Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-11-07
FENIANIsM M.
Meeting at the Masonic Hall
Last Night.
Great 0utpouring Of the Friends
Of Irish Independence.

Great 0utpOuring Of the Friends
Of Irish Independence.
The meeting of the friends of Irish indie.
pendence, and sympathizers with the Fe.
mans Ongtrial for their lives in Canada
crowded the Masonic Temple to overlooking
last night. Not less than three thousand
persons were present Every seat in the hall
was filed, and standing room was at dis.
count On the stage we noticed the Mayor
Of the city, large number of the city legis-
lature, and goodly representation ofthe le-
gal fraternity.
Before the meeting was organized the en-
thusiasm Of the audience frequently devel-
oped itself in outbursts Of applause.
The appearance on the stage of General
John O'Neill, was greeted with round upon
round ofapplause, and when the band struck
up "Haif to the Chief" the building
trembled under the rapturous plaudits.
b. S. Mundy called the meeting to
order, and announced the following gen.
tlemen as the officers of the evening:
President-Gen. John O'Neill.
Vice Presidents-B. S. Mundy, Joseph E.
Brenann, Col. C. II Irwin ?. Olwill, James
Doyle, A. P. Mcintyre, NJ. Kean.
Secretaries M. Kean, A. P. Mcintyre.
The representatives of the press were also
requested to act as secretaries.
On taking the chair, General O'Neill was
greeted with prolonged cheering.
He thanked the audience for the compli-
ment conferred upon him, in being
called to preside over the meeting of the
friends of Irish freedom. He did not look
upon it as so much compliment to himself,
as to the cause in which he had the honor
to take a prominent part. 1t had been his
desire that some old and influential citizen
might preside over the deliberations of the
meeting believing that the effect would have
been greater in accomplishing the object
sought to be attained. But as he had the
honor 70 strike the first blow for Irish indie
pendence on British soil, he felt it his duty
to accept the position of presiding officer Of
the meeting called TO express sympathy for
Irish-Americans now on trial before British
tribunals in Canada. lie then announced
the following Committee on Resolutions:
w. J. Hines, A. B. Carroll, Pat. Welsh,
John Hugh Smith, James Sloan.
After the committee retired, General
ONeill continued at some length on the
object Of the meeting, and the cause of Irish
independence In speaking of the prisoners
in Canada, and the plea they had entered
when put on trial, he regretted that they had
not the moral courage to acknowledge their
act of striking a blow for Irish liberty, and
against British oppression. Captain Lynch,
now under sentence of death, he said, was
not recognized in his command as a soldier,
but in the capacity of a reporter for an
American journal Had he been soldier,
he would not utter a word in his defence.
A Judge in Canada has denounced the
Fenians as the scum Of the earth. He
would leave it to the citizens of Nashville
If the Irshmen who left this city to fight
the British, were not true men and good
citizens and not the scum of the earth, as
the Canadian d:gnatary had stigmatized
them. The day is not far distant when that
"scum" will overrun the whole British Prov
inces, and before the British Lion is rightly
aware of the fact, Ireland will be free.
If the British Government dares to hang
the Fenians will, before the winter SHOWS
disappear from the hills Of Canada, hang
ten British subjects for each Fenian sacri-
feed. This was no idle threat. He had
told his friends in Nashville, when he
started for Canada, that he intended to fight
on British soil if he had to cross the line
with the force he took from Nashville. They
know how he carried out his intentions.
And he would now tell the Canadian au-
thorities that for every Irishman hung, the
Fenians would hang ten subjects of Great
Britain.
During the fight at Fort Erie, his soldiers
were fred upon from the houses in the
place. and he refused to allow his men to
burn a single dwelling, fearing that inno-
cent parties might be made to suffer but
if Irishmen are hung by the Canadian au-
thorities, the town of Erie would be burned
before the winter passes away.
1t had been said that he was politician.
He would hurl the lie back at the author of
the report. He was no politician-had
never cast a vote in this country, or mixed
in any way in American politics. The
friends Of Ireland were his friends, belong
to what political organization they may.
Men Of the North and the South are to day
willing to strike hands in behalf of Irish
independence.
General O'Neill closed by urging upon
the Irishmen of Nashville to stand firm in
the cause of their native land, and to
strengthen the arms Of her defenders. lie
was vociferously cheered throughout his en-
tire remarks.
Z. B. McClannahan, Capt. L. A. Otis, and
Mayor Brown, made short speeches, ex.
pressive of sympathy with the objects of the
meeting.
A letter WIS read form w. Clare, Esq,
regretting his inability to attend the meet
ing.
In few words of high commendation,
General O'Neill introduced Captain VIM.
j. Hines, formerly Adjutant on General
Sweeney's staff.
Captain Harris came forward and, after
few remarks, read the following preamble
and resolutions:
NASHVILLE. TENN, Nov. 9th, 1S66.-To
the citizens OF Nashville in mass meeting
assembled to express sympathy with the
Irish people at home and abroad, in their
effort for natural independence, and more
particularly with those in Canadian dun
geons charged and convicted with the
"crime Of Fenianism," your committee
would respectfully report the following pre-
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