The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-28
The Condemned Fcnians in Canada.

The Condemned Fcnians in Canada.
The London Ertnniner, long known,
wherever our language is spoken, as
one of the most liberal, impartial and
philosophical journals in England,
argues III favor Of such acourse to-
ward the condemned Fenians. in
Canada, as is dictated even less by
motives of clemency toward the un-
fortunate men themselves than by the
highest considerations of State policy
on behalf of Canadians themselves,
and all the different people who, by
natural sympathy of blood, by geo
graphical position or political con-
nection, are desirous Of placing upon
satisfactory basis the relations Of
all who speak our tongue or furnish
the chief constituents of our race.
The E.camine3' says:
The fate of the Fenia,is under sen
tencc of death in Canada should be
decided without any regard to the
construction that may be pat on an
act OF grace. Men are not to be hung,
because sparing their lives might be
falls ~ attributed to fear. The iudg-
ment Of the Government should DC
unswayed by the foolish rants and
threats in the United States. But
some respect is surely due to TIC feel
lngs of the American Government.
The men might not have been cap
tured, if the American Government
had not faithfully and vigorously en-
forced its laws against piratical enter
prises. And this fact warrants inter
cesslon, and entities it at least to
respectful consideration.
The interference in the course of
Justice III an independent State is not
like that of the King Of Prussia, who
solicited the reprievc Of the assassin
Muller, merely because he was coun-
tryman. The fact that the blood
stained wretch was German, gave
the King of Prussia no right of ap-
peal against British justice. The
President of the American Union may
fairly claim to intercede formercy on
the ground that by the help Of his
power the prisoners had fallen into
the hands of their enemies But the
question of the disposal of these men
IS not to be determined by Influences,
permissible or not, but by higher
considerations. 1t has become a law
of the land, that life shall not be
taken for any crime but murder.
Frost levied war against the Queen,
and incurred the penalties OF treason,
but he was not put to death Smith
OBrien and his fellow-rebels were
transported, though they had put
their necks fairly within the halter.
In both these instances it may be said
that the folly OF the enterprises made
it impossible to deal with them with
tragical rigor; but if folly excuses,
there is certainly no lack Of it in the
Fcnian case. The truth is, however,
that the sentiment of the country
would not have endured the enforce
ment of the extreme penalty for
the treason in the instances named.
We have seen it argued that, to
show we are not afraid Of the Ameri-
cans, we ought to act as f we were in
great fear Of the Fcnians, and make
an example Of the captured offenders.
But fear should have nothing to do
with the question, least of all the
fear of being thought afraid. Let
the criminals suffer suitable punish
ment for the unprovoked outrage,
but not the penalty reserved exclu-
sively for murder. If they had done
on our own shores what they have
done on the Canadian frontier, they
would have been shot and bayoneted
on the field, but, when captured, they
would not have been hung byprocess
of law.
A. j. Durant, President of the
Southern Loyal Association, has pre-
sented to Congress q memorial and
resolutions adOnted by tbot hOdv