The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-10
THE EFENIANS
Seventh Days Proceedings Of the
convention-The Senate Refuses
to Appear to Answer the
Charges Against Them
o'Mahony Brings Charges
Against Roberts-The Evil
dence in Support Of
the Charges, Etc.


Y eagerly asked by every lrshman, and we might
add American TOO. Are they going to propagate
the farce inauguratcd at Philadelphia OF esta-
bilshing President, a Senate, aud Congress,
OF establishing all the governing machinery OF
regularly cons ltuted government: and lor what!
Why, to govern "a country III which they have
scarcely u tOothold and in which most OF them
dare not show their faces, or they would be
tr, ated to the hospitality OF dungeon.
While the Fenan organization was simple
element with a ew governing rules t5 ramla-
cations had extended almost over the world,
and its power aud secrecy were the wonder ana
admiration OF those even opposed 10 1t. AS soon
as the Philadelphia Congress assembled, u
looked 50 much like children's game, that sensl>
bic mrn laughed at the farce, and prophesled
that IL would end in bubble. II the present
Convention discard all the cumbrons machinery
that clogs F-ntanlsm, and reduce it to its origi
nal simplicity, it may yet work out ITS purposes.
Ii 1t is a.levouiionary body. with revolutionary
purposes in view, it cannot be too secret or too
cautious OF the spies tnat are on its track. 1t Is
worse than farce to be spending the hard
earned contributions OF the people, subscribed
for sPecl1c purpose. in supporting Congress
after Congress, and dignihed Senatorial bodies,
who look something like the moCkery OF stage
kings. Ii the charges made by the Senate against
President OMahony are substantiated, why not
depose him? II, on the other hand, they are
groundless, discard the Senate and Congress-
and let ONIahony aided by a few honest, able
men, control the movement.
The proceedings yesterday were OF the ordi-
nary kind. Business opened with the reading
OF the last days proceedings, MIR. Corbet, OF
Syracuse, in the chair. The early part OF the
day was spent in receiving reports Of committees
and debating thereon.
CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST THE SENATE.
A series of charges and specifications preferred
by President 0'Mahony against William r.
Roberts, James Gibbons, Michael Scanlan, j. w.
Fitzgerald, p. ORourke, p. Banuop, William
Sullivan, William Fleming, Patrick j. Meehan,
/ and Edward l.. Cary were next read.
Mr.. Gatfney and another delegate we're deputed
to conduct the defense. Mr.. Rogers, Colonel
Mullen, and Mr.. Meany conducted the prosecu-
! tion.
1t was proved that a copy of the charges and
specifications had been served on some OF the
Senators in person, on others by letters or other
wise.
The charges were:-First-For perfdy in
falsely and irauduently conveying to the public
press in the city of New York certain statements
maligning the object OF the organization, calum-
mating its officers and members, and calculated
i to dis grace the organization and thwart the
II objects and ends Of the Brotherhood.
Specification 2. The said William r. Roberts,
ETC., on or about the 4th day OF December, at the
a city OF New York. did meet, league, combine,
and Assem- bic together to prevent the liberation
Of Ireland from the yoke of Englaud and the
q establishment OF a free and Independent Govern.
s ment Oh the Irish soil, by an Illegal attempt to
prevent the issue OF bonds of the Irish republic,
whereby funds could be raised for The liberation
b. OF Ireland from the yoke of England and free
and independent Government established on the
Irish soil. All this in violation of their solemn
pledge OF honor taken at their initiation into the
81 Fennan Brotherhood.
H Specification 3. The aforesaid parties, on or
4 about the 5th day of December, 1866, at the CITY
OF New York did disobey the orders OF John
= 0'Mahony, President of the Fenian Brotherhood,
their superior officer and the superior officer OF
each OF them, by holding pretended and Illegal
a session of the Senate of the Fenian Brotherhood
in the city of New York. This in violation of
their and each of their pledges OF membership,
and in violation OF the following order, VIII
4 HEADQUARTERS FENIAN BROTHERHOOD, Decem-
\ Der 6, lS65.-Sr:-I have the honor to inform
4 you in your individual capacity, that the Senate
OF the Fenian Brotherhood is not in session, and
that any stimulation of the functions Of that body
W must happen in illegal assembly
JOHN O'MAHoNY, President F. B.
WILLIAM r. ROBERTS, Esq.
Charge III. Violation of section l8, article 4,
of the Constitution OF the Fenian Brotherhood.
Specification /. In this, that the said william
r. Roberts, etc. etc., did, on or about the 9th Of
day of December, 1865. at the city of New York,
hold and make official communications with and
- 10 the Government of England, and the powers
of the world by publishing or causing to be pub-
lished in divers ne wspapers of the city of New
f York, resolution in the words and igures fol-
lowing, Yiz.:-
(The resolution alluded to is the one published
81 by the Senate repudlating the bonds issued by
President OMahony, and notifying the public
that such bonds were illegal and inyalid.)
The above are but few of the many charges
made by the President against the members of
the Senate, and in all cases the charges were sus-
tanned by the evidence of members present.
On the examination of Mr.. Kilian relative to
the issue of the bonds some very important in
formation was elected. Mr.. Gatfney, for the
de ense, asked some very pointed questions, but
he had his match in the shrewd, caustic SecTe-
tary OF the Treasury, who met his questions with
replies that hOored his absent clients. One of
the Irish delegates and several other gentlemen
were examined, and the concurrent testimony
of all tended to clear 0'Mahony OF all the
charges of the Senate. Indeed, so true was that
81 Conviction, that members whose minds were
poisoned by the Senatorial reports wondered
how they could be so influenced as to doubt the
STRAIGHTFORWARD patriotism of their old tried
President, John 0'Mahony.
STERLING PATRIOTISM.
A delegate of the Convention, Mr.. Peter
Skehan OF Liberty street. said that as he now
r. believed the House meant to do something def
mite and as there appeared an evident desire e
Immediately assist our brothers in Ireland wltf
what they required, he would make a commence
ment by contributing to the Irish cause nYe hun
dred dollars, and in addition 20 this he wa
ready himself to go as an humble private tt
Ire land, great was his desire to see her tre'
M country,
Mr.. Skehan requested the Secretary to draw
on him for i've hundred dollars. He was loudl!
cheered and resolution passed that his offer b.
fled on the minutes.
Retore the House adjourned delegate from
Manhattan informed his brother delegates tina
they, the Manhattan delegates, would have
ball, to come OFF on Thursday evening, TO which
all the members present were invited.-N Y
..|. Herald