New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-11-04
THE
THE
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
EENIAN BROTHERHOOD,
1865.


1risb Tace in Ireland do ordain and establish TINS
Constitution for the Fcnian Brotherhood IN the
| Tinted States and other portions OF America:
| ARTICLE i.
Srcr1oy l. The Fenan brotherhood is sistinet ana
| independent organization. .,... -, ,ho
II Is comnosed IN the first place, OF citizens OF the
United STATES Of America, OF lrish oith anu Hnease
and in the second place oil lrisen anu al i the
Ireland living on the American C0utlnent anu III tHe
PROVINCES of the British Empire wherever situated.
Is hea6ouarers arc and shall be- within the limits OF
! the United States of America .,t .ho follow
SEC , Its members are DOuRu togclei ny '"' i''''"
| ing General Pledge; ~, mae, y, bonor % ,trnth g..
solemny pledge sacred wqtS o, ro,G si for The
eton Of and rom the yoke Of Ensand and ior w. &
I'm obey The commands Of superior officers
in Fenian brotherhood N all ,es a INV ~ duties i
helr az Iad down in the Constitution and by aw
hsTeoi hsi w f oG snoas al Isnen and hat
will foster. defend aud propagate The lofesS'u i''"
h0 Src The Fenan brotherhood shall be subdyided
into state district and local Crces-Stales SIG us
tTics 10 be directed and controlled by state anu
Centers and local Circles by Centers VINO sna ioS'ao
within the limits of their respective lurisdic'''nS
S,or,ov, An ,egisIstiye powers herein granted
bo he vcstpd I'm Conl Of the Fenan brotherhood
of tie United States and other portions OF Ame!sa,
which shall consist OF Senate ana elIes'"'"'''0
SEC o The Representatives shall be delegates chosen
everv year hy the Brotherhood IN good standing OF INC
several States and districts. Delegates shh VI
;ond emonr the several States and districts which
NAV be included within the Union ara other POI iSnS Vi
America according TO their respective numDer OF tr
cles each Circle being entitled to one del,sh'e ii
49, bnndred members more or less bat not less than
len and one additional delegate for iractonSi peI' Vi
hundred members eneerdlng MY m Su. GOD Of the
United States and other portions OF America sha De
composed of fifteen 90 seuatorsi they sna be 9onl
mated by committee Of two from each state ana uis
,ic elected Ly e delegates of each State ana district
m Congress assembled; and such nominees shan DC
. elected bv a twothirds vote Of said Congress , n.
| SIC 4 Each body shall elect It's own presiding ON
s and hail he tie Judge OF the election returns ana
qua ifcaons Of its own members ana nHJoil'3 10, ~
each body snail constitute quorum loi le ,t ~,
of busipess; bat a smaller number mh! huJouiI, Hon
Jov IN dav and NAV be authorized u coHlpel the A.
,endauce Of absent members IN such manner ana unueI
such penalties as such BODY may pI",iue RIA.
SIC g. Each body may determine the rules OF its pro
cecdiurs punish It's members for dlsoidery behavior
and with the concurrence Of twotlrds' eApei q mo1
SIC The Senate shall keep journal, and furnish
lie members and the Secretary Of tie Brotherhood win
n record of its odings; and SAID secretary snh
Furnish such information as nv! 81 tbe several
States excepting such parts MS may ID theif
require secrecy -, II,
| ncrmonent President who shall De Vice. President
81 the Fenan Brotherhood. and in case Of the death
impeachment inability 10 act or tsos' I ~ So,
shall act as President Of the Fenian brotherhood
Src s The Senate shall have the sole power 10 ny
and should IL become necessary try the President or
Vice President Of the Fenan brotherhood the senate
shall elect lis presiding officer pro f'fpore ana no per
son shall be convicted WITHOUT 'Ho 'o"N"'''O0 wv
G thirds Of the Senate ,,,
No n poet faoio laws shall be passed -,
" syc o. Judgment in cases OF impeachment shaH DC
final and M the discretion Of the senate. go
@ The Senate shall meet IN perpetual session WINE IN
Office and organize within TWO aays .', ,e -, n
ard shall have power 10 auJouI" "'N' ' W ~
Syc TO- The General Congress shall assemble at least
once In every year and such meeting .lal De on be
Get, az SeuFmDcr. Al tuch pace a.
