The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-06-07
Proclamation by Gen. Sweeney 90 the
People of Canada.
4 PROCL MAT ION
the People of British america :

/
We come among you as the foes OF
British rule in Ireland. Exiled from
that native land of ours by The oppres
sion of British aristocracy and legisla'
ton, our people hunted down TO the
elnigrant ships, or worse, TO that charnel
of Government institutions, the Poor
| House; our countrymen torn from their
families and friends, aud hurled IN
droves into the prison pens of England
| and Ireland; our country subjected To a
foreign tyranny, which DISTINGUISHES the
mass of the Irish people and makes
poverty and misery the sad ruins OF their
condition, covering our fair land with
paupers' graves and wretched bowels,
eiiciting from the liberal minds Of
England herself expressions of shame
tof The Government. and indignation for
the people.
We have taken up the sword to strike
down the oppressor's rod, TO deliver
Ireland from the tyrant, the despo.ler,
the Yobbcr We have registered our
oaths upon the altar of our country IN
the full view Of Heaven, and sent up our
VOWS ~ the throne of Him who inspired
them. Then, looking about ne for the
enemy We find him here--hcre III your
midst, where he is most vulnerable and
convenient to our strength and have
sworn TO stretch forth the armed hand
Of Ireland and srapple with bin The
battle has ccmmenced, and we pledge
ourselves 10 al the sacred memories of
struggling liberty to follow il up az any
cost to either OF the two alternatives
the absolute political independence and
| liberty of ireland or the demolition Of
| our armies.
We have 10 issue with tho people Of
| those Provinces, aud wish u have none
but the most friendly relations. Our
weapons are for the oppressors OF Ire
| land. Our blows shall be directed only
against the power of England; her
privileges alone shall VIC invade, not
yours. We do not propose TO diyest you
of solitary right you now enjoy. We
will assail and aspersc only the rights
that are claimed and enjoyed by tho
Government Of Great Blital.,-.the right
To make her American poss"ssi ms The
ue'd and base Of operations ~ 4 war
against III enemy. We come TO install
ourselves in her possessions, and turn
them against herr Il war for Irish tree
! dom.
TO freshmen throughout these Prov.
iLces we appeal, in the name Of seven
centuries of British iriquity and Irish
misery and sutIeringi in the name of our
murdered SireS; cur deSolate homes, our
desecrated affairs, our millions of famine
graves, our insultod name and race, to
stretch forth the hand of broth crhood IN
the holy cause of fatherland, and smite
the tyrant where We can ia his work Of
numbering our nation, and eXtermiuat
Ing our people We coDjure you, our
cOuntrymeu, W no. from Inisiortuues ill.,
tiicted by the very tyranny you are
serving, or from any other cause, have
been forced to enter the ranks Of the
enemy, not be the willing instruments
of your couutry's death or degradation,
If Ireland sClll speaks to you in the
truest impulse Of your hearts, lrishmcn,
obey her voice If you would not be
miscreauts, Tecrcaut to the first priuci
pies Of yCuT nature, eDgraven upon the
very cornerstone of your being, raise
not the hand of the maUrcide 10 strike
down the banner OF Erin No uniform,
and surely Lot the blood.dyed coat of
England, can emancipate you from the
national law tha5 binds your allegiance
20 lrsland, 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 ths honest
grasp Of irindship Take it, Irishmen,
FreIchmen, Ame rlcans- take it all and
trust it. To all who marched 10 the call
of the.enemy, and rally under his stand.
ard to aid or abet his cause, we give the
sword in as firm aud earnest u grippe
as ever did its work upon foenau.
We wish to meet with friends, we are
prepared TO meet with enemies We
shallendeavOr to merit the confidence of
the former, aud the latter can expect
from us but the leniency ola determined
though generous foe, aud the restraints
and relations imposed by civilized war.
fare. T. w. SWEENEY.
Major General commanding the Armies
of Ireland
--sAzne~xs