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THE 
 
 FENIANS' PROGRESS: 
 
 <30NTAtNlNS 
 
 THE INSPIRATIONS OF GENERAL RICHARD 
 MONTGOMERY, AND LORD EDWARD 
 FITZGERALD. . 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A 
 
 THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE "AVENGING 
 AI^GELS," IN NEW AND OLD IRELAND. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED A MODE OF MANAGING FUNDS SO AS TO INSURE TO THE 
 
 INDIVIDUAL eUBSCP.IBEK AN ABSOLUTE OEETAINTY THAT HIS MONET 
 
 SHALL BE INVESTED FOB HIS OWN INTEREST, OE BE PROPERLY 
 
 DEVOID TO THE GREAT CAUSE FOE WHICH IT WAS GIVEN, 
 
 IFHEN THERE ARE INDUBITABLE MORAL AND PHY- 
 
 V 8ICAL PROSPECTS OF SUCCESS, ETC., ETC. 
 
 ^ ALSO, 
 
 THE COXSTITUTIOX OF THE FENIAN BEOTHERHOOD. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 PUBLISHED BY JOHN BRADBURN, 
 
 (MICHAEIi DOOLADT), 
 
 49 WALKER STREET. 
 
 1865. 
 
^^^1 
 
 i= 
 
 
 Entered neeording to Act of Congress, In the year 1865. 
 
 By JOHN BEADBUrvN, 
 
 In tlie Clerk's Offii-e of the District Court of the United States for the 
 Southern District of New York. 
 
 \V 
 
 ,# 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAOK 
 
 Chapter I.— The Causes of my Dream 5 
 
 Chapter II.— My Dream 9 
 
 Chapter ni. — My Dream coisttestded 15 
 
 The True Irishman, and the Fenian Movement 25 
 
 The Irish VoLtnsTTEERS 32 
 
 The Real Object 35 
 
 Facts about the Fenians 41 
 
 Origin 42 
 
 The Founder 42 
 
 Early Difficulties 44 
 
 Change op Base 45 
 
 The Cincinnati Convention 46 
 
 Objects of the Movement, and means for their ac- 
 complishment 47 
 
 Mysterious Character of the Organization in Ire- 
 land 51 
 
 Fenianism a Serious Fact 53 
 
 Who were the Fenians? 54 
 
IV CONTENTS. 
 
 Fenian Movements in Liteepool 59 
 
 The Irish Republican Bonds 63 
 
 Fenians in Massachusetts 64 
 
 The Release op John Mitchell 65 
 
 The Constitution of the Fenian Brotherhood 68 
 
 Article I 69 
 
 Article II 70 
 
 Article III 74 
 
 Article IV 77 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury 86 
 
 Agent of the Irish Republic 86 
 
 Subscription Agent 87 
 
 Treasurer 88 
 
 Cokhesponding Secretary 91 
 
THE 
 
 FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 THE CAUSES OF MY DREAM. 
 
 Divinity hatli oftentimes descended 
 Upon our slumbers, and the blessed troupes 
 Have, in the calm and quiet of the soul, 
 Conversed with U3.— Shirley. 
 
 But dreams full oft are found of real events 
 
 The forma and shadows. — Joanna Baillie's Ethwold. 
 
 We dream what is about to happen.— Bailey. 
 
 Being a true son of heroic, unhappy Ireland, 
 it is but natural that whatever affects our dear 
 " Poland of the Seas," and her faithful children 
 abroad, would have for me a deep and abiding 
 interest ; hence, though not a member, I cannot be 
 
6 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 indiflferent to the designs, prospects, and ultimate 
 fate of the Fenian movement, which, at the present 
 time, appears to attract the attention of friends and 
 foes. 
 
 As one of tlie former, without haying any know- 
 ledge whatever of the Brotherhood's plans, or of their 
 means, present or prospective, I boldly predict, in the 
 most positive terms, the full and permanent success 
 of their cause. I beseech you, gentle, or ungentle, 
 reader, not to laugh when I tell you I make this un- 
 qualified prophecy on the " baseless fabric of a vi- 
 sion." But, what if you do laugh ; did not the 
 great London Times, a short while ago, laugh at 
 the New York Herald's "full accounts" of this 
 organization ? and, for all that, the real living 
 flesh and blood Eenians are keeping time to the 
 eternal progress of events, and their cause " is 
 marching on." 
 
 This the Thunderer seems now to admit, for he 
 has lapsed into a most serious mood, and .gives 
 the Brotherhood some very Christian hints, which 
 I read in late public journals, with much concern 
 for my brave countrymen ; and as " in poison there 
 
TH?: FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. i 
 
 is physic," so in this envenomed effusion of the 
 servile Times I found a stimulant for thought, 
 and, upon the impulse of the moment, dashed 
 off the following lines, which served for my 
 evening prayer: 
 
 Eternal and all-powerful God, 
 
 Incline Thy gracious ear ; 
 My country's just appeal to Thee, 
 
 O God, I pray Thee hear. 
 Thine and Gideon's sword, O Lord 1 
 
 Place in Thy servant's hand. 
 The tyrant, hip and thigh, to smite, 
 
 And hurl him from the land. 
 
