The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-08
BY TELEc APH
d "
Important News from the Rio
Grande.

Bulletin, at Galveston, announces that
General Sedgwick had crossed the Rio
Grande, Thursday, November 22d, with
a brigade of United States troops, and
occupied Matamoras, assuming that. he
did SO to protect the interests of American
residents in that town. The movement
created great excitement, as it was not
known whether government sanctions it
The Worlds Washington special says
the President received dispatch from
General Sheridan, announcing that Sedg-
wick had crossed the Rio Grand, and now
occupies Mexican territory with United
States troops. tits understood this move
ment has been made without the knowl-
knowledge of the President,
Great Fenian Excitennent.
New YoRK, Nov. 26.-The Tribune's
Dublin correspondent says political ex-
element has run to an alarming height in
Ireland 1t says that in every city town
and village has its full quota and militia,
and gun-boats are scattered all over the
Irish coast. These measures plainly be-
speak an apprehension of the fulfllment
of Stephens promises. His last speech
in America has been published in several
Irish journals. and has caused quite q
political furore The Irish people seem
to havc implicit confidence in his sinceri-
ty. Among all classes the conviction
grows and spreads that we are on the eve
of startling and terrible events. The
Fenian organization throughout the coun-
try is in high state of activity. Its
committees are terribly in earnest, and
their plans are shaped for a fierce and
bloody struggle. The Times London
correspondent writes: The mission of
John Bright to Ireland seems to have
been a mistake and failure OF what fu-
ture consequence it may be, it is-not easy
to predict but the signs are that the re-
reform leader lost more in England than
he can possibly gain on the other side of
the channel The entire weekly press.
and as far as | have seen, the daily also.
with the exception of his own personal
organ, is opposed to the sole original
measures he proposed for the relief of
Ireland. Bright proposes a scheme of
land which is opposed by all English ideas
of government and political economy
The Times, of November 18th, says of the
condemned Fenian prisoners in Canada.
For these persons Seward has seen fit to
interpose in behalf ofthe American Gov
ernment. Were parties in America in a
normal state, we confess we should receive
the news of such application with very
crrn r. n
indignation meetings should be held by
the Fenians. throughout the United States
threatening the British Government with
vengeance if they should dare to execute
their threats, and thus seeming as if we
were in their power to rob an act of elem
ency of all its grace and represent it mere
ly as an act of fear. For can we admit
that the case of American civil war as
put by Seward is in the least parallel to
the Fenian in Canada The Southern
States claimed the right to withdraw from
the confederaey which they had voluntari-
" entered and it was easier to refute their
claim to seeede by the sword than by the
pen, but the Fenians have not shadow
of claim to beligerent rights. They
have no Government, no territory. They
are merely citizens of friendly States.
whose object is to murder the .inhabitant IS
of a neighboring country on their own ac-
count, without semblenc of law or Justice.
Such is the case against granting the re-
quest of Seward. On the other hand
there is great allowance to be made for
the position of the American Govern
ment.
The President is struggling for his We
ry existence against an overpowering
majority in the contest in which he is en-
gagged. The Fenian vote could have cen
ofinfnite Importance to him, but he was
content to forego that advantage at the
most critical moment, rather that to tole-
rate any act which might compromise the
good understanding betwten Great Britain
and the United States. SO anxious was
he to prevent the Fenian invasion, that
he employed General Grant and General
Meade, two of the best officers in the
American army in this distasteful and un-
popular scheme. President johnson. had
he been lukewarm in the business, might
doubtless have satisfied the letter of his obli-
cations towards the United States by
much less energetic measures. We do
not doubt that his popularity must have
suffered by this honorable and straight
forward conduct, and that it was in his
power to ingratiate himself with the Fen
ians without involving the United States
in actual collision with Great Britain
We owe it to him that Canada has not
been scene of bloodshed and outrage of
every kind, and he askes the lives of OBJ
scene wretches who are now under SEN
tence of death. It is not for us to say
what answer should be given to such re-
quest, but we confess we should regard
the granting of it with satisfaction, more
especially as the President is hardly like
ly to renew his intercession in case of a
second Fcnian invasion.
The recent news from Ireland has
caused great excitement at the headquar-
ters of Jas. Stephens in this city, and the
Offices are now thronged from morning till
midnight. Stephens disappeared days since
and is not expected to show himself here
again. It is claimed that money, arms
and ammunition are flowing in, and that
the California Fenians pledged one hun
dred thousand dollars.
New York, Nov. 28.-The Worlds
Queenstown correspondent, writing Nov.
18th, says: send you an inkling of most
important news which has come from Ire
land for many long day. The blow is
about to be struck at the power of Great
Britain. Within month you will hear
of rising Of the Irish people from one
end of this unfortunate Island to the 9TH
er. The train has long been laid, arms
are here, men are ready, officers are ap-