| Title: | W.S. O'Brien's Letter to T.F. Meagher. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1987 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | O'Brien, W.S/35 |
| Year | 1861 |
| Sender | Mrs W.S. O'Brien |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | unknown |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Boston?, Mass.? USA |
| Destination | unknown |
| Recipient | Meagher, T.F. |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | she attends one of his speeches and |
| Source | The Belfast Newsletter, Wednesday, 23 October, 1861. |
| Archive | The Central Library, Belfast. |
| Doc. No. | 9705317 |
| Date | 23/10/1861 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 23:05:97. |
| Word Count | 552 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | W.S. O'BRIEN AND T.F. MEAGHER. MR. W.S. O'BRIEN has written a letter to Mr. T.F. Meagher on the American war. The following are extracts. The letter is dated Oct. 21:- "I have read with much interest the speech recently delivered by you at Boston; but though I admire its fervid eloquence, and agree with many of the sentiments which it contains, I differ altogether from the conclusions which you endeavour to enforce. I am, therefore, prepared to break a lance with you in argument, and to contend that the Irish in America ought to appear as mediators, instead of being participators, in the fratricidal strife which is now desolating the fairest portion of the Western Hemisphere. Had the Northerns obtained any marked advantages in the present war they might have been ready to listen to mediation, but pride now intercepts the voice of reason, of humanity, and even of self-interest. "Let us first contemplate the case in which success shall have crowned the efforts of the Unionists, and that Charleston, Augusta, Savannah, Montgomery, Mobile, Memphis, and New Orleans shall be in possession of the Federal troops. Will such a conquest tend to reconcile the Southerns to acquiescence in the Union? Does not the whole course of history show that a conquered nation can be kept in subjection only by the same means by which it was considered? Have you estimated what number of men will be required to keep in subjection a territory which is nearly as large as the whole of Europe, or what will be the annual expense imposed upon the Union by the maintenance of such a force? "Do you believe it possible to maintain a Republican form of government in the conquered States? On the other hand, are you prepared to domineer over ten millions of people and their descendants throughout [--?] ----[this?] [-------?] coercion of military power? Do you believe it possible to maintain the Republican institutions of the North concurrently with the maintenance of a standing army consisting of half-a-million of soldiers, who must necessarily be placed at the disposal of an executive chief? At the present moment it is difficult to say whether either of the contending parties has gained a single point of ascendancy in relation to the other. "This state of things is peculiarly favourable to an adjustment, without compromise of honor --[or?] on either side. " . . . For my own part, I should not be surprised if a separation of the slave States from the Northern States were to bring about an early emancipation of the slaves; for I do not believe that slavery can be maintained in territories which lie contiguous to free states, except by the aid of a fugitive slave law, which has been for ever repealed. I am willing to go to America, at my own expense, to act as internuncio between the contending parties, in case my services be accepted in that capacity. "During a public life which now extends over a period of thirty-three years I have never solicited office of any kind for myself, from either Kings. Queens, Viceroys, or Ministers; but I am now disposed to solicit the situation of unpaid Envoy between the contending sections of the American people, and it will be the proudest triumph of my life if I can assist in restoring peace between the disunited members of the great American family, whose most vital interests are so deeply injured by this internecine war." |