 Beliold, O just and mighty God I 
 
 This guilty tyrant's reign, 
 And see, with Thine all-searching eye, 
 
 The heaps which he has slain. 
 By famine, sword, and penal laws. 
 
 See the savage work go on, 
 'Till, joy to him ! " the Irish race 
 
 Is, with a vengeance, gone." 
 
THE FKNTAN BRarHKRITOOD'. 
 
 But Thou, O Lord ! art yet above. 
 
 And Irishmen still live, 
 "Who, with Thy gracious aid, O God t. 
 
 A blow will shortly give ; 
 A vengeful, final, crushing blow, 
 
 Old scores to pay in full. 
 And sweep, forever, from the land. 
 
 The beastly ghoul, John Bull. 
 
THE FENIAN BUOTHEKHOOD. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MY D K E A M. 
 
 Full of these things, on the night in question, 
 I retired to rest, and, being somewhat fatigued 
 by the labors of the day, I was soon in a pro- 
 found shiraber, when, behold ! much to my sur- 
 prise, in an incredibly short space of time, I found 
 myself, on my native heath, a Fenian commander, 
 and, like Suwarrow, " standing in my shirt" drilling 
 my " avenging angels," for so I called the Fenian 
 boys, whom I passed on the double-quick, through 
 several evolutions ; and had just formed square, 
 when, lo ! my eye was arrested by the approach 
 of two persons, who, splendidly mounted, vied with 
 the wind in the swiftness of their coming, one bear- 
 ing aloft the cherished green flag, while the other 
 1* 
 
10 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 unfurled to the breeze the mighty banner of the 
 Stars and Stripes. 
 
 Judge of my amazement, when I beheld before 
 me Lord Edward Fitzgerald and General Richard 
 Montgomery. Sans ceremonie we entered the square, 
 whicli, at a sign, faced inwards, when Montgomery 
 discoursed as follows : 
 
 " Beave Irishmen ! — Though often baffled, though 
 cruelly despoiled and persecuted, though made to 
 feel, in its direst form, the cold-blooded, deadly, 
 exterminating policy of your beastly Castlereaghs, 
 though your savage tyrants have deemed their 
 hellish work accomplished, and pronounced you 
 ' gone, with a vengeance,' yet do I find you, like 
 your own fabled bird, springing up from the ashes 
 of your noble sires, and preparing to finish their 
 glorious battle. 
 
 " Yet do I find you the true and faithful children 
 of the grand old Irish race, unextinguished and 
 irrepressible ; and, once more, appealing to a just 
 God and to sympathizing man for the right you 
 have to your own beloved country. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHt)OD. 11 
 
 " These things, my countrj-men, are not the mere 
 results of chance, they are the work of the Most 
 High ! as your generous patriotic promptings are 
 the inspirations of Heaven. 
 
 " Oh ! it is a glorious thing to fight, and, if needs 
 be, to die for Ireland. But, my friends, if you would 
 be finally triumphant, the fight must not be begun, 
 but must be ended, here." 
 
 He then shouted, in a voice that thrilled my 
 very soul : 
 
 " You must place the Atlantic hetween you and 
 your powerful enemy. Follow Me!" 
 
 Here Lord Edward thundered forth, " March !" 
 
 In a moment, I found myself on the heights of 
 Abraham, amid the din and fury of a dreadful 
 battle, and with my " avenging angels" rushing 
 to the breach; which, after a brief but bloody 
 struggle, we carried, to the music of that ever 
 certain precursor of victory, the well-known, soul- 
 stirring Irish cheer. 
 
 Soon I turned my captured guns upon the dis- 
 comfited foe, whilst he, with wonderful celerity, 
 
12 THE FKNIAN JBKOTHKKnOOD. 
 
 concentrated his remaining artillery upon my 
 dearly bought position ; and thus, with renewed 
 vigor, did the terrible battle rage ; when, on a 
 sudden, my fire ceased, and I found, to my utter 
 horror, that my ammunition had been all ex- 
 pended. 
 
 Victory was wrested from my grasp. 
 
 But just then, just as I was preparing to re- 
 tire my force to safer ground, a courier came 
 dashing in, and the gladdening shout of " Fenians, 
 to the rescue !" was heard along the lines. 
 
 Our American brothers had arrived. 
 
 Full of joy, we now bore down every thing before 
 us, and entered Quebec to the enlivening strains of 
 ^' The Green above the Eed" and " The Star- 
 spangled Banner." Here I again saw my noble 
 mentor, Montgomery, who cried aloud : 
 
 "My death is avenged!" and then continued: 
 "Proceed in the great work. Merge these prov- 
 inces into one State, to be called New Ireland; 
 be friends with the great Kepublic, and delay not 
 in building up a modern navy. Then will Ireland 
 take her place among the nations of the earth. Then 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 13 
 
 mnst pirate England shrink within the limits of her 
 own island shores." 
 
