The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-03-14
THE FENIANS.

terest, just now, than the Fenians, and their
probable action in the future. The knowing
ones have predicted that on St. Patrick's Day.,
the 18th of March, Saturday next the grand
movement Oh Canada is to be made.
We give below the letter Of Druid" the
Washington correspondent Of the New York
News, under date of the 18th, and really, if
the statements contained in this letter are to
be relied on, we are on the eve Of serious diff
ferences with Great Britain ."':: II. al b..
The utmost anxiety is. manifested to learn
what the inter'ioIs of the Government are in
relation 10 the Feniau movement, particularly
as regards the threatened invasion and con-
quest of Canada. Many persons here, whose
means Of acquiring information are supposed
to be unusually favorable, are constantly re-
ceiving Geographic dispatches, some Of them
from very distant points, begging for informa-
ton on certain particular points.
The Feuials flourish here, quite as well as
In any other city, and the Fenian societies of
Washington are wide awake as enthusiastic
as their New York brethren, and quite ready
for the work in hand, whatever that may be.
They embrace many prominent, intelligent,
and influential men, aud understand that the
Treasury is overlooking with cash, while the
receipts flow in in a steady stream. ! pre-
sumo there are among them men whose posi-
ton here enables them to convey to the chiefs
of the Order early aud authentic Intelligence
of the attitude of the Government toward the
Order and its supposed objects
can say, for the information OF the general
public, that, in spite of all denials to the con-
trary, remonstrances, couched in the most en-
ersetic language, both from the British Gov
eminent at London, and from sr +, Bruce,
the Engiisl Mi lister here, have been received
at the State Department during the last week,
on the subject OF the Fenian movements both
to Ireland and Canada. The true ground Ia
ken by the English Government in these re-
nonstrances, as have ascertained directly, :
as follows: They hold that there are 50 lew
Felians in Ireland, aud that those few are SO
imperfectly organized a poorly armed that
they could easily be put down, and all OUT
breaks prevented with very little trouble, anu
with little or no h.oodshed; but that it is tht
presence in Ireland III American Fenians.
brin .ing American arms, American gold, an'f
American organization, Which renders the
movement formidable, and makes it necessary
t. employ So large military force, and III,
suspension i'll Ireland OF the hdoeas corpus.
The same also, they hold, Is true Vi Canada
with this difference: Ireland, tney :oeleVe, l.
safe. They believe that the measures whei
they have taken there Will secure the absolute
safety OF that lslaau, even III case large OF
ganl2et army OF tcnlans from America Shouff
land there, wlcA they do not believe VIII. &c
chr at all. Ia Canada they Iear thefe:ls Danger
that an armed expedition from the United
States may seize upon some OF the important
cities aud towns. But they peneVe that tne
whole population OF Canada VIII Fise ana 't'sn
to arms to repel the invaders.
In a word, they iasten the responsibility OF
the whole thing upon the teniansln America.
They do not conhne themselves to charges,
but they adduce conclusive proofs that large
armed expeditions are beng htted out IN
America to invade Canada ana ireland, ana
that arms and money IN large anloon,s nave
been sent from America 10 Ireland ano Oana-
da, IN order TO lncite the people tuefe W iise
in rebellion. lhey then charge upon the
United States Government full knowledge
OF all these facts. and declare tnat 1ney VIII
hold our Government responsible tor any In
vaslon or rebellion IN either Ireland or lana
da. This, be it remembered. Is no Idle threat.
1t Is the deliberate conclusion 10 when the
British Government has come. 1t IS by n"
means improbable that war between the
United Statessand England may grow out OF
the affair. - Ts...
So far as our Governments concerned, it is
difficult to say whether any great efforts have
been made to avert such war. Sinee the
death of Lord Palmerston it is certain that
cur relations with England have been grow
ing more and more embarrassing aud unsatis
factory every month. The men who at pre-
sent administer the Government OF England
are bitterly hostile toward the United States,
while they are destitute of the. enlarged and
liberal views Of enlightened craftsmanship
which marked the Government of England
under the administration of Lord Palmerston.
1t is no secret here in diplomatic circles that
Mr., Adams has recently written home tor per-