Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-02
Letter OF william smith o,Brien fn
answer To the Letter OF gen. uea-

CHER
The following letter has been written by Mr.. I
o'Brieu % the editor Of the Dublin Iris'msn:
KlLlARSrY. October d 1865.
My Dear SMITH. | perceive that our iuend
tt. Aeaghss, not satisfied zith having made IN
America q series % brilliant oratons N favor OF
a continuance Of the civil war that has ragged
during nearly three years In the United States.
has sent a dispatch 10 ireland which is evidently
intended 70 induce Irish emigrants to enlist under
the Federal banners. upon their arrival IN Amer
ica.
/ perceive also that 700 have endorsed the
opinions contained in that dispatch with your ap-
pOval
Nevertheless address this Communication to
you in full confidence that you will give to the
public an opportunity Of considering ideas that
are totally al variance with those which have been
put forward by you and by Gen. Meagher.
Two years ago. ventured to address to such
OF the politicians OF America as have shown a
disposition TO pay respect 20 my opinions, an ear
nest PRAYER that they would submit 10 an AMIGA
bic adjustment the questions which had rent in
twain the Untei States, rather than that they
should continue TO massacre each other
Nv suggestions were received with Difference,
but | can scarcely complain that they were not
adopted when the mediation of the Emperor OF
the French was declined by Congress in terms
which induced that any offer of this would be
considered intrusive
Whilst such spirit is eyinced by the Federas.
those friends of America who desire witness
the termination OF this war are silenced, should
not have broken this silence il Gen. Meagher had
not made an appeal bis fellow country men,
which, If left unanswered, might induce many
thousands Of Irishmen to 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 Irishmen who have al
ready fallen in this horrible warfare. These men
have fallen in the prime OF lfe-in the vigor of
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 hate our
nation-but truth compels me to say that these
brave men now regarded as mere mercena-
ries, who. for the sake of n handful Of dollars.
enlist themselves in strife. the sole OBJ
ject of which is to determine whether one-third
Of the citizens Of the States shall be governed
according TO their own free choice. or shall
be coerced by force TO submit To connection
and TO a government which thew repudiate and
abhor.
shall not inquire how many of these Irishmen
have been induced by the eloguence of General
Meagher TO fling themselves into prematurt
IL the Irish population OF America had thrown
the weight of their influence into the scale in IA
vor of peace, the miseres 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
ayerted
feel it To be my duty TO take issue with Gen.
Meagher on this point, immediately alter his first
Grafton at Boston in favor of the war. Ny re-
axaft lIn
raised his brigadesl Where are thew now? Yet
/ feel convinced that the time will arrive when
all Irishmen will regret that my advice did not
prevail over the exhortations OF our eloquent and
popular friend
Nothing but a sense of duty could place me IN
aDtagonism to a comrade who shared many of my
hopes and disappointments; but as there are some
in Ireland, and in America. too, who pay atten-
ton To what saw feel il To be incumbent upon
me- at "A 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 shilling day than to be seduced
by the glitter of military trappings-by the So
licitations 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 n misconception OF the state of feel
ing that prevails in this country. There are few
Englishmen Anglicsed lrishmen who do not
rejoice in the separation which has taken place
between the Southern and Northern States, be-
they were accustomed to feel that the
nr0wth OF American power under the Union was
rapid TO become extremely formidable TO
England. On the other hand the patriotic party
in lraia nd thn -ayp of
States. because they found the increasing strength
ofthe United States qua rantee against English
oppression, which, under various contingencies,
might be useful for the protection of Ireland
But after this war had unhappily broken out
when from the course of events 1t became mani
fest to all mankind that there is between South
and North an alienation OF feeling which cannot
be reconciled-when 1t became evident that the
South, even il conquered, could be retained in
connection with the North only by coercion
then the lovers of human freedoni-the uphold
of the right of self government-bega to
feel that though the dissolution of the Union
might be a great calamity, its maintenance by
such means as are employed by Russia in orde.
to retain Poland under subsection would be a
greater evil Instead, therefore. OF bounding on
the comDatants mutual destruction. earn
estly pray that the Americans may settle their
differences by amicable adjustment even though
the separation NV be injurious to
Permit me further TO observe that whilst the
patriots OF Ireland deeply lament the destruction
and rapine which now desolate America, those
Engshmen who hate the Americans--and the,
not few-reloice to witness the fury will
which the Northerners continue 10 carry on the
war. because the exhaustion of resources which
VAR produces 10 both the contending parties
strengthens the relative ascencency of English
power Those Englishmen, also. who hate Ire
land-and they are not fey--are delighted &c
find such a Meagher stimulating his fel
low countrymen 10 rush into the shambles in
which butchery awaits them. They know thai
every Irishman who has fed 10 America is al
enemy of England Naturally therefore, the 5
rejoice when ,hey learn that the number OF their
enemies is diminished weekly by the operation:
of relentless war. We then. who wish fol
peace entitled to rebut the charge of Genera
Meagber by declaring that he is acting par
which is acceptable to those whom he calls ''ths
Orangemen and Tories Of England.
An impression prevails in the minds of som,
of our deluded fellow countrymen. TO the effec
that Gen. Meagher is exciting them with suct
earnestness 10 take part in the civil war Of
America with view TO prepare item tor the in
vaslOn OF Ireland \ more absurd mode of pre-
pairing them To- attack enemy never de-
vlsed by the imagination OF man. Ii Is not tolC
how many lrishmen who enlisted in the Southern
Meagher brigade; but il has been stated Il be-
lieve on his authority that he carried twelve
hundred fine Young lrishmen into the battle o