 As Montgomery ceased speaking, Lord Edward 
 came forward, and shouted out, in a voice that 
 made the very earth tremble : 
 
 " Let the nations rejoice ; the accursed British 
 monster is doomed." 
 
 He then, by proclamation, called upon the scat- 
 tered children of his race and country to hasten 
 with their strong arms, and with their wealth, to 
 this vast domain which the Eternal God had given 
 them ; and from here, with their united strength, 
 to strike for their native land. 
 
 This advice was not uttered to deaf or unwilling 
 ears ; for, in a moment, I beheld the highways, and 
 the byways, and the fields, flooded with my faithful 
 countrymen, who, pressing forward to our " ISTew 
 Jerusalem," were all eagerness to aid in the noble 
 work. And, as if Heaven had determined to re- 
 ward such patriotic toil in a twofold manner, I 
 saw shipyards, foundries, commerce, trade, and 
 golden harvests spring up throughout the whole 
 land. While, at the same time, a fleet of Dun- 
 
14: THE FENIAN BEOTHEKHOOD. 
 
 derbergs, manned by our own brave tars, and a 
 splendid army of the same indomitable stock, 
 appeared full upon the view. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHEKHOOD. 15 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 MY DREAM CONTINUED. 
 
 The long wislied-for day had at length arrived. 
 The Irish were now prepared to " seek their own 
 again," and not only contest the dominion of their 
 native laud, but also the dominion of the high seas, 
 with their savage plunderers. 
 
 So with strong proud hearts, and with colors fly- 
 ing, the grand expedition boldly ventured forth upon 
 its glorious mission. Days passed as seconds, and 
 then, behold ! a terrible naval engagement ensued, 
 in which our American fifteen-inch guns did tre- 
 mendous execution, sinking the Great Warrior, 
 and three other ships of the same class ; crippling 
 a heavy frigate, which became our prize, and dis- 
 persing the rest of the enemy's Channel fleet. 
 
16 THE FICNIAN BKOTHEKHOOD. 
 
 Hurrah ! we were now masters of the situation, 
 and I was soon pressing my native sod again. 
 
 Oh ! how my swelling heart throbbed with joy, 
 wlien I looked around at my beloved country, and 
 contrasted her dawning future with the dreadful 
 past. But my emotions were soon checked by the in- 
 telligence that an English army was at , a small 
 
 town some fourteen miles distant, committing their 
 usual barbarities, and spreading terror all around. 
 
 As quick as thought, I found my "avenging 
 angels" ready for the march, when I addressed them 
 in the following words : 
 
 " My brave comrades ! — To you it is given to exe- 
 cute the recorded judgment of the Most High God 
 upon the foul and infamous oppressors of your coun- 
 try. You and your noble race are the victims of 
 their fiendish crimes. It is meet that you are here 
 to punish the criminals. 
 
 "For the first time throughout the history of your 
 wrongs, on your own soil, you now meet the hated 
 enemy as his equal in discipline, in arms, and in men. 
 In every thing else, I need not say, you are vastly 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 17 
 
 his superior. Therefore, with the confidence that 
 this knowledge gives, strike home, and" nevei* forget 
 that the stake we fight for is Ireland ! 
 
 "I need not stir up your vengeful souls to deeds 
 of noble daring, by calling to your mind the bitter 
 persecutions, confiscations, and cold-blooded butch- 
 eries, the halter, the pitch cap, the hulk, and the ju- 
 dicial murders which this poor land has witnessed 
 for centuries. 
 
 "I^eed I tell you of the crowbar brigade, of the 
 destitute houseless, of the fever-stricken poor, and 
 their grassy food, of the babe seeking nourishment 
 from the breast of the starved dead mother, and of 
 the pauper's grave ? Nor need 1 refresh your memory 
 with regard to the bloated, malignant press, another 
 agent of your tyrant's refined cruelty, which, not 
 content to gloat over your dreadful condition at 
 home, must follow and hound you down in foreign 
 lands. But enough ! The blood of millions cries to 
 ofi'ended Heaven and to you for vengeance upon the 
 brutal perpetrators of these sickening, horrid crimes. 
 
 " See to it, my brave Fenians, that that cry is not 
 raised in vain." 
 
18 THE FENIAN BROTHEEnOOD. 
 
 Tliere was no mistaking the temper of my bold 
 " avengers." ' I saw in their eye that which boded 
 the Sasanagh no good, as the hills resounded with 
 their response. 
 
 We now pushed forward, and soon confronted the 
 enemy^ his artillery well posted on a range of low 
 hills, his left flank resting on an impassable morass, 
 while his right was protected by a sudden curve in 
 the stream, which ran in front, and by a heavy force 
 of cavalry. 
 
