Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-05
THE FENIANS.

On the 9th of June last, in violation OF
vi neutrality laws, 8 military expedition
and enterprise against the British North
American Colonies was projected and at
tempted TO be carried On within the terri
tory and jurisdiction OF the United States.
In obedience to the obligation imposed
upon the Executive by the Constitution,
to see that the laws are faithfully execu-
ted, all citizens were warned, by prOcla-
nation, against taking part in or aiding
such unlawful proceedings, and the prop
er civil, military and naval officers were
directed to take all necessary measures for
tae enforcement of the laws. The expe-
dition failed, but it has not been with
out its painful consequences, Some OF our
citizens who, it was alleged, were engaged
in the expedition, were captured, and
have been brought to triGl, as for a cap
ital offense in the Province of Canada
Judgement and sentence Of death have
been pronounced against some, while 9th
ers have been acquitted. Fully believing in
the maxim of government, that severity
of civil punishment for misguided persons
who have engaged in revolutionary at
tempts which have disastrously failed, is
unsound and unwise, such representations
have been made to the British Govern
ment. in behalf of the convicted persons,
as, being sustained by an enlightened and
humane Judgment, will, it is hoped, induce
in their cases an exercise of elemency and
a judiciOus amnesty to all who were en-
gagged in the movement. Counsel has
been employed by the Government to de-
fend citizens of the United States on trial
for capital offenses in Canada, and a dis
continuance of the prosecutions which
were instituted in the courts of the Uni
ted States against those who took part in
the expedition, has been directed.
L have regarded the expedition as not
only political in its nature, but as also in
a great measure foreign from the United
States in its causes, character, and objects.
The attempt was understood to be made in
sympathy with an insuTgent party In Ire
land, and, by striking at a British Prov
ince on this Continent, was designed to
all in obtaining redress for political griev-
ances which, 1t was assumed, the people
of Ireland had suffered at the hands o.
the British Government during a period
/ of several centuries. The persons engag.
in it were chiefly natives OF that country,
some of whom had, while others had not
become citizens of the United States IN.
der M generarlsws of naturalization :
Complaints of misgovernment in ireland
continually engage the attention of the
British nation, and so great an agitation
is now prevailing in Ireland that the
British Government have deemed it nee
essary TO suspend the of ha5eas corpus IL
that country. These circumstances mus
necessarily modify the opinion which VIZ
might otherwise have entertained in re
gard to an expedition expressly prohibited
by our neutrality laws. So long as thOsi
remain upen u statute books, they
should be faithfully executed, and if they
operate harshly, unjustly, or oppressively
Congress alone oap apply the remedy, By
their modification or repeal.
THE EASTERN QUESTION. ,
Dol;4,ooI and cOpomarciaI infarasfs n