Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-01
MEETING OF IRISH CIrIzENs.
The Fenfau Moyemeut n,scusse,I


A large number Of our IRISH citizens met in
Fenian Hall last night.
On m'tion, Gen. z. A. R. Dawson was called
to the chair. and the members of the press re-
quested to act as Secretaries. Upon taking the |
chair. Gen. Dawson spoke as follows:
GEN. DAwsoN's RExARKs.~
GENTLEMEN: heartily thank you for the hon |
or conferred upon me this evening, 10 calling
upon me to preside at this august meeting. As
l. understand the object of tbs meeting 1t is for
the men who are iriends Of Ireland to assemble
together and consult with each other in re-
gard to the best method and best course they can
pursue IL, relieving their oppressed and down
trodden. but noble country. from the iron heel
OF aespotism that now rests upon 1t. 1t Is Teeily
men VINO are the sons of the Emerald Isle, the
sons ofthat country that has produced such men
as Emmett. Curran and Burke. 1t IS hign
honor for any man to speak in behalf otthe cause
which these men advocated. We have not only
the example Of these men 10 latter days, but We
have had the energy, will and intellect OF lrlsn-
men displayed on more recent occasions. we
find in referring to the history of thus country
t5as Irishmen all over the world have made
their mark.
The railroads and canals were all built by
sons of Ireland. This meeting is called to con-
suit as to what can be done for our mother
country, to relieve our down-trodden and op-
pressed brothers of the Green Isle. 1t Is mat
ter upon which we should consult carefully,
candidly snd cautiously, and with the intellect,
energy and will of the Irishmen of this cOun
try we can accomplish great deal of good. We
must help our friends at homo, and in order to
| do this, care. caution and deliberation must be
used. You must stand BY your warm and car
nest friend, Gen. John 0'Neill.
The chairman then stated that the meeting
would now be addressed by our distinguished
| fello y-citiZen, Mr.. VIM. G. Brien:
Mr.. BRIEN's REMARKS.
We are compelled, from lack of space and
| time, which we exceedingly regret, to only give
! a shert synopsis of MIR. Briens eloquent ad-
| dress. He said that he extremely regretted that
| he had not received the information Of their
| desire to hear him on that occasion sooner. as
he had had no opportunity of giving that at
| tentiOn TO the subject that would do justice 10
the cause or to himself. he esteemed it great
compliment to be called upon to address them
on an occasion like that. He regarded Fenian-
ism new enterprise in the country, new idea
that could only spring from a glorious nation
composed of people who had excelled IN poesyr
| in the hne arts, in oratOry and who had been the
heroes Of a thousand battles. II was shame
that those people should be. exiled from theiI
own homes, friends. families and their OWL
Green Emerald Isle, the gem OF the sea. Ihert
| were no people on the earth, and hi
would not say this in fiattery, who possess more
glory and generous impulse than the Irish
| people. Their history was romance within
itself. When this movement was first placed OF
foot he had his doubt as to its success. He dc
not then understand its workings, but in shor
| time after the organization was made complete
1t became clear to him. Their opponents haS
seen a determination on the part OF the lrlsi
people that would animate them as long a
they would be permitted to inhabit thu
earth. What was the resulH They had begun
to bestow upon them privileges which had beeI
taken from them centuries past. Tney trem
bled upon their throne when they looked at tn
| power the Irish nation possess even IN America
, | This mOVementwas not essentially CT Warlk
, character. 1t had higher and nobler OhJec
, than that. 1t was intended TO present to tn
| world the wrongs and injuries the Irish people
had submitted to, and by that means they showe'
that they would not submit to 1t any longer
! | Loud applause. They had adopted all mean
| | on earth in ameIiorating the condition Of thel
| friends at home. 1t was an excellent idea
| They could say to them extend the olive brancl
of peace and they would accept II. They wOuli
give them the choice between peace and war
| and if they continue injustice 10 them, the.
| would continue to wage war against them
They had large military force at their com
| mand composed of some Of the brightest intel
. | lects in the country, and they had obtained Pc
| sitions in various departments IN the Unlte'
States, where their influence could betelt. In or
: | Der to sustain movement OF this character
4 | whether 1t was designed to be poltical or 9th
; | erWise they would need means. And TO accom-
| plish this let each citizen contribute ms sum
They could, by resortlng to the press, lnIor RI
the people of the grievances which their peopl
| complained Of livery true patriot and love
r of Irish patriotism would be willing to contrib
ute something 10 the good cause; n
manwhO appreciated American liberty but de
| siIes to see his relations and friend
enjoy the same privilege at home; The move
| ment would not only be aided by lrishmen, bu
| by every man who loves patriotism and lIbert
: | in America 1t would be best for them to ap
| point their committee TO wait upon their owl
r | countrymen first, and after they had contribute
E | ed, then TO wait upon the american peopl
/ against the Irish people was that they wer'
| always too willing TO give. lie would mos
a | cheerfuly render all assistance TO them tina
\. he could.
D MIR. Brien was frequently applaudei durin
| the delivery of his speech.
Calls were then made for Col. Chamberlain
| He took the stand and addressed the audienc
| ia a few stirring remarks. lie said that tn
| course of the Eenians during the las
| few years had done graf dea
towards assisting the Irish people. In Scotlsn
| they were obliged to allow ireemen their rights
, | il was forced upon them. The policy of tn
| Irish people WIS to show these people such Al
aggressive front that. they could not persecut
| them. Let il be known that they were freemel
| and were determined to be free. The Irish PEG
| pie of America were far stronger than the Iris
| people at home. They have here all the priv
leges of a free citizen, and in ireland they d
| NOT: hut it would not be half century unit
| these privileges and immunities would be en-
| Dyed by all of them. Ireland will then be a
free to make laws as any State in this gran
Union. America was more largely indebted t
| Ireland than any other country on the globe
A trace Of the Irishman could be f9un,
in every council nell factory or anywhere ere
| not ashamed of it. Applause Col
Chamberlain then spoke of the bravery o
the Irish people IN the late war Their tore
had been felt in the past and would be felt Il
the future.
Maj L D. Walker then followed in fey
brief remarks He Endorsed all tina
had been said by his predecessors
The Fenian organization was composed o
gallantry, spirit and manhood, and when on
successful blow has been struck and
fOothOld has been established on Canada
they would be joined by. hundreds Q
thousands. They had sympathiZeIs in Americ
who would take hand in the fight when
would come. II they had the means, guns anC
numbers. cross and plant fOOthold on Canada
The Americans would not shoulder a gun unit
| they struck the first blow.
d. S. Mundy made few remarks in relation
to the collection of funds for the support of tn
| organization. lie said taat they could turn on
, | with 2O,u00 stand Of arms.
Messrs. Muniy, Mccormack and Smith wer
| afterwards appointed committee to solicit do
nations, and over $3.50 was collected on tn
spot. The meeting throughout was very en-
| thusiastc.