 Numerous rifle-pits, on both sides of the stream, 
 swept the front and flanks of this well-selected and 
 formidable position ; .the whole covering a mountain- 
 pass which led to the Dublin road. 
 
 Being satisfied on these points, my force was soon 
 properly ordered. My heavy Parrot battery of 
 twenty guns occupying a swelling ground in front of 
 the enemy's right centre ; on my left of this point, 
 in an undulating meadow, I posted two eight-pound 
 "Weird batteries, and on my right, on a slightly ele- 
 vated plateau, a like number of Napoleon's, of the 
 same calibre, keeping some ten splendid light pieces 
 as a reserve. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 19 
 
 Mj infcintry was already formed into three di- 
 visions, with a reserve of 6,000, all properly dis- 
 posed. My cavalry, which was light, was ordered 
 to the left, and my sharp-shooters were measuring 
 their range from improvised rifle-pits in front. 
 
 These dispositions being made, the battle was 
 opened with terrible fury. But soon I had the satis- 
 faction to observe that my heavy Parrots were doing 
 splendid work, making every shot tell, while with 
 cool, firm valor we were steadily gaining ground. 
 
 To guard against any attempt in that quarter on 
 the part of the enemy, two regiments of reserves 
 were sent to support the left. 
 
 Six pieces of my reserve artillery were ordered into 
 action. And now, being fully prepared for it, the 
 enemy's rifle-pits were carried in fine style, — my 
 sharp-shooters holding both banks of the stream. 
 
 Pressing my advantage, I soon ordered a charge 
 upon his right centre batteries. 
 
 My gallant " avengers," whom strict discipline 
 could alone have held back so long, needed but the 
 word. "With the utmost impetuosity they dashed 
 across the stream and up the difiicult slope, reserv- 
 
20 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 ing their fire until within half pistol-shot distance, 
 when they delivered it with the most withering 
 effect ; and then, with a deafening cheer, cleared the 
 hill of the terror-stricken foe, capturing sixteen 
 pieces of artillery, and some two thousand prisoners. 
 
 The enemy's lines were now penetrated, my left 
 •was pressing heavily upon his now detached right, 
 and my right holding his left as in a vise, while my 
 heavy Parrots were hurried to the captured hill, 
 where they soon opened right and left, and caused 
 fearful havoc. 
 
 And now, while the enemy, in the most hurried 
 manner, was endeavoring to withdraw his right 
 from its very critical position, another charge was 
 ordered, and most splendidly was it executed by my 
 impetuous left. The Irish cheer was again raised : 
 the hills in front were swept as by the besom of de- 
 struction. For two miles the red-coats were pur- 
 sued, cut to pieces, or captured. 
 
 Camp spoils, a large number of small-arms, ten 
 pieces of artillery, and six thousand prisoners, were 
 the awards of this noble charge. A force was now 
 thrown forward to secure the mountain-pass. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 21 
 
 My victorious left was moved upon the enemy's 
 flank and rear. 
 
 My Weird batteries came tearing in, and were 
 soon posted in the places assigned them. 
 
 And my irrepressible Parrots were pegging away 
 at the still stubborn foe, who, now thoroughly sen- 
 sible of his danger, in a last terrible effort was 
 pressing heavily on my right, with the evident in- 
 tention of breaking through in that direction. But 
 this did not avail him, for my reserves were soon at 
 that point, and efiectually checked him there. 
 
 In fact, the day was ours. The enemy was driven 
 from his intrenched camp ; his ranks were thinned 
 by heavy losses, and staggered under my terrible and 
 well-directed fire ; and he evidently hoped for the 
 pall of darkness, under which, if possible, to save a 
 remnant of his shattered army. But this was not 
 allowed him. The time had now arrived for strik- 
 ing home, and my force being well in hand for that 
 purpose, and in fine spirits, a charge was ordered 
 along the whole line. 
 
 The memory of that glorious charge will live for- 
 ever in mj brain. 
 
5^2 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 Rending the air with their united cheers, my in- 
 vincible brave boys rushed forward, clearing every 
 obstacle, cutting down, capturing, and scattering the 
 now panic-stricken and disorganized enemy ; and 
 with the rage of so many panthers, pursuing the 
 fugitives until darkness closed upon the scene. 
 
 Here I again saw Lord Edward Fitzgerald, who 
 exclaimed in joyful tones, " Sic semjper tyrannis ; my 
 death is avenged." 
 
 My gallant, but ever vigilant, " avenging angels" 
 slept upon the field, and counted among other 
 results of their glorious victory, some forty pieces 
 of artillery, thirty thousand stands of small-arms, 
 two hundred wagons, one hundred and fifty horses, 
 and a vast. amount of camp equipage and stores, 
 together with some eighteen thousand prisoners, and 
 numerous stands of colors. 
 
