Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-30


wrested her from British power, on using
her as a base for their future operations.
No person, not even the gallant Gen.
Sweeney, the Fenian Secretary Of War,
would sacrifice more than myselftO raise
our " common mother from her knees"
on which she has for ages been vainly
duplicating the Ministry and Parlia-
ment" for a relaxation of their severity
toward her. Nc one would more viii
lingly aid in lifting from her the superin-
eumbent weight of tyranny that OPP
presses her, and surely non would be-
more rejoiced than myself to see our be-
loved birthplace stepping forth from the
slavery Of ages, her letters burst, and her
limbs free, the im-persOnation Of majesty
and genius. Sirs, in my love for my ma
tive land / yield to none Of her most low
ING children, and when a suitable ocea-
sion Is offered to do her any good, shall
not he found far in the rear Of those
whose devotion TO herat present isshown
only by theft clamOr. However, l do
I not wish to find fault with the Fenians
or their avowed purposes, provided only
that they are not rash orimprOvident. ]
know none of them, and therefore would
not Judge their character or motives,
much more impeaeh them. Far from
me. Doubtless those who make up the
Society are sincerely honest and of good
intention. / believe ii firmly and | be-
lieve also, from the general reputation Of
many of their leaders, that they, too, art
men O fprobity, worth and great capacity,
But still / am nots.satisfied. There may be
worth, probity, honor, capacity, talent
and genius, TO a very high degree in the
Society and in its leaders or rulers, and
vet the purposes of the Society may be
overraled CT thwartedby others of greater
Influence.
Who can reasonably affirm that Fede-
raj authority can not and does not give
tones to the proceedings Of the Fenian
Congress ? Who has not seen how theil
passions rise and swell with the increas-
ing difficulties between our Government
and that of England? Who has moi
noted how the willy Secretary of State
pats them on the.shoulder as he renews
| his demands for indemnity for the losses
occasiOned by the famous Alabama? and
! how naughty and imperiOUs he has be-
come nor, towards that England, whom
| he threatens with his marshaledF enians,
all ready TO wage war with her at their
own expense, but before whom he quailed
| only a short time since, when, with indie
| corOus alacrity, he fastened TO stullify
and disgrace Congress and the country
in yielding up to her, Mason and Slidell:
Sir, I am afraid that the Fenians are
used only as a cats-paw by the Govern
ment to pull their nuts out of the fire.
1t may be different, but certainly the
ease admits of discussion, as all who will
examine the matter will be forced - ad-
| nit. Now, Sir, though a good and loyal
citizen and well wisher Of the Govern
ment, l am by no means willing that the
Irish race. Of all the other races in this
country, should be made the only soldiers
| Of the Republic. They have done their
! whole, full and complete duty in thewar
lust closed. They have S0Ued the coun-
try and preserved il undivided in its in
| tegrity. They have left imperishable
4 monuments Of their ValQF on every
I battlefield from Gettysburg to New Or
leans, from the Ohio river % the Gulf OF
Mexico. The whole country is full of
their achievements. Wherever we turn,
whether we retrace the battle fields of
Virginia or Of the West, we continually
hear Of the cOuntrymen Of Shields and
Of MeagheF, OF Cleburne and Of Pagan
or Finigan, 50 that we might well apprO-
pirate to ourselves the language Of the
Trojan hero
EQVts regto in terra non plend t1b0ris."
And what have ere gained by our devo-
ton, Our valOr, or our sutierings2 Broken
legs, heads and arms, mutilated bodies,
poverty, beggary, and-abuse. Tens Of
thousands more fortunate, found graves,
and left their widows and orphans in un-
pitied squalor, in the dark lanes and al
leys of the North, and South, lasting
proofs of public ingratitude. Country
men 90 not feel quite satisfied with this.
Do yOu want 10 see the whole ace ami
Inflated, 10 subserYe the pleasure or Inv
terest of an ~ungrateful public7 VIII eK-
perience never teach you wisdom? Are
you decreed 70 be everlasting dupes Of
the crafty? II anxious to redeem our
country, LET Us wait a while till war is
declared against England, and then the
country which cares nothing for our in
terestS or desires further than her own
are involved therein, will lie glad TO Co
operate with US iR the elevation Of our
fatherland. Further than this she will
not 90, and we are fools il We expect k.
Do not be cOnsoled with the idea Of
your great importance and the fiattery Of
newspapers Ike tho Herald, that tells
you you are a pODeF in the land. As an
organization, You are powerful, but see
to 1t that your power be used for your
own interests as a mass or bQdy, and not
for the interest of a few of those leaders,
who Ike John O'Mahony when they
have climed high in your favor, pay
themselves well for their eXertiOns in
tbir ascent. For my part / eaH not help
regarding Fepianism as far more a pOllt-
ieai than a military organization, to bring
together the Irish in this country, 10 con-
their influence. As a political
body, / think K mig6t be Of great use, if
properly managed, for the good Of the
and not sold, Unseen 10 the public,
for die seductive gold. But if as a poiit-
zeal body, what is the need Of the POmp
and state of presidents, senators and
deputies, all paid dearly Out Of the
treasury? Why have, for in
stance, q paid S6G-etary Of War, a.
though be had delegated legality, Non
sense, do not all sensible men know
that a Feniah declaration Of war
would be the quintessence of
absurdity and presumption. VINO is *
thas Is in direct violation of the
dearest principles Of international law,
'or a government, white yst y peace
with another, (and it IS 50 TIL III this
country the war is publicly declared by |
congress-, TO alloy within itself a band
IF Adventures to issue IT'S bFHfuH fBlHlcR, /
and in c~arryingit outtosa 3uiKoi cally
'orth, disturbing the peace Of the world 4? /
What government would allow this?
None at all. To DO 50, YOU'D be TO be-
,Ome q party to the war, ana the United
States will not allow its subjects 10 hurt
[ into a war which it is not disposed 10
prosecute. Seward then, / think, is play
ng only a nice game. England knows
he has inveterate foes ia the irish Of this
,Ountry, who would consider their lives
= worthless in comparison with the
,leasure ii would afford them to satisfy
heir vengeance upon her FOR her peridy
nd tyranny. Her strength IS waning.
he Irish no longer fill the rank and file
( her armies. They are transferred
oddly 10 this country, the CON glQn refuge
I mankind. She has felt their pow Is
efore, HE2 the betrayed soldiers Of
on LAE |cOnlinenL, maze
or bigot King curse tbs laws that
him OF their metal. Irish
merieans would do the same to-day If
ley had the chance, but / fear they viii
II: and their anxiety 10 be hup and at"
lefr hereditary tyrants, is made the
and by which uae enchanter Seward
owes, guides and directs them as he ,
!
But Ihave ezpatiAtea enough on this !
It has been done in good part, J
ld without any scrialoag Of feeling. | J
ould he glad that some brother irish |
an, Tho is a good Fenian, would en- I
ghten Iy mind on the subject, through e
hatever patef this may be published. Z
he doe satisfy me, ( promise him in Z
! sincerity 10 become one Of bis soGisty. e
, bidding the matter aud the world 5
cd bye for lie present, I close. 7. r. c
eciL Dispatch 10 the Cincinnati Enqatrsf v
FRo4 WASHINGTON. =
SoutherB Nembers 20 be Admitted. 4
W~AsHTNSTOs, Dec. D. a
The southern members held a caucus .
"wednesday evening, December TWEEN [
tn. anb resolved 10 20 20 their homes Il
a remain until March fourth, at any d