The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-29

>. .. DAEyoarz, IA, spIros
The FenianS and the
President.
THE VISIT OF A DEPUTATION OF
THE FORMER TO THE LATTER.
What Was Said On the s0ccasien.
Washington (Sept. 49, Dispatch to the New
York Herald.


York Herald.
This afternoon the gentlemen composing the
executive committee of the Irish citizens of the
District Of Columbia, accompanied by the Hon.
John Hogan, OF Missouri, waited upon the presi-
dent TO make known the wishes and feelings of
the Irish-American citizens residing in the Unit
ed States upon matters of deep interest to
themselves and the class they represent.
DIR, Thomas Antisell, chairman of the commit
tee. submitted to the President statement of
the grievances under which lrishmen labored.-
He said they welcomed the President back to his
most. They have been in communion with their
friends in the northern states, and represented
the Irish They have been called upon to dis
criminate between their lifelong friends-the
democracy-and the radicals. They look to
Washington and see the machinery of war still
operating although war has long ceased. The
committee ask that changes may be made in the
cabinet with more liberal cabinet they believe
a more liberal spirit would prevail The Irish
citizens by an intense yearning for their native
country have placed themselves in an apparent
aatagonism to the government. They think the
conduct of some of our consus in ireland in not
standing up strictly enough for the right of
adopted citizens deserves rebuke, and they ask
their removal, and that more respectable ones be
made They speak of the way of transit in Eu-
rope, and they desire that this subject should be
presented to the attention of the British govern
ment. The Irish people deny they have ever
committed treason in trying to free themselves
from the British yoke They allude to the ret
respective statute of the British parliament in
Is4S, and, referring to the course of the minister
at St. James, they suggest that person of more
liberal sentiment would better Represent the
epiuions of the American people, They suggest
that the Alabama claims should be passed to ad-
Indication. They suggest that it would be we'll
if England would initiate the wise policy of the
United States in pardoning these concerned in
the civil war, and hoped that an effort will be
made to induce her to release Irish prisoners con-
fined for no offence. The Irish are nation here,
with three -fourths of million of voters, and
they suggest that in appointments to be made in
postofices and in in the internal revenue Irish
citizens should receive their pro rata share of
the offices, Not alone in the state Offices, but in
the diplomatic corps, they suggest that our Irish
citizens be representated. They hope those sug-
gestions will receive the presidents favorable
consideration, and they extend their best wishes
to him.
The president, in brief reply, forcibly and
earnestly said that the action of the administers
tion should be so directed as to thoroughly pro-
mote the best and dearest interests of the Irish
citizens. He felt, he said, the force of their
suggestions, and highly appreciated the deep in
terest manifested by those present. He referred
them to his past record wherein he had shown
that he was always consistently and earnestly a
friend of the Irish He might SAY he was him.
self strongly tinctured With sympathy for the
Irish. He reiterated his declaration that the adj
ministration would do all in its power to promote
the interest OF the Irish citizens and in regard
to the Irish prisoners he said determined action
has already been taken effect their release and
attain the end they sought In conclusion
the President foreibly remarked that all the sug-
gestiens of the committee should have deliberate,
and in all instances where it could be properly
~..i1x- Al, Etln -
zens favorable consideration.
After the conclusion of this reply all the MEM
hers Of the committee cordially snuok bands with
the President and withdrew.