 The moral effect of this victory was all that could 
 be desired. The country -people came thronging to 
 our standard from all directions, -and under the 
 magical influence of Hardee's tactics, were soon 
 transformed into excellent troops. 
 
THE FENIAN REOTHERIIOOD. 23 
 
 Thanks to our glorious beginning, and the enthu- 
 siastic support which we everywhere received as 
 we advanced, we had arms and supplies in abun- 
 dance. 
 
 And though my army had swelled to eighty 
 thousand effective men, I did not choose to divide it, 
 but pushed on with my whole force. 
 
 Nor did I rest my victorious columns until I 
 planted the Sun-Burst of my country, and its foster 
 Starry Banner, on the Irish Castle of Dublin, 
 which was done amidst the ringing of bells, the 
 shouts of the populace, the thrilling cheers of my 
 gallant army, and the deafening salutes of two 
 hundred pieces of artillery. 
 
 Here a legion of mute martyrs passed before me, 
 each bearing a small Irish flag, and inscribed thereon 
 this motto : "My death is avenged." 
 
 I now took up my quarters at the late residence 
 of the fugitive lord-lieutenant, and being much 
 fatigued by my late harassing duties, retired to 
 rest ; when, stretching my weary limbs in bed, to 
 my infinite amazement I found myself broad awake, 
 
24 XUE FENIAN BROTHEKHOOD. 
 
 though for sorne time after I could scarce believe 
 
 but that all I have described was real. 
 
 " Such terrible impression made my dream," 
 
 I need not tell the well-informed reader that 
 
 " there is something in dreams." Will the Fenians 
 
 note it ? 
 
THE TRUE IRISHMAN, 
 
 THE FENIAN MOVEMENT, 
 
 Funds needed to insure success. — How to manage 
 SUCH FUNDS. — By way of Canada, the true road 
 TO Irish Nationality. 
 
 Haste me to know it ; that I, with wings as swift 
 As meditation, or the thoughts of love, 
 May sweep to my revenge.— ^Shakspeare. 
 
 Give me my love, my honor : give 'em back ; 
 
 Give me revenge, while I have breath to ask it. — Dbtdet. 
 
 What 1 do they think me such a milky boy, 
 
 To pay my vengeance with a few soft words ? — Thomsoit. 
 
 Away ! away ! I will not hear 
 
 Of aught save death or vengeance now ; 
 By the eternal skies I swear. 
 
 My knee shall never learn to bow I 
 I will not hear a word of peace, 
 
 Nor grasp in friendly grasp a hand. 
 Linked to the pale-browed stranger race, 
 
 That work the ruin of our land. — John 0. Saroent. 
 
 The love of " home" is deeply implanted in the 
 
 Irishman's heart. "Wherever he wanders, whatever 
 2 
 
26 THK FKNIASr BliOTHERHOnD", 
 
 sky looks down on him, his sonl tnrns with intense 
 longing to his own " loved island of sorrow." Hence 
 it is that he ever cherishes the hope of seeing his 
 native cot again ; and e-wer dwells with anguish upon 
 the dark-and cruel fate of his country. 
 
 Give him hut half a chance, and he will risk his 
 all to free her from tlie foul grip of the hated 
 oppressor. 
 
 The noble remnant who still, unsubdued in spirit, 
 cling to home, amidst all its desolation, are ever 
 hopeful, ever anxious for the day that will see them 
 grapple with their beastly tyrants, and wreak upon 
 them their long pent-up vengeance. 
 
 Such being Irishmen's laudable feelings, with 
 their country always in the throes of death,' it is not 
 to be v/ondered at that they have often "grasped at 
 straws," when her salvation was proposed. 
 
 They have done so, to their own terrible loss. 
 
 They have been tempted into futile efforts at re- 
 bellion, without any of the means, except their own 
 almost naked bodies,, to insure success, — each new 
 failure making their condition woree (if that were 
 possible), dulling the edge of hope, and followed by 
 
THE FENIAN BllOTHERllOOD. 27 
 
 distrust in their cause and in each other. But it 
 will be asked — 
 
 What shall be done ? Must Irishmen abandon a 
 cause so sacred, so interwoyen with every fibre of 
 their heart ? 
 
 I answer, no. 
 
 There is now an organization, the Fenian Brother- 
 hood, which if properly supported, and silently, 
 vigorously, and wisely conducted, will, in due time, 
 accomplish the desired result. But with a view to 
 this end, the magnitude of the task must be fully 
 appreciated ; and it may be necessary to work keen- 
 ly and incessantly for years. 
 
 Men and money are said to be the sinews of war ; 
 and so they are. 
 
 In this case, men could be had in any number ; 
 but without money nothing whatever can be done 
 
 in these modern times. 
 
 It is therefore very evident that the creation of a 
 very large fund should be the Brotherhood's first 
 care. 
 
 It is also quite evident that such a fund must be 
 raised by numerous individual subscriptions. 
 
