Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-11
LATEST KILOGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
Preeeeaine.. OF Fenlan Congre.s. .

land Herald this evening contains an ex-
tended account of the proceedings of the
Fenian Congress, which CLOSED its weeks
session last night. The Congress sat with
closed doors, every part of the building
being guarded by armed soldiers, and
members were sworn not to diyulse It's
proceedings even to citizens, except as
permission was given bat the Herald con-
triged to get all the most important facts
that were omitted from the published re-
port The proceedings throughout were
stormy, and several times there was danger
of the Congress breaking up in general
rev.
Considerable feeling was manifested at
the proposition to swear members to secrecy,
but after hearing instances narrated of
the previous bad faith, il was determined
to bind every member by the most strin-
gent oath to secrecy.
Thequestion as to whether women should
be admitted into the circles was answered
in the negative, because of their inability
to keep a secret.
The message of President Roberts, occu-
pying several columns, was given to the
public; but a supplementary message con-
tanning an account of his mission to Paris,
was reserved for the private consideration
of the Congress. In that document Mr..
Roberts said, that after visiting circles in
Great Britain and Ireland, he went TO Paris
where he met the representatives of the Irish
Revolutionary Brotherhood. He found the
Irish people are very much discouraged
since the failure in Canada, and it required
his best efforts to convince them the Fenian
Brotherhood, as now organized in America
were not responsible for disaster, and TO Law
the blame upon the proper persons-the
Stevens party. They had been sent to
Europe to work for the cause, but, instead
of doing work laid out for them, they had
put up at the best hotels, kept fast horses
and faster women, and had squandered
money which poor, hard working
Irish people had freely given for the in
pendence OF Ireland. He had labored until
the fourth day of July to effect a bond of
union between the Irish Brotherhood of
the old country and the Fenian Brother
hood of America, and upon that day it was
accomplished, and to-day the two were one
in purpose. He said the time and place to
make a strike came up, and was fully dis
cussed by the gentlemen. Some suggested
six months from the fourth of July, but he
told them that he did not think that the
two organizations would be in perfect work |
ing order so as to strike together be-
fore twelve months, and the matter was
so decided. lie stated that the Irish of !
the country were warm on the subject, and !
only wanted the cooperation of the Irish !
men on this side of the water but that the !
Irish of the old country would never rise |
again, until an army was fully equipped |
and armed, and stood upon Irish soil to
defend them 1t was extreme recklessness,
and would lead to nothing but butchery
for them to make strike without aid from
American Irishmen. During this Paris
meeting, Stevens and his party were de-
nouneed in most severe terms as adventu-
rers, and they have resolved to hold no
communication with them. The organiza-
ton here must be in perfect working order,
and be able to make grand strike before
another year, for "hope deferred makes the
heart SICK" and the Irish people of the
old country we're looking across the water
for aid.
Mr. Robertes read aloud a document
from the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood
in the old country to the Fenian Brother
hood in America, pleading for a grand
union and aid in the, common cause,
which was addressed to the Congress as
sembling at Cleveland He then said it
was left entirely in the hands of the Con-
gress, hoping that they would be guided by
wisdom and love of country.
Mr. Spear, acting Secretary of War, re-
ported that the whole force of the Fenian
brigade numbered $500 enlisted men, about
5000 rifles, 1880 accoutrements, and
l 100000 stands of ammunition, in
addition to 1000 rifles along the Dor
der, in the hands of private parties. At
Sachab harbor there were about 1000 or
5000 stand of arms, and at Platt's Point
about 1900; ct Oswego 119 rifles, in all
about 10000. In addition to this force the
Stevens wing claimed 10 have $4,000 stand
of arms, $4,000 sabres, a large lot of am
munition and A vessel in New York harbor
It was decided that four military organ
izers should be appointed to raise troops,
and that an Inspector General should also be
appointed; ten batteries of field artillery,
three cavalry regiments of ten companies
each, and two light batteries, mounted, to
go with the cavalry are to be appoint
ed. Casey's tactics are to be adopted, and
a fund TO defray armory expenses is
to be raised by collecting ten cents
from each soldier. The soldiers of the
Army of the Irish Republic, by which
name the military organization is hereafter
to be known, are to be sober and discreet
men as well as good fighting soldiers. No
man addicted to intoxicating liquor is to be
into ranks and any man found
drunk will be dismissed.
A committee from the Stevens wing of
the Brotherhood sent communication
asking that a committee be sent to confer
with them on the subject of the union ofthe
two wings. Committee was appointed and
the result of the conference was an arrang-
ment for perfecting the union of the two
factions of Fenians in America together
with the Fenians of Ireland into one orr
to be known as the Irish Re-
public. Col. Roberts was declared Presi-
dent, but declined, unless Congress would
-aise $780, 600 for the cause. Half that
mount was pledged, and after further con-
ultation Colonel Roberts accepted the
position. II was decided to call on the cir
lies TO send Immediately to headquarters
What funds were in their possession, and to
waste no more money for flags and trap
pings. Every available dollar is TO be used
or the purchase and reitting of arms, s.and
he procurement Of ammunition.
The bonds OF the Irish Republic were
exported to realize only twenty cents on
he dollar,so that strictest economy is neces-
AIRY.
No definite time has been fixed on for the
,rand movement. Congress agreed to leave !
he determination of the time, and general I
)lan of the campaign, to convention of
he military officers of the Irish Republic,
o be held in the spring.
A resolution of respect TO the memory of
General Thomas Meagher, created heated
discussion, there being wide difference of
pinion as to his merits, and the service he
lad done the Fenians. Applause and Kisses
-reeted every repetition Of his name, and
he resolution was lost. A resolution was
dopted by a large majority to appoint a
ommittee to draft an appeal to the United
tates government in behalf of Irish pa
riot prisoners confined in British dungeons.
n the debate on the passage of this rsso-
ntion, the general spirit of the Congress
7as in favor of such a clause, and that -
he two great political parties in
america would understand that which -
yer party proved to be the friends of 1