The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-10-11


WE MEET, in our Northern exchanges, with 4
somewhat spirited controversy between tho Boston
I'Ro. and tho Irish Nation, over JonN Mitchell
once widely known and honorcd the Irish
Patriot Tho Pilot, it will be seen, contends that
Mitchell has lost his claim to whatever of respect
and admiration was duo to him i'll that character;
and he reply is spirited, portion of which, only,
however, wo feol at liberty to rcpublish:
The Dublin Nation, with o wilful blindness to
all tho facts iii Nftchets case, has tho hartlihood,
Irish people as tho Mitchell OF 154S-sufIering in
the same cause-a rebel then, rebel in like man.
ncr now! OIL shameless prostitution Of posi- ton
the guide and friend of the people, becomes
their betrayer and enemy by taking this course.
john Mitchell, in 1s4s, found his country oppress-
sion. John Mitchell, i'll 1861, found himself fugi-
tive in ANOTHER land, protected, trusted, treated
Sas baraa es pS in I
and sought to destroy tho country which thus pro-
tected him. Is there no difference between the
of 184S was fighting for ireland and liberty; the
John Mitchell Of 1861 was fighting. against Ireland,
and, for slavery; and yet the Dublin Nation heart
whose generous hospitality ho betrayed.
1t will be noted that the oagcr zeal of The Pilot
to make out q case against MIR. Mitchell has neces-
oSn ehe of Jon
1861" are supposed to be a contrast. The John
Wo this to
a maisprint Of the word stRepublo" for empire"
but for what follows 'John Mitchell, in 1861 found
himself fugitive in another land; protected, trust
ed, treated with confidence, guest of the Rcpub,,
lie; and he basely betrayed the confidence roposed
in him, and sought to destroy tho country which
Now, everybody knows that Tho Pilots 'his-
torical fact about .John Mitchell in 1861" is pal,
pable faisehood., "John Mitchell in 1861" found
himself ga guest of the French Empire; and he
surely has not ''aought to destroy the country
which thus protected him." In 1861 the ancient
and legal process-by the deliberate act Of her
established and legitimate Govcrnment-by her
supreme State ruler or Governor-by her duly and
tors-by every lawful means Of action and express
sion-withdrew herself from tho Federation or
partnership previously existing between her and
other free, sovereign and independent States of
North America. Long after this act on the part
OF the sovereign STAG Of Virginia after Viz
nership with other like States, in the exercise of
choice as free and sovereignty as rightfu and le-
gitimate as that exercised by her seventy five
confidence" Did he 'betray the confidence re-
posed in him2" Did he ''seek to destroy the coun-
try which thus protected hinl?"
Make answer, his ruined fortunes and desoate
home Make answer, blood-dyed Gettysburg and
Sumter, where his two noble boys laid down their
lives defending ''the country which thus protected
him." While The Pilot editor was going with the
tide and vieing with every Black Republican in
anti-Catholic New England in a war of invasion,
John Mitchell was among those who wagcd de-
fensire war, and his foot never passed from Vir-
ginian soil while the struggle lasted.
In reverting to this subject we cannot foreeo
the expression of feeling of regret that it should
have seemed important to the Government to pro-
coed against mitchell Whatever may be said
of his prudence or his Judgment, merits of which
he has never been ambitious, it must be confessed
that he is singulary gifted and singularly true to
his convictions. No one can suppose that he was
influenced Ivy any other than the purest motives
II sidllfg Wit II Tie South. With his great hold ON
the Irish heart, he might have aspircd to any OBJ
ject OF ambition at the North the numbers of that
nation who energizod the General Government,
would have made him power, while the Confe-
deracy had nothing to offer. There were within
its limits few who could respond to his stirring
eloquence, and there was no inducement there
fore, beyond that which consisted in the feeling
that in that cause there was something that had
inspired tho genius of his early manhood
Nor was there, in his experience, anything to
disappoint the humble expectations of advantage
from participation in such cause. Without the
experience, or, perhaps the fitness, for military
command, he had nothing left him but the life of
an humble journalist. While, of his sons, ono
was twice OF thrice severely wounded, another the
gallant Captain JOHN mitchell, besprinkled with
his LIES blood the battlements Of Fort Sumter and
WILLIE his last, the charming boy took for his
final resting place the field of ripening grain that
clothed tho slope before the heights of Gettys-
burg, He was, indeed, glorious boy Return
ing with his father from abroad he could not wait
for opportunity, If that were possible to one 80
young, but took his station in the wasted ranks of
the First Virginia Regiment and started with it on
its long and weary marches; butt though weary to
others, they were scarcely 30 to him. He had ac-.
quired taste-how, it was difficult to say. upon
the pavemcnts Of Paris-for natural science. Bugs
became his specially; his long marches through
The woods and fields Of Virginia was but pleas
ant pursuit OF entomology. The officer who jn-
spected his arms and accoutrements was sure TO
Withdraw his hand from WuLrEs knapsack COW
cred with beetles; and thus the lad. lured from
battlefield to battlefield by the charms of science
was scarcely conscious Of the trials and priyatons
OF tho march, and, bright and buoyant, tool, bis
place amid the serried ranks OF P1oKEr's Division
as, at moments suspension Of that superhuman
fire eof artillery, it took it's STEADY march upon tho
heights of Gettysburg. All know the history OF
that famous charge. A crisis had como to tho
pattie-to the war-almost to human history At
That breathless hour and moment tho battle
paused-nature's self seemed in suspsnse- that
compact division started to advance. Tho way
was swept by artillery; horses and riders went
down at every step; tho line was cut soon thew
could not close the gaps; groups were melted IN
oer 'hat remorseiess fire, and but feeble remnant