28 THE FENIAN BROTSEBHOOD. 
 
 If persons giving to this fund could be assured 
 that their money would not be misapplied, nor used 
 until the time, when, other things being favorable, 
 there would be a sufficient amount to insure success, 
 it is not to be doubted that an immense fund could 
 be raised in a few years, for Irishmen are no nig- 
 gards in their country's cause. But, like other 
 people, they wish to have something for their 
 money, — some evidence that it is still lield safely in. 
 trust for their benefit, or the benefit of the cause ; 
 or returned to the subscribers within a given num- 
 ber of years, if, in the mean time, it cannot be used 
 with fair chances of success. 
 
 To answer such reasonable expectations, the 
 Fenian Brotherhood, in every State of the Ameri- 
 can Union, should be formed into a- banking asso- 
 ciation. 
 
 Shares might be put at $10 each, with the privi- 
 lege to the subscriber of one or more shares, as he 
 may elect to take.- 
 
 These banks should be regularly chartered under 
 the State laws. 
 
 The by-laws of each bank should be made bo as 
 
TITE FENIAN BE(TriIKRHOOD. . 29 
 
 to give each member one vote in the election of a 
 board of directors, to hold office for one year, and 
 be eligible for re-election. The whole to be presided 
 over by an executive committee, to be formed by the 
 election of three members from each board. 
 
 The banks to so arrange their business as to be- 
 ready to wind up their atFairs, if necessary, at the 
 close of every year, and to keep at least one-fourth 
 of their capital always ready for immediate use. 
 
 In the mean time, the remaining three-fourths 
 should be managed for the shareholders' benefit. 
 
 Such a system of moneyed institutions could not 
 fail to produce desirable results. 
 
 They would give confidence to all persons con- 
 cerned, not only in the ultimate success of their 
 cause, but in each other's honesty of purpose ; and 
 as banks of exchange and deposit, would be exceed- 
 ingly popular. 
 
 But, it will be objected, suppose you have a fund 
 of a hundred millions, what are you going to do? 
 I answer — 
 
 Walk into Canada. There is already there a 
 strong element opposed to British dominion. Unite 
 
30 THE FENIAN BKOTHERHOOD. 
 
 with it, and let the provinces be the first slice from 
 the British empire. Make that the base for future 
 operations, and the rest will follow in good time. 
 
 One success ever leads to another. That immense 
 territory in your hands, you would have a country 
 and a flag which, I need not say, would be a power- 
 ful advantage ; then, with stalwart, educated labor, 
 and a determined will, England's boasted wooden 
 walls might soon be forced to do homage to the sea- 
 going " monitors" of your young empire. 
 
 This is no Utopian scheme. It is a scheme that is 
 perfectly practicable, and would be certain to re- 
 ceive the sympathy, if not the open support, of the 
 American people. 
 
 To be sure, this would be a rather roundabout way 
 for freeing Ireland ; but in this case '^ the long way 
 round is the safe way home." Besides, if a shorter 
 should offer, as in the event of England being drawn 
 into a war with some first-class power, you would be 
 in a condition to take advantage of it, and might go 
 the more direct and shorter way. 
 
 Such a position once attained, a I^qw Ireland, 
 well and firmly established, the movements in Old 
 
THE FENIAN BROTH EKHOOD. 31 
 
 Ireland would soon result in tlie victory which is the 
 desire of every heart 
 
 . . . Time at last sets all things even ; 
 
 And if we do but watch the hour, 
 
 There never yet was human power 
 Which could evade, if unforgiven, 
 
 The patient search, and vigil long. 
 
 Of him who treasures up a wrong. — Btron. 
 
THE IRISH VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 Brave countrymen and friends, arouse ! 
 
 The time approaches fast 
 When Erin's flag will be unfurled, 
 
 Nailed firmly to the mast. 
 That banner soon will kiss the breeze, 
 
 Triumphantly to wave ; 
 Upheld on breach and bloody field 
 
 By spirits true and brave — 
 By a band of patriots sworn 
 
 To avenge the wrongs of years, 
 And nobly fight for manhood's right, 
 
 As Irish volunteers ! 
 
 Young hearts! brave spirits ! Irishmen I 
 Who that bears the name 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 33 
 
 Can idlj stand, nor lend his aid 
 
 To rescue Erin's fame — 
 To disenthral his native land 
 
 From lords' and commons' yoke ; 
 That brought the brave to felon's fate, 
 
 And young and fair hearts broke, 
 lione, none, can witness such a scene, 
 
 Nor shrink with craven fears. 
 But, vowing vengeance, takes his gun 
 
 And joins the volunteers ! 
 
 In that gallant band, old Erin's hope, 
 
 Are brave men to be found, 
 "Who will ere long, with pike and gun. 
 
