Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-07-09


the military commission in this case we're
approved By the proper comuanders snd the v
record forwarded 70 the President for action,
who directed that tbe sentence be mitigaied
% reonhnemeht 10 the Penitentlary at hard
labor for heev5ears The Penilentiary Vt
Coleuabus, Ohio, was designsied a as the plate
a eon6nsweht y Cindianati G0zeHs
DsaIhOf william smith q Brien.
Thsa announcement Of the death Of William
Smith D Brien will be received with deep and
sincere regret BY his eouptrymsn all over
the world The sad event, as we are informed
By the last news from Europe, occurred on the
lib Of June, but there Is no mention made
where he was tesiding atthe time Of his de-
cease.
As the intelligence reachelus when we wrre
going to press, we are obliged to content our
selves with the following brief sketch of his
life, but we shall endeavor 10 do justice To his
career add character in our next number:
William Smith O Brieu, the Irish patriot was
bora 10 the county OF Glare, Oct II, 1903,
and was consequently, at the time of his death,
in tbs sixtyifir4t year. He belonged to fam
lily ranking aRong the most ancient in Ire
lahd, and derSihk its descent from Brian
. 81
Cambridge, ID 1927 entered parliament for the
borough Of Ennis, county Clare, and in 1892
Was returned for comfy Limerick, a constiu-
ency which he contlnned to represent for
many years The repeal movement of
l942-'3 enlisted his sympathies, and be dis
tingnished himself by his strenuous opposi-
ton to the passage OF the Irish arms act, Au-
gust 1913 The arrest OF 0'Connell and the
other repeal leaders iu the succeeding Novem-
Der on charges OF conspiracy and unlawfully
assembling, led 10 his becoming an active
member Of the repeal association. He now
became an earnest debatOr on questions af
fecting Ireland and in May pls4G. for reius-
| ing to serve on committees OF the house, he
was eommitted to.the custody OF the sergeant,
alarms. who held him III confinement for
several days
Upon The introduction by John 0'Connel
OF his peace resolutions into The repeal asso-.
citation, in July, 1864, be lett that body with
the "Yohng ireland or physical force party
/ lie nevertheless abstained from couuseling
violent action; but the French revolution Of
l849 gave an ultra tone to his views and
shortly after that event he made a violent
speech 10 the Hpuse Of Commons threaten,
ing to establish an independent republic in
Ireland. In'April be Accompanied a depnta-
uUn sent BY the '1rlsh Confederation Par
il, TO request aid on behalf Of the Oppressed
nationality Of ireland" and feceived abund-
ant expressions of sympathy from l.amsr,ine
and his coadjutors, but no direct offers Of as
sistance. Returning home in may, he aided in
organizing anauonal convention Of the Irish
people, which, boweyer, was not permitted TO
assemble In May ne was brought to trial
together with Thomas Francis Meagher, on a
charge Of sedition, but escaped oonvctioB. -
His great zeal coon hurried him into more
overt acts Of "treason," and in July, ls49, he
attempted a rising among the pessantry OF
Ballinearry, which was, however, suppressed
by the police He took refuge in Tipperary,
and on August was arrested near Thurles
and conveyed 10 Dublin. He was brought to
trial at Clonmel in October on charge OF
high treason, tSohycted, and sentenced To
death; but the sentence was COMMITTED Ia
transportation for life InJuly, ls49, he EN-.
barked for Van Diemen Land, where he It.
mained untifIs56, when the pardon accorded
to the Irish palyiots Of lS4s euaSled him 10 re
turn home In 1859 he paid visit to the
United States the circumstances attending
his reception and sejourn are yet fresh in The
minds Of our readers metropolitan Record
.