The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-05-04

no, As in our time, confined TO parts Of
CoIk and KERR, but a general conspiracy,
composed Of persons Of certain class
quite distinct from the middle class and
the small substantial farmers-but very
large and effective class, complaining OF
no particula~ grievance, but organized,
controlled and Influenced BIZ Stephens for
one Office. the overthrow Of the British
Government in Ireland. Right honorable
gentleman may talk as they please of the
fiddle taddie Of reform to those men-they
may offer them any reduction Of the fran
chise; what they want is the county, the
distribution Of tie laud, the abolition Of
landordism, and the establishment of a
system Of republcanisln similar TO what
exists in the United States Well, when
the government began to act, they acted
Wig orously. 1t occurs TO me here simply
to say that ! think as the seizure OF
Stephens would have been more advan-
tageoUs to the country than that of ten
thousand peasants. it does appear some
what remarkable that when they had de
tectiyes OIL his motions it never occurred
&c them to arrest him first, because he
was really the head centre and leading
man of the whole movement.
On The day on which the People was
seized Stephens was in house in DenziIIe
street; and when told Of the seizure, be
said be had always anticipated that would
occur. He then rocketed his six basreled
revolver and went out When lie went
be did not appear for nearly two months.
DiIigent search was made for him, tu. be
was nowhere 10 be found. lie had been
three times engaged in discretionary
movements against the Queen, and while
they had seized do not know how many
of his confederates, the great chief and
head Of his conspiracy was unheard Of
He was lodged in Richnond prison in
November. One morning Col Lake SUR
rounded villa about a mile from town,
and Stephens was arrested. Three or four
other persons we're in the house with him.
don't believe there was any cowardice in
the case. Everything was done SO sud
denly that the whole party were taken, as
by surprise. There was KNOCK at the
door. Stephens, who had expected some
one, came down in lis shirt sleeves. lie
was told that if lie did not open the door
it would be broken in lie knew his pc
sition, and accordingly he surrendered.
suppose the House never heard Of such a
scene as occurred when he was brought
before Mr.. Stronge, the magistrate
Stephens denied bis authority. lie told
him, with the utmost composuro, be could
not recognize his jurisdiction because the
Queen had been deposed. Every word be
used that day would have convicted him
on his trial. They warned him that they
would take down his revolutionary state
nents, but he met them with courteous
defiance. lie turned round to The detec
,ives aud told them what be thought OF
them and their jhemes in arresting him;
and, under the circumstances with de-
FAINT air, lie maintains his position. lie
was committed for trial. | think, with
such evidence as they had of bis own Ian
guage, no jury would have hesitated one
instant in conv; citing him. Stephens is
lodged in her Majes,y's prison, and ne was
as safe in Richmond prison as her Majesty
was in Windsor castle. have, think
sufi ehlly described tie character Of
Stephens. lie had been three times en-
gagged in insurrectionary movements, and,
| having been brought before the magistrate
the responsibility Of the Executive govern
ment now began. The Executive govern
nent cannot escape the responsibility OF
.elling the House what was their conduct
III the matter, and how it happened that
Stephens escaped. lie could only escape
by a com bination Of three circumstances
first, that 20 military guard could be sent
to the prison; second, if there was a suf.
ticient guard of police it must have been
Withdrawn; and third, the inmates of The
prison--I mean the oticials-must have
been greater traitors than the rebels they
were intended to guard. These three cir.
Cumstances must have occurred.