 Make tyrants kiss the ground ; 
 And banish froni our own green isle, 
 
 And from her sea-girt shore. 
 The monster which her vitals bled, 
 
 And fattened on her gore. 
 The time is near when sound of drum 
 
 Will banish silent tears. 
 And call out Erin's truest sons 
 
 As L-ish volunteers ! 
 
34: THE FENIAN BROTHEKHOOD. 
 
 rreedom or death, the battle-cry 
 
 Which nerves this gallant few, 
 Will be heard ere long on Sleave-na-mon : 
 
 And, echoed back anew, 
 Will course its way with lightning speed 
 
 O'er mountain, plain, and vale, 
 And carry hope to patriot hearts 
 
 Upon the western gale ! 
 Ireland that day will rise en masse^ 
 
 And hail with mighty cheers 
 The nucleus of her strength and hope, 
 ■ The Irish volunteers ! 
 
 " Strange that a noble, generous land, 
 Enabling others to withstand 
 The foreign warrior's fierce command. 
 Should not itself be free. 
 But, Erin, you never had mourned the sight 
 Had you brandished your spear in your own good fight ! 
 Had you boldly stood on your mountain crag 
 And waved o'er the valley your own green flag. 
 Soon, soon should the stranger have found his grave 
 Beneath the wild foam of your ocean wave." — C. P. 
 
THE KEAL OBJECT. 
 
 In order to prevent misconception, it is proper to 
 state, that there is nothing contained in the fore- 
 going views inconsistent with American theories of 
 government, and American antecedents of action. 
 To give a correct impression in this regard, I need 
 but direct attention to the events which led to the 
 admission of Texas as a part of the American Fed- 
 eration. 
 
 It will be recollected that about 1835, a large 
 American emigration set in to that country, which 
 was then an integral part of Mexico. These emi- 
 grants united with a number of disaffected Mexi- 
 cans, and, on the 2d of March, 1836, through a con- 
 vention of the people, declared Texas a free, sov- 
 ereign, and independent State, — a condition which, 
 they maintained for several years after. 
 
36 THE FENIAlf BROTHKEHOOD. 
 
 I need not recount the events which occurred 
 during that period. It is sufficient for my present 
 purpose to say, that in 1837 the independence of 
 Texas was duly recognized by the United States 
 Government ; and, as is well known, that Texas, on 
 the 29th of December, 184:5, became another bright 
 star in the glorious American constellation. 
 
 During the period of her independence, it cannot 
 be doubted that Texas had a perfect right to build 
 or purchase a navy, to raise an army, and for in- 
 stance, if she had the wish and the strength to do 
 so, to invade Cuba, destroy the Spanish power there, 
 and give the people of that island a free and inde- 
 pendent government. And all this might be done 
 with the understanding and the fixed purpose of 
 bringing Cuba under the benign and protecting 
 folds of the American flag. 
 
 This is mentioned, because that which was proper 
 to be done, and might be done by Texas in 1837, 
 with regard to Cuba, would be entirely proper to be 
 done, and may be done by the Canadas in 1867, 
 with regard to Ireland ; and with precisely the same 
 purpose and understanding as above hinted at. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHKEHOOD. 37 
 
 But, be that as it may, whatever be the plans of 
 the Fenian Brotherhood, whatever be the fate of 
 tlieir movement, it is certain that the hopes, inter- 
 ests, aspirations, and the very life of the Irish people 
 are indissolubly wound up with the United States. 
 The Irish are now thoroughly linked with, and im- 
 planted on this generous land, and both must 
 flourish or decay together. It is not to be wondered 
 at, then, that Irishmen love the United States with a 
 true and abiding love. 
 
 It is not to be wondered at, that the first wish of 
 his heart, with every true Irishman, is to see, not 
 only the British provinces, but his own "green 
 isle of the ocean," wheel into line under the Heaven- 
 inspired institutions of America and her ever glori- 
 our banner. 
 
 As the independence of the Canadas would be a 
 great step towards a " consummation devoutly to 
 
 lowing article from the New York Herald, of the 
 7th of October, 1865, will be read with interest : 
 ****** 
 
38 THE FENIAN BROTHKKHOOD. 
 
 "Now we are disposed to be liberal to our neigh- 
 bors, who are at the same time a sort of distant 
 relations, but we require guaranties of their future 
 good behavior first, and especially a severance of 
 their connection with our unfriendly rival across the 
 water. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 
 And, however well disposed the Canadians might 
 be towards the United States, they are influenced by 
 their English connection, and always must be while 
 it lasts. While their institutions and ideas are dif- 
 ferent from ours, and while they are trammelled by 
 sleepy old-world notions, stiff monarchical preju- 
 dices, and British influence, w^e can have no intimate 
 reciprocal relations with. them. It would be con- 
 trary to the nature of things.. The probability is, 
 we should never agree. At least, there could be no 
 sympathy between us. 
 
