Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-07


even II they had been brought forward. I do not
concej,S that any lmputation Of "lawless an
bluon," could be founded upon the introduce
ton OF such elements Into the consideration OF
this question. Let Us suppose that, In 1882,
the Irish patriots had learned that instead Of
the amlcable adjustment which then took place
by a concession OF the demands OF ireland. the
British ministry bad appointed Lord Lieuten-
ant In Ireland, who would undoubtedly have
filled all oficla' stations with EnglIshmen. or
with lrishmen who we're opposed 70 the nation
al interests. would Meagher have reproached
them " they had made the appointment ofsuch
Lord Lieutenant easus belci. aud had subjec.
ted TO the aFbitrament Of the sword the ques-
tons that were then nj issue between England
and Irelandi Neither IL Mr.. Toombs 10 be
blamed for having taken into account this ele-
ment In considering the relations between the
Southern and Northern States Of America.
Equally unreasonable are the reproaches with
which the Southerners have been assailed, because
nc the time OF the secession thew took posses
sion Of the forts and arsenals which were situated
la the Southern territory. Those forts and
snals belong a. much to the .Soulhefners as 70
the Northerners. and as the secession naturally
gave 90 the Northerners the arsenals and dock
yards which were situated In the Northern
States, so II gave 10 the Southerners those
which are situated In the seeding States. III
the Irish instruction OF lS4S had been success
full, would not General Meagher have laughed TO
scorn any one who should have reproached him
for taking possession of Spike Island. because il
was called by the English British fortl Fort
Sumter stands In relation to Charleston in a po-
stion exactly similar to that which is occupied
by Spike Island IN relation 10 Cork.
Let il not be supposed. however. that write
these pages with view TO justify the secession.
When made tour of the Southern States OF
North America. ia 1882 | earnestly implored my
Southern friends to renounce the idea of a separ
alton which could not fail TO be disastrous to
them as we'll as to the whole of the Republic
When learned that instead of endeavoring to
obtain redress for their real or imaginary griev-
ances by peaceful negotiation, the forces OF South
Carolina had fred upon Fort Sumpter thought
/ IL extremely natural that the Inhabitants of the
Northern States should meet force by force in
maintenance of the Union. Mr.. II. W. Beecher
asked an auditory in London, last week, whether
Englishmen would or ought TO tolerate the Sc
cession OF Kent from the political unity which
now holds together the several counties of Eng
land. / answer without hesitation that such a
secession ought to be prevented by force whilst
Kent enjoys equality of rights with the other in
habitanss of Britain; and though l maintain,
| speaking theoretically. that South Carolina, or
Maine, enjoys right to Withdrew from the Union,
yet practical question il is not unnatural that
the other members of the United States should
endeavor 10 pre"ent by force secession which
may be injurious to the whole Union. But since
after a succession of bloody engagements it has
been seen that what appeared at first to be the
within of a single State, is the deliberate resolve
of several millions of people-sinee il has been
seen that though contending under many difficult
| ties and disadvantages. the Southern leaders
have displayed more able craftsmanship and more
skillful strategy than have been exhibited by their
adyersares--when il is manifest that they pos
sess all the qualifications which render people
| fitted Tor self government-an attempt TO coerce
them into enforced subsection becomes nothing
less than unjustifable and iutoerable tyranny.
At the time when. in 1861. / addressed letter
on this subject to Mr. Seward, it was said by the
| Northerns that the war would be terminated in
| three montbs-yet now after the lapse of thirty
months, il is doubtful whether Washington is
not exposed to greater danger than is to be
apprehended by Richmond or Charleston: and,
although the Northerns hold military occupa
ton Of many important posts in the Southern
territory they do not appear to have recon-
ciIed to their dominion any important section
of the inhabitants of the revolted States. The
question, therefore, recurs which / put to Mr.
Seward in lS6l-assuming that you will sooner
or later conquer the Southern States bow do YOU
propose to govern them 4? If you leave to them
the rights of self government, which they have
hitherto enjoyed, they will be more dangerous to
yon as unwilling associates than they could be in
the guise of open enemies. There remains
therefore, no other policy by which these terrific
ries can be governed except that which was for
merly adopted by England toward lreland-and
which is now practced in Poland by Mouravef
and Berg under the sanction and approval of the
tyrant Alexander. This is the policy of con6s
cation. devastation, and of determination. That
lean and hungry adventures should covet the
rich possessions of the Southern planters, and
f,.rv H.. IS anAa
mination which will resemble the plantation of
Ulster and the crueltes OF Cromwell, is extreme
" natural but, il is a spectacle painful and hu-
initiating TO all lovers of freedom to find one of
the representative men of the Irish race-himself
an exile and Catholic-vindicatng course of
policy similar to that which expelled the natives
of Ireland from their possession and from their
homes.
have spent much time in analizing the letter
of General Meagher. because, although, it is ad-
dressed 90 private friend, il was evidently writ
ten appeal to the public opinion Of this
country Though it is overaden with cumula-
tive epithets of declamatory invective, it is a
production which has evidently been prepared with
care. aud deserves a deliberate response. In
this respect it contrasts favoraby with cleo
ton squib recently addressed to Mr. Meagher to
the electors of Ohio in opposition to the claims
of Mr.. Vallandigham, in whose person all the
violated. Sad, indeed, is it to me TO find that
our comrade, who was once the champion of hu
man liberty, has enlisted himself the defender
of every sort OF tyrannical surpation-Thomas
Francis Meagher the young tribune. once the
champion of his countrys freedom, has become
an advocate of system Of government which
carries into effect IFS policy
By suspending the writ of habeas corpus and
. thereby susDending the personal liberty OF every
tp ffron NJ hn nit Sf.fG AZ tha aprfna nfo
, single ruler or OF bis mnions.
BY coercng into the ranks of the Federal
army, through the instrumentality OF conscrp-
ton, all who cannot afford 10 purchase their de-
livefance by an enormous ransom and by driv-
ing, under the terrors of military execution. un.
willing conscrpts into fields OF battle where they
perish for cause which is not sanctioned by the
approval of their own conscences-
, BY superceding the rights which, under the
Constitution of the United States, were guaran.
, tied TO each individual State. ers a.
Lastly, by fraternizing with the tyrant of Rus
STA, who is at this moment engaged in carrying
into effect such system of measures against the
| noble Polish nation, as has won for him and
all who abet him the execraton of mankind.
Alasi that We should have ever witnessed such
back-sliding on the part of an Irish patriot II
such be the result Of republican freedom ESQ
; caled) in America we shall soon learn TO be re-
coDciled to the worst forms of European despot-
/ ism.
How different career lay open 20 our friend
Possessing the love and confidence of several
} millions OF Americans, native well as Irish
born, he might have applied his persuasive die
ton TO the restoration Of peace instead of urging
J those millions to ding their sons into the fire
which COW burns before the altar of Moloch He
{ might have taught the Canadians to look to
America for model Of political institutions