Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-06-12

H q
Border, has issued the efollowing Proclamation:
A PROCLAMATION.
To oths Eeopls cfl8rftfst america: :,
We come among you as the foes of British
rule in ireland. Exiled from that native
land Lag: OF ours ours by the oppression of British
aristocracy and legislation, our people hunted
down to the eniigraht ships, or worse to tiat
charnel Of government Institutions the poor
house; our countrymen torn from their
families and friends and hurled in droves
Into the prison pens Of England and Ireland;
our country subjected to foreign tyranny
which distrunchises the mass of the Irish
people and makes poverty aud misery the
sad rule of their condition. covering our fair
land with paupers graves and wretched
novels, eliciting from the liberal minds Of
England herself expressions of shame for the
government and Indignation for he people
We have taken up the sword to strike
down the orpressors' rod, TO deliver Ireland
from the tyrant, the dEspoiler, the robber
We have registered our oaths upon the altar
OF our country in the full view of Heaven,
and sent up onr vows to the throne of Him
who inspired them. Theu, looking about us
for the enemy, we fud him herc--here in
your midst, where he is most vulnerable and
convenienU 10 our strength; and have sworn
to stretch forth the armed hand of Ireland
and grappIe with him. The battle has
commenced and we pledge ourselves to all
the sacred memories of struggling liberty,
t" follow it up ut any cost to either Of two
alternatiyes-the absolute political indie
pendence and liberty, Of Ireland or the
demolition of our armies.
We have no issue with the people of these
provinces. aud wish to have none but the
most friendly relations. Our weapons are
Tor the orpl ess6rs Of Ireland. Our blows
shall be directed only against the power Of
England, her privileges alone shall we invade,
not yours. We do not propose to divcst
you OF solitary right you now cnj ". We
will asSail and asrerse only the nights that
are claimed and enjoyed by the government
OF Great Brtain-tne right to make her
American possessions the field, and base OF
operations in war against an enemy We
CONC to install ourselves in her possessions,
aud turn them against her in war for Irish
ileedom. We are here, neither as nurderers
nor robbers, Tor plunder or spoliuton. We
are here as the Irish army of liberation: The
friends of liberty against dcspotisu,, of
democracy against aristUcracy, OF the people
against their Oppressors. Of the ballot against
the privileges Of class, Of progress and
development against right and wrong; to
conduct this contest according to the laws
known to honorable warfare, in a manner
worthy of the high object we aim for; and
the sublime sentiments that actuatcd US
III word, our.war is with the armed power
Of England, and not with the people, not with
these Provinces. Against England upon land
and sea, until Ireland is free And all who
raise an arm to defend her, to frustrate us,
belong to the common enemy, and as such
will be dealt with. AS We know how to re-
ccgn.ze the services of our friends, so also do
EuOW hnNV TN pTOi,,l, tba Ho,r, ,1rLin &C
our foes. Our work for Ireland accomplish
Cd, we leave to your own free ballots to deter
mine your own, natural and political standing
and character, and shall rejoice to see, and as
sst to nakc, these lmitless colonies spring
from the foot of u foreign throne as free and
independent, as,proud as New York, Massa-
chusetts, or Illinois. 10 that yearning for
liberty and aspiration after natural indcpen-
dcnce which swels the breast of every true
son OF every land, to your own manincss we
leave these questions Tor settlement, confident
that the dwaried development Of your vast
resources. aud natural wealth, made the Chill
ed Influences Of English supremacy in wretch
ed contrast with the national dignity aud stu>
Pendous material prosperity oGyour neighbor.
ing people of the United States, under the
stimulus of self.governmeut and democratic
institutions, constitutes stronger argument
III favor Of co operation with us and of the
revolution in Your political condition which
this comparison suggests, than any discussion
OF the questions involved which We could Of
fer here.
To 1rishmen throughout these Provinces
VIC appeal, i'll the name Of seven centuries of
British uiqnitv and Irish misery and suffering;
in the name Of our murdered sres, our desc.
late homes. our dcSccrated altars, our millions
OF tanm" graves. our inSulted name and race
to stretch forth the hand OF brotherhood
i'll tie holy cause of Iatherand. and smic the.
tyrant where we can in his work of mur Iering
our nation and discriminating our people.
We conjurc you. our couutry4ncn, who. from
misi"rtunes Inflicted Ly tie very tyranny
you are serving, or from any other cause,
have been forced TO enter the ranks of the
enemy, not to, be the willing instrument Of
your country's death or degradation. II
lreIand still speaks to you in the truest i'm
pulses of your hearts, Irishmcn, obey her
voice! If you would not be .miscrcants,
rccreant to the first principles of your nature,
Cngrayen upon the very cornerstone Of your
being. raise not the hand of the matraci8e to
strike down the banner of Erin! No uniform
and surely not the blood dyed coat of England
can emanciTate you from the natural law,
that binds your allegiance to Ireland, to
liberty. to right, to justice. To the friends
Of Ireland, Of freedom, of humanity, of the
people. we offer the olive branch of peace
and the honest grasp Of friendship Take
it, Irishmen, Frenchn en-, Americans-take
it all and trust it. 70 all who marched to
the call OF the enemy, aud rally under his
standard to aid or abet his cause we give
the sword i'll as firm and earnest a grippe as
ever did its work upon foeman We wish
to meet with friends. we are prepared to
meet with enemies. We shall endeavUr to
merit the confidence of the former,-amd the
latter can expect from US but the leuieucy of