Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-24
THE FENIANs.

The Last Speech OF James stephens.
A grand complimentary ball was given to
JAMES STEPHENS, at St. Louis, on Friday
night, at which he delivered the following
address:
All day long have been thinking of the
/ solemn times in which we live. As you
can see things with the minds eye, so you
can hear them with the minds ear; and,
! thus, ali day have l heard the sound Of mus
kerry on Irish soil. (Cheers.) This must
be so before the dawn of the new year.
want to speak 50 TO you as to make you be-
lieye we are in earnest. Once more, / re-
peat, before this year closes ! expect TO see
the dawn Of Irish Liberty on Irish SOIL
(Cheers.) On Monday l shall give you a
full detail Of what is necessary 10 be done,
and, therefore, tonight l shall not go into
details. As there are 50 maIiy ladies pres
ent | will speak TO them. Whatever woman
sets her heart upon, that she CiH accomplish.
l want you to work now for the families Of
prisoners, now languishing in jails. At
home, If the Government did not hamper
them, by prohibiting fairs, bazaaTs, concerts
and balls, no help would be needed from
abroad. 1 can tell you now that Australia
than America, thus far. / want you to be
charitable to suffering humanity. In the
trials now going on, / know Of no men in
history who have shown more genuine patri-
Otism than those Irish patriots now serving
in English dungeons beside ielons and thieves
If you knew LUBY, OLEARY, KICK
HAM, and their compatriots, you would find
them pure patriots and men of intellect and
rsaff far rff fk,-,
whom / have mentioned, need assistance
and | trust, ladies, you will set yourselves to
work in this matter
Much has been said Of my escape from
prison. There are still, unfortunately for
the character of Ireland, men silly, or
thougktless, or base enough to believe / es-
capped by aid Of British influence, and am
now a British agent in America. At the
time Of my arrest was not known to one
British detective, and the very morning af-
ter was arrested, there was room full Of
detectives, not one Of whom could have
taken me, because none could identify rae;
and not until DAWSON came in, and a man
trained to swear to anything for considera-
tion, who had plan describing Inc as a man
with bald head and long beard, was
identified. Had / been arrested in 1S48
and tried for high treason, l should even
then have defed the British law, as / should
not have taken advantage of law which
was sworn to overthrow. When l was
asked what had to say, told them de-
MED their right TO enforce British law in
Ireland, and scorned any punishment they
could infict. (Cheers,) In prison, / had
already arranged a plan Of escape. On the
morning after remandal, was informed
that plan was already on foot. 1 asked,
who had the matter in charge. ! was told
that Col. THOMAS KELLY (cheers) was the
man. He was assisted by BURNS, now in
America, (cheers,) and another man, as true
and honorable an Irishman sas ever lived,
but his name for certain reasons is now with
held. To Colonel KELLY l owe, therefore,
my escape. j only consented to escape be-
cause felt assured Of fight before the end
of 1865. Iprepared plan, in case / was
recaptured, showing that in the war against
England, we intended to wage an honorable
and Christian warfare, and if we had been
treated as rebels, 1--WE honor the name of
rebel in Ireland,) and England departed
from the usual mode Of warfare, we should
exercise reprisals, and take a terrible ven
geance that would make the world ring
loud cheers.) But above all, landlordism
should forever be abolished in Ireland-the
tiller Of the soil to be the only true land
lord. (Cheers.)
Mr.. STEPHENS thus described his escape
from Richmond Jail: Exact impressions
had been taken of all the locks and skiIlful
mechanics had made perfect keys which
opened the doors on the first trial about two
A. NJ, on Nov. "a / heard a slight sound
which knew was the first lock opening.
This was followed at short intervals by other
sounds, for there were six locks to be opened
My door opened; ! was put between two
others, revolver placed in my hand. Thus
we passed through the yard to the wall, and
there the ladder provided for scaling was
found two short. Il now almost appeared
that escape was impossible. One Of my as
sociates was a man Of resources, and secured
some tables from the dining room. From
the top Of the wall we had to Jump some
twenty feet, which / was opposed to in the
dark. / then felt along the wall, and my
head came in contact accidentally, with a
funnel, which, finding firm, l let myself
down, and soou found myself on n roof down
which. j clambered and followed 4 described
path. Observing the signals l threw a
handful Of gravel over the wall, whereupon
a rope came 10 me from the outside. Knots
were put in the ropes which helped TO sus-
tain and support me, and by dint Of strenu-
Gus exertions, got safely over, though SEN
tries had been placed at certain points
Upon my escape, all my friends dispersed
except Col. KELLEY and one other the
latter to guide us 10 the house we were to
enter.
On my escape six different houses we're
opened for my reception.
Now / speak Of the honesty and devotion
Of the people in Ireland, for though two
thousand three hundred pounds were public
ly offered, and though il was known to many
that the Government would give 100000
20 secure me, no man oEwoman in Ireland 50
base as 20 beiray me, though many in Ire
land knew where 10 reach me.
A remarkable instance Of fidelity was
shown on the night Of the 9th Of Novem-
Der, 1865. On that evening a council was
held IN Dublin, 20 determine whether we
should fight, at which no fewer than sixty
or seventy delegates assisted. These dele
gates arrived in parties OF six and upwards;
each party succeeding the other every half
hour. The sitting began al six O'Clock, and
lasted four and a half hours, during which
time, ! was in the power Of all these men,
any Of whom might gain el00000 by a sin
gle word.
On the same night the detectives were
looking FOR me in four different parts Of the
city. I never consented 10 leave Ireland un-
III invited FROM this side, 10 come over and
save yonr organization. never wore any
disguise, and drove twenty-seven miles with
out any molestation Ny safety was due TO
the skill, tact and ooolness cfmy companions.
] landed on the vessel along with Col KEL.-
IY, who was always with me and the night
being calm We drihed to Bray and Arklow,
a storm the next day driving us to Carricx-
fergus Bay. The next day We landed at
Androssea, Scotland, and drove that night
10 Kilmarpock, and arrived in London on
the evening of ST. Patriek's day, sleeping
that night opposite Buckingham Palace,
thence going TO Paris. That is the whole Of
the escape.