THE FENIAN CONGRESS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 912, 25 January 1868, Page 3

THE FENIAN CONGRESS.

The following report of the proceedings of the Fenian Congress, held at Cleveland, in the United States, is taken from the Panama Mercantile Chronicle, and condensed from the Cleveland Herald, of the 10th of September last. So long (says the Nelson Examiner, from which we quote) as the Fenian agitators can. find dupes to subscribe funds to minister to their vanity and wickedness, and the Government of the United States is so weak as to court popular favour by tolerating treasonable conspiracies within its territory against a country with which it is at peace, so long shall we hear Fenian threats to wrest Ireland from the British Crown. But the time must come when even Irishment will refuse to be gulled and to put their necks in a halter to please traders in sedition, to whom the real welfare of Ireland is a matter of only secondary consideration : — The Cleveland Herald, of September 10, contains an extended account of the proceedings of the Fenian Congress, which closed its week's session on the previous evening. The Congress sat with closed doors, and every part of the building guarded with the armed soldiers ; and the members -were swora not to divulge its proceedings even to the Circles, except aa permission was given ; but all the most important facts that were omitted from the published digest have been divulged. The proceedings throughout were stormy, and several times there was danger of the Congress breaking up in a general row. Considerable feeling was manifested at the proposition to swear the members to secrecy ; but after hearing instances narrated of previous bad faith, it was determined to bind every member by stringent oath to secrecy. The question whether women should be admitted to Circles was answered in the negative, because of their inability to keep a secret. The message of President Roberts, occupying several columns, was given to the public ; but the supplementary message, containing accounts 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 very much discouraged since the failure in Canada, and it required his best efforts -to convince them that the Fenian Brotherhood, as now organized in America, were not responsible for the disaster, and to lay the blame upon the proper persons — the Stephens party. These men had been sent to Europe to work for the cause, but instead of doing the work laid out for them they had put up at the best hotels, kept fast horses and faster women, and had squandered the money which the poor hard-working Irish people had given for the independence of Ireland. He had laboured until the 4th clay of July to effect a bond of union between the 1.R.8. of the old country, and the F.B. of America, and xipon 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 discussed by the gentlemen. Some suggested six months from the 4th of July ; but ho told them that he did not think that the two organizations would bo in perfect working order so as to strike together before twelve months, aud the matter was | decided. He stated that the Irish of the old country were warm upon the subject, and only wanted the co-ope-ration of the Irishmen on this side ■ of the water, but that the Irish of the old country would never rise again until an army fully equipped and armed stood upon Irish soil to defend them; that it was extreme recklessness, and would lead to nothing but butchery, for them to make a strike without the aid of American Irishmen. During this Paris meeting Stephens and his party were denounced in most severe terms as adventurers, and they have resolved to hold no communication with them. The oi'ganization here must be in perfect working order, and be able to make a grand strike before another year, for "hope deferred maketh the heart sick," and Irish people of the old country were looking across the water for aid. Mr. Roberts read a long document from the " Irish Republic Brotherhood" organization in the old country to the " Fenian Brotherhood " in America, praying for a grand union aud aid in the common cause, which was addressed to the Congress assembled in Cleveland. He then said he left the entire matter in the hands of the Congress, hoping that they would be guided b} r wisdom and the love of country. General Spear, acting Secretary of Wai 1 , reported that the whole force of the Fenian brigade numbered 9,3000 enlisted men, with about 15,000 rifles, 16,500 accoutrements, 120,000 rounds of ammunition ; in addition, there were 100 rifles along the border towards Oswego, in the hands of private parties. At Sackett's Harbour about 2,000 stand of arms, and at Platt's Point about 1,200, at Oswego 119 rifles—in all about 20,000. In addition to this force the Stephens wing claimed to have 15,000 stand of arms, 15,000 sabres, and a large lot of ammunition, and a vessel in New Xork harbour. It was decided that four military organizers should be appointed to raise troops ; 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 appointed. Casey's tactics are to bo adopted. A fund to defray army expenses 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 liquors is to be admitted into the ranks, and any man found drunk will be dismissed. A committee from the Stephen's wing of the Brotherhood sent a communication asking that a committee be sent to confer with them on the subject of the union of the two wings. After a sharp debate a committee was appointed, and the result of the conference was an arrangement for perfecting the union of the two factions of Fenians in America, together with the

Fenians in Ireland, into one organization, 1 = to be known as the Irish Republic. .Colonel Roberts was re-elected PresiC <te n * ; i kit' declined unless the Congress /would raise 500,000 dollars for the cause. Half that amount was pledged, and after "■ further consideration Colonel Roberts ac- -.'' cepted the position. It was decided to call on all the Circles to immediately send ■ : to head-quarters what funds were in their possession, and to waste no more money for flags and trappings. Every available dollar is to be used for the purchase and refitting of arms and the procural of ammunition. The bonds of the Irish Republic were reported to realize only twenty cents, on the dollar, so that the ; strictest economy is necessary. No definite time has been fixed on for the grand movement. The Congress agreed to leave . the determination of the time and general plan of the campaign to a Convention of the Military Officers of the Irish Republic, to be held in" the spring. A resolution of respect for the memory of Thomas Meagher created a heated discussion, there being a wide difference of opinion as to his merits, and the services . he had rendered the Fenian cause. Applause and hisses greeted every repetition ;' of his name, and the resolution was at last declared carried amid vociferous dissent. A resolution was adopted by a large majority appointing a Committee to draft an appeal to the United^ States Government in behalf of the Irish patriots, prisoners confined in British dungeons. In the debate on the passage of this resolution the general spirit of the Congress was in favor of such action, and that the two great political parties in America should understand that whichever party proved friends of the Penian Brotherhood would receive the pledge of support from the Brotherhood, and that this should be taught to different Circles at home. In this way the Fenian Brotherhood would become a power to be felt and heard in America. It was the feeling that all parties should be ignored, and that the Brotherhood should be the enemy of its 1 enemies, and the friend of its friends, no matter who the'party, or what their principles. A declaration of principles was afterwards adopted and given to the public, as were a series of resolutions which professed hearty co-operation with the friendly press, disclaiming and forbidding any use of the Brotherhood for political purposes in connection with present parties in this country ; of thanks to prominent citizens who aided in the recovery of the Fenian arms ; and of acknowledgment to the Irish Nationalists of Cleveland, and discountenancing any application of funds except for the purpose of arms and other revolutionary purposes.