusiOns oi her sons, though upon
issues for the mosi part peculiar g. America;
be it
Resoired That every subject relating 70 the
internal politics OF Amrrica ard the QuHrrels OF
American psrtisaus: together with III -ulse-ts re
aung differences n feii gi"n -. absolutely and
forever excluded from theruun,el- and delibera-
tons OF the Fenian Brsthetioo,i. and Dc declared
totally foreign Is oaJecrs ami designs: aud that
We furthermore invite evers sincere friend of lib
erty, without distinction oi psrsy creed. 10 Join
cordially ami harmOuiOu>ly Sth us upon the lieu
trail platform oi lr-h Independence
VI
WAERlAs Certain men. actUaied by feelings
of special hostility either e. the national reslr-
rectiUn and independence OF lIelmd Ia particular,
or. by general inscri inmate hatred To the prin
cipies Cf sell government aud popular sovereign
J--tu the republican idea Hseli-ha,e repeatedly
attacked the Fenan Brotherhood upon false pre-
tencs- and uuounded assumptions some assert
ing that 1t l. secret society, bound together
by an oath, and, Is such, distinctly condemned
by the Catholic Church. thFough certain rescrip-
thereof leveled gainst the Feemasons. .CaIbo1sri.
Odd Fellows and other similar associations, 80
cia or political; while other assaiiants confue
their attacks To vaguely charging the said broth
erhOOd with being an Illegal society and cOnse-
quently sinful. and. without defining the points
wherein its legaiity consists. aud without stating
what particular laws have been traisgressed aud
in what country these laws have been enacted
arch;cal laws or republican laws. whether We are
10 look for them in the statute books OF the
Unite,i States or among lhe uksses OF the old
despotisms of Europe: and.
WHkRhAs. These accusations having inpeded
the progress OF the cause Oi the freedom OF Ire
land un This continent. W. feel called upon 10
repudia,e and deny their truth: be il ia the first
place
ResOire6. That Ne. the members Of this con
veptipn. most distinctly declare AMI make known
to all whom it mas concern but without the
slightest d>respeci 10 any Oi Tic s0rietles above
namea. that the FEsIAS BRoTHERHooD is not
secret sociffy. iiasmuch as uo pledge OF secresy
expressed or implied j. demanded IRON the can
didaies :ur membership Thereof: neiI her is il al
ogth-6oVnd society, for no oath whatever il
Quired to entiie 4 man to all the privileges of the
assuciation: hence. Il the mere fac, of its mem
begs pieigug themselves 70 secresy can render
an a->oCHifoC Siilfui ACCORDING 20 ine laws oi tue
| Catholic Church. 'here being pledge oi scores,
there can be 40 STA IA becoming truisn BROTHER.
! again, il the mere itct OF its men.beJs being re
! qIired 10 Ike sn oath upon entering t can rem
der 1t -iriui. where tresc j. oath required there
can be sin. on ;ho -roun.is above stated in
! joining the Fe.isn Broiherlood: ia the second
! place be q
/ Rssoiced, That Ne prDfes; n,Ost enI2haticalIs =
/ against the cssuistTy at the charge made against
a. - q -
Fen.an o,Oiherhoosi contemplate no breach OF the
laws Il the United Staies. while aiding in tht
| Liberation 0f lreiand. aHd that We challenge our
! as-ainnts 20 point ont any one instance wherein
onr ASSOCIATION h trans-ressed one single pro
vi-cn of the said laws during the past SIX years
tor 80 loug has u ex~tsl aHd. Il e hss. let e bs
indicted be the legal Ulcers oi the American
gov erureit. sni !st the question be s.scied 10
the American coiFi- of Justice. for these arc the
onlS arii,.er. that .e ackhOw leiee upon question:
involving H.eostuy; thar ~ nevertheless tull,
admit that our association nav possibly bs
open To the charge OF beng illegal, II tesiec
I by the laes of Lnglanb. hut these xe have repu
| dated on tax Hg the oath OF allegiance To- tho
United States. N ac. Uhica Ue knOT 10 bs
illegal according 20 the latter eode but not OF
that account The less right AID just. Ia the third
place be il
Realized, That y nile Ke conduct ourselves a.
|
most firmly and emphatieaiv protest against. re
pudiais aud resist. al interference xith the egit
mate exercise OF civic and social privileges a'
freemen under the mercan Constitution. on tho
part Of sny or class oi men, AMI more espe
I cially on the part OF those who NAV claim TO
ceive Instructions from any foreign potentate oi
foreign official ~hatsoeyer: for, we're we 10 SuOmn
10 such interference, ve would te unwOThy OI
participating in The great political privilege:
I rho he fxa.t.. .rs
invested
WHEREas. Certain crccs If the Fenian or
caiz ton as we'll a. Individual msuSer- thereof
have, in few instances. adopted forms Of pledg
e. peculiar to ihemselves: and
WHEREAS. These forms. ov falling into the
hands OF our e1em'es, have subjected the SAID
organization - misrepresentation and ealumny
and. while do not forbid any me rnber TO take
any form OF pledge that nav please himself slf
respec. either TO the redemption OF Ireland or q
-ny other suiiees. provided the ssrDe be Dot hos
tile 10 our Gaze. oe 4
Resotrsd. Ia order TO prevent rnisconception q,
10 our obligations in future that the following b
adopted a. the oply form that shall hsncelorth b.
obligatory in or,ler 20 snttie 8 candidate ~
the rights and privileges OF q membership in th
Fsnian Bro,herhooG:
General PIsdge Of Mernbershiy 10 the Fenisr
Brotherhood
Il solemnly pledge my sacred ~or
. OF honor. ~ 3 truthful aud honest man, that
viii labor With earnest zesl for the Liberation o
Ireland from the yoke of England. and for III
establishment Of free and independent govern
meni on Irish soil: th.; will implic
lily obey the comms snds OF my superior officers i
the FeniaIi Broiherhooi that ! will faithful
discharge the dutez o! nv membership a. lai
down in TIE Constitution aniby laws thereof: tha
will 10 my utmost 20 promote feeling. Of lov.
harmony and kindly ior''e.rancs among All IrisF
men; aud Inat will foster. propagate and defen
the aforesaid Penian Brotherhood 10 the utmo.
| of nv power"
WHEREAS IL is selfeydent and incourrc
vertible fact. that profound love of Ireland an
: a never ceasing longing Tor her Liberation fror