The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-06-08
Gen. Sweeney to the People or
Canada.

preston OF BfltlSn uilSooVi"Nl "i"
legislation, our people hunted down /
to tile emigrant ships, or worse, to
that charnel of Government institu-
tons, the poor-house; our country
men torn from their families md
hurried in droves into the prison pens
of England and Ireland; our country
subjected to foreign tyranny which
DISTINGUISHES the mass of the IRISH peo-
pie and makes poverty and misery the
sad rule of their condition, covering
our fair land with paupers graves and
wretched novels, elicting from the
liberal minds of England herself ex-
pressions of shame for the Govern
ment and Indignation for the people
We have taken up the sword to
strike down the oppressors rod, to de-
liver Ireland from the tyrant, the de-
spoiler, the robber. We have regis
tered our oaths upon the altar of our
country in the full view of Heaven,
and sent up our vows to the throne OF
Him who inspired them. Then, look
ing about us for the enemy, we find
him here-here your midst, where he
is most vulnerable and convenient to
our strength; and have sworn to
stretch forth the armed hand of Ire
land and grapple with him. The bat
tie has commenced, and we pledge our
selves to all the sacred memories Of
struggling liberty, to follow it up at
any cost to either of two alternatives
The absolute political independence
..fT ,..t,,,I tha flpYaalltfnn nt
armies.
We have no issue with the people
of these provinces, and wish to have
none but the most friendly relations.
, Our weapons are for the oppressors
J of Ireland Our blows shall be di-
rected only against the power of Eng
q land; her privileges alone shall we in
i wade, not yours. We do not propose
: to divest you Of solitary right you
now enjoy We viii assail and as
: perse only the rights that are claimed
=, aud enjoyed by the Government OF
u Great Britain-the right to make hel
" American possessions the field and
y base of operations IN n war against
y the enemy We come TO install our
;. selves in her possessions, and turn
them against her in q war for Irish
e freedom. We are here, neither a;
"a murdcrers nor robbers, for plumber OF
= spohation We are kere as the Irish
army Of liberation, the friends OF lib
! erty against despotism, or democracy
against aristocracy, of the people
?, against their oppressors, of the ballo
" against the privileges OF class, Of pro
gress and Development against RICH
L and wrong; to conduct this contest ac
q cording to the laws known to honora
r. bic warfare, in Il manner worthy o
E. the high object we aim for; and th'
Il. sublime sentiments that actuated us
rs In word our war is with tho arme,
y power of England, and not will
e the people not with these provin
N ces. Against England upon land an,
IS sea, until ireland is free And al
III who raise an arm to defend her, t
"a Illustrate or defeat us, belong to la
u common enemy, and as such will b
IN dealt with. As we know how to rec
nj ognizo the services of our friends, s.
ID also we know how TO punish the depre
OF dations Of our foes Our work for Ire
re land accomplished, we leave 10 YOU
IN own free ballots TO determine YOU
CT natural and political standing an
character, and shall rejoice to see, an
on assist to make these limitless colonie
IN spring from the foot of a foreig
sc throne as free and Independent, a
Id proud as New York, Massachusetts, q
nd Illinois. To that yearning for libert
he and aspiration after natural independ
or ence which swells the breast of ever
rid true son of every land, to your ow
.ss manliness we leave those questions fC
N. settlement, confident that the dwarfa
ut, development of your vast resource
hit and natural wealth, made the chillin
ISIS influences of English supremacy
Ir wretched contrast with the nations
te dignity and stupendous martial pros
ng perity of your neighboring people
* the United States, under the stimuli
rill of self-government and democratic il
ed stitutions, constitutes a stronger argl
est ment IN favor of cooperation with II
j" and of the revolution in your polite
Ike condition which this comparison su,
ca BtoAS, Aiiiil AllnIunSlOn III blb que
ng tons involved which we offer here.
M To Irishmen throughout these Pro
to inces we appeal in the name of sevt
MI centuries of British iniquity and Iris
ed misery and suffering-in the name
IN, our murdered sires, our desola
OF homes, our desecrated affairs, our mi
I'D lions Of famine graves, our insultC
IN name and race-to stretch forth Il
'us hand of brotherhood in the no
lld cause of fatherland, and smite the t
5h- rant where we can in his work
las numbering our nation and extermina
ui- ing our people. We conjure You, o.
Ihe countIymen, who, from misfortun
IAN inflicted by the very tyranny you a
las serving, or from any other cause, ha'
ms been forced to enter the ranks of IL
enemy, not to be the willing instr
ment Of your country's death or de
sd. radiation. If Ireland still speaks
Ia you in the true impulses of yol
hearts, Irishmen, obey her voice
TO you would not be miscreants, recrea
nth to the first principles of your natul
ci,, en0raVen upon the very oornar-cto n,