b dent and Senate NAV deem NJ a
SIC II. AL proportions for raising revenue ana nh
inc salaries Of officers aud mployes II the broberhooi
shnu originate in the Senate tina be referred 10 Ae
President of the Fenian Brotherhood for Taiiicaion
II he approve, he shall sign and return W,tih wsn
four hours after the receipt tlereo II ne do not ap
move he shall indoTse his objections ana return the
sane 10 that body. who shal enter ms oosclohs AZ
large the Journal and proceed 70 reconsider
If not already assembled, and present the objections
and then. il the proposition receive thas vote
IL shn bee me ordinance; and In failure to return
within one day the action Of the Senate by at"oIhiids
u vote shall become a law. -
SIC ~ The records Of the voting in all such cases
shall be taken and entered at large upon the Journal OF
q that body. ,,-e
No saaried officer shall be member Of the Senate
- SIC 49, No appropriation OF money shall be made
hut by vote Of the Senate Of the Fenan Brotherhood
. subject to the conditions and qualifications LAID down
! in Sec. H. referring to raising revenue ana hinE saa
ries Of officers 49,,
Article III.
SECTION ]. The executive power OF the Fenian
brotherhood shall be vested in President. who shall
hold his term Of Office for one year and be elected Tor
4 said term by General congress OF the oehule mlu
Il House Of Delegates
J SIC 2. Said Congress shall elect the President by
ballot nno quorum for this purpose shall consist OF
two thirds Of said Senators and Delegates hut major
. ity of the whole shall be necessary 10 a choice.
Src g. The President shall receive for his services a
o stated compe Dsaon which shall be neither Increased
nor diminished during the period for which he shall
r have been elected.
u SIC. T. Before he enters upon the duties of his office
the President shall take the following oath or ailrma'
N Il do soemnly Tor affirm that viii tfaly eSeoa.
The dg Of rdea Of ,hs tnisH BG S ., Of
The s Of s Pn ly protect and defend the
:" SEC. 5 The President Of the Fenian brotherhood
shall nominate a Secretary Of Military Affairs. Secre.
tary Of the Treasury Secretary of Naval Analrs and
Secretary Of Civil Affairs whose nominations shall be
approved 6y the Senate and In the President fail
Il within a reasonable period 10 nominate such heads Of
bueans the Senate by vote OF tyothirds OF their
), body shall fill such positions, having previously given
the President twentyiour hours notice Of their inten'
ton 10 do and such heo Of said departments. are
hereby constituted board advisers to the Executive
and IN ease OF disagreement between thcn ana Tue
p Executive upon point involving the welfare Of the
Brotherhood the shall be referred 10 the Senate.
whose decision on The point shall be hnal until The as
sembling Of the next Congress.
SEC 6. The President shall have power, by and with
the advice and OF the Senate make arrange.
mcms and treaties with persons or powers friendly 10
the objects Of the Fcuien Brotherhood and fha by and
with the advice and consent OF the Senate appoint all
ENJOYS aud ambassadors and all other ofeers Of the
Fenian Brotherhood whose appointments are rot here
in otherwise provided for, and which may be estab.
lished under the provisions Of This Constitution
SIC :. In any vacancy should occur In Any OF
the departments. State Centers, by DEATH rest
! tiCn or dismissal such vacancy shall be filed b. the
President with the approval aud OF the Sena,e
such appontee 10 hold the Office during the une1prad
{ term.
SIC. g. The President may extraordinary occa.
sions both houses. either of them. and in
Of disagreement between them. with respect to the