Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-06-13


derwood's intination nay, therefore, have no
Other meaning than 70 suggest this state of In
deeision. However this may be, it il sppsr-
ent that the government was not ready Tor
trial now,
The Action Of the Government In
ReGafd to the Fenians.
President johnson las, week issued the fol-
loving proclamation
WHEREAS, it has become known to me that
certain evil disposed persons have. within the
territory and Jurisdiction of the United States
begun and set foot and have provided and
prepared, and are still engaged in providing
and preparing means for such military expedi-
ton and enterprise, which expedition and en-
terPrise i. to be carried on from the territory
and jurisdiction Of the United States against
the colonies, districts end peoples OF British
North America, within the dominions of the
United Kingdoms Of Great Britain and Ireland,
with which said colonies, districts and people
an Kingdom the United States are now al
peace
And, Whereas the proceedings aforesaid con-
sttute high msdemeanor, forbidden by the
United States as well as by the laws OF all ma
tons;
Now, therefore,, for the purpose Of pre- rent
iug the carrying of the unlawful expedition
and enterprise afor+ said from the territory and
jurisdiction of the United States, and TO main
tain the public peace as we'll as the national
honor, AID enforce obedience and resi- ect to the
laws of the United States, |, Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, do admon.sh
and warn all good citizens of the United States
against taking part or in any way aiding, coun-
teDancing or a5etting said unlawful proceedings,
and do expect all Judges, Magis rates, Mar
shals end officers in the service OF the United
States to employ all their lawful authority and
power to prevent and defeat the azores i'd IN
lawful proceedings, and to arrest and bring to
justice all persons who may be engaged therein,
and in pursuance to the act OF Congress IN such
made and provided.
| do furthermore authorize and empower
Major General George q. MEADE, Comm .nder
OF the Mil ary Division of the Atlantic, to en-
ploy the land and naval forces OF the United
States, and the militia thereof, to arrest and
prevent the setting foot and carrying OF
the expedition and enterprise aforesaid.
In testimony whereof have hereuDto set nv
hand and caused the seal of the y uited States
10 be affixed.
Done at Washington this 9Th day Of
. June, 1886, AMI Of the lndepen-
w. ~ dence OF tue United States the nine
tieth.
(SIgned) ANDREW JOHNSON.
BY the President
WA. III. SEWARD, Sec. of State.
The United States Attorney General has also
issued the following order.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, }
Washington, June 5, 1866. {
BY direction OF the President, you are here
by lnstruc ed to cause the arrest of all pr mi
nent leading or conspicuous persons called
Fenians, who you may have probable 10
believe have been, may he, guilty OF viola
tons of the neutrality laws of the United
States. JAMES SPEED, ATTY Gen.
In Obedience to this order General Sweeney,
President Roberts, and many other prominent
leaders of the move ment for liberating ireland
ny rob bing, stealing and plunderirg raid
upon Can7da, have been arrested. Those Of
them who chose TO be rtle ased on bail have
been, and the other are still in the custody of
the United States officers.
We have been much surprised to see the
New York tribune condemning this policy Of
the Government, and prAc ically asserting that
the Fenians ought 10 be allowed to make war
on Canada from our territory in their own way
That paper 10 it's last Fridays Issue has the
following
With display OF vgor which q strong Gov
eminent sometimes delights 10 make a. anst
weak enemy, our Federal authorities have ar
rested Mr.. Roberts, the Fenan President, and
Gen. Sweeney, lis military leader. The term
enemy" is scarcely to De applied 70 these
gentlemen in any other sense than technical
one. They are certainly enemies to the British
rule over Ireland, and for this reason cnal-
lsnged by The Administration 3, enemies Of the
United States. We suppose the Washington
opinion must be accepted If its qHixotie theo-
RES of our duties as neutraIs are also 10 be &C.
oepted. Undoubtedly, if america De the ap-
pointed guaId dian OF British int in c 4nads
must make war the Fenians ID their
leaders. If the main object al W ashug on is
10 conciliate the good will Of that Britain which
during. the rebellion spurned every demand
from Us for far dealing, our Foreign Office is
pursuing policy calculated for such
purpose. But We do not suppose Messrs.
ROBERTS and Sweeney any more enemies
to-day than they we're month ago, nor that
the Government is now in possession of any
information which had not, in subs lance, been
communicated to 1t before blow struck.
If the Fenians are guilty now, they
guilty then, and we are az loss to know Why
the interposltion Of our Government should not
have occurred before this enterprise had cul-
minated, and before that outbreak of hoslillties
which a word from President Johnson 10 lho,e
who consulted HIM might have prevented
There certainly was no teniaI leader mad
as to suppose that ne could conquer Canada
plus the United ats, any leader who
would have put his own reputation and the
lives OF his followers at risk, If he had net be-
leved th IL this Government would conhue its
opposition within tt e rigorous limits of the law.
That Messrs. Roberts and Sweeney are under
arrest to-day Is only evidence that they
placed 10 much reliance on what they were led
10 suppose would be the policy OF the Govern
ment.
So much Of these structures as suggest that
the Government by its delay in interfering has
encouraged the Fenians suppose they were
10 be unmolested in their efforts to Capture
Canada is undoubtedly just. But we cannot
British government toward curing the re-
oeilon changes, IN any Particular our duty to
keep our territory from being IN 4de the base of
operations ike those set on f OF by these
Fenians. If we are prepared 10 make war on
Canada and England on our own account, lei,
US say SO at once, and go at it like a nation that
dares resent an injury In manly and open way
even at the hazard Of war, but do not let Us
turn pick pockets and robbers, or harborers and
sncouragers of such depredators, because our
neighbors have acted in these capacities when
rebels made Canada and the English seaports
the refuge and protection of their pratica ex-