 " The welfare and destiny of Canada, and, indeed, 
 of all the British North American colonies, depend 
 far more upon the United States than upon the 
 mother country. The connection between England 
 and these colonies is artificial. By proximity to 
 this country, by habits of life, by natural wants, by 
 
THE FENIAN BKOTHEEIIOOD. 3^ 
 
 the necessity and power of commerce, and by aspi- 
 rations of the future, they are much more closely 
 allied to us. But they are debarred from the ad- 
 vantages of such a natural and intimate association 
 with us as they ought to have, by being dependen- 
 cies of Great Britain. As long as they are in that 
 condition they belong to the old-world system. 
 They will drag along a slow, drowsy existence ; they 
 will not have the spirit or enter into the system of 
 the new world ; and they will lack the vigor and 
 progress of the adjoining States of this Republic. 
 Their past history and present condition show this 
 to be true. We shall overshadow them, and, rel- 
 atively, they will retrograde. And this must be 
 the case, in spite of geographical position, affinity 
 with us, claims of commerce, or any thing else, as 
 long as they remain separated from us by the chasm 
 of dissimilar institutions. 
 
 " Let the colonies become republics, as they ought 
 to be, and we can then make the most favorable re- 
 ciprocity treaty with them. They will belong then 
 in reality to the American system, and not to the 
 European. They will be inspired with new life and 
 
40 ■ THE FENIAN BROTnEEHOOD. 
 
 vigor, and with their immense undeveloped re- 
 sources will rival the States on their border in pro- 
 gress and wealth. They must identify themselves 
 with the interests of this country, by having similar 
 institutions, or we cannot make the treaty. But let 
 them do this, and we will take them by the hand 
 and give them the reciprocity treaty they want." 
 
THE FENIANS, 
 
 FACTS ABOUT THE FENIANS, 
 
 BY ONE WHO KNOWS THEM. 
 
 Undee this heading, the Liverpool Journal pub- 
 lishes the following statements : 
 
 The Fenians are the topic of the day. They mo- 
 nopolize the attention of the London editors, and 
 are the particular pets of the papers. Irish corre- 
 spondents shroud them in moonlight mystery, and 
 would lead one to believe they are a species of in- 
 visible green conspirators. Some people call them 
 fools, some designate them madmen, and a great 
 many believe there is some method in their madness. 
 Some doubt their existence altogether, some believe 
 in them, and can give a rehearsal of some misad- 
 
42 THE FENIA.N BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 venture in the moonshine to ^sustain the storj of 
 their credulity. Every dog has his day, and the 
 Fenians are certainly having their full share of the 
 daylight. Who or what are they ? 
 
 Tlie Fenian Brotherhood, we are told, is an en- 
 tirely Irish-American organization. It is no new 
 institution, for It has been in existence for the past 
 eight years. Its founders were two of the Irish 
 exiles of 1848, Colonel John O'Mahony and Michael 
 Doheny, the latter one of the most talented and 
 dangerous members of the Young Ireland party, 
 and a fervent admirer of John Mitchel. In con- 
 junction with them was the late General Corcoran, 
 of the United States Army. 
 
 THE FOUNDER. 
 
 O'Mahony was totally unconnected with the 
 Young Ireland movement, till the year 1848. He is 
 the present representative of one of the oldest and 
 most respected families in Munster, possessing large 
 estates in the county of Tipperary, and at the time 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 43 
 
 of Mr. Smith O'Brien's fiasco was a mere youth. 
 Youth as he was, however, he had influence enough 
 to gather around him about fifteen hundred of the 
 peasantry, who encamped on the Tipperary hills, and 
 maintained their position for three weeks, till, being 
 completely surrounded by the military, the futility 
 of further resistance became apparent, and they 
 quietly dispersed. O'Mahony and some of his 
 friends, among them a youth named Savage, who 
 has since made himself known as an Irish-American 
 literateur^ made their escape to France, where, it is 
 said, the plans for the future revolutionary organi- 
 zation were formed. After some years' residence in 
 France, O'Mahony migrated to America, where, in 
 conjunction with Corcoran and Doheny, he set the 
 Fenian Brotherhood afloat. In its early days, the 
 Fenian Brotherhood differed much from its present 
 form of existence. It was at first a semi-secret asso- 
 ciation ; its meetings were secret, and though its 
 chief officers were publicly known as such, the 
 operations of the Brotherhood were hidden from 
 the public view. Originally numbering perhaps a 
 score of members, it progressed so rapidly among 
 
44 THE FENIAN BEOTHERHOOD. 
 
 the Irish popuLation in America that in a few short 
 years U numhered scores of thousands^ ranking 
 as its members many Irishmen of position and in- 
 fluence. The Irish are certainly good haters, and 
 ■would have charmed the heart of Dr. Johnson. 
 They hate the English in Ireland, and do not learn 
 the art of loving them abroad. To this detestation 
 of every thing English, the Fenian organization 
 owes the number and influence it has attained under 
 the guidance of Colonel O'Mahony. For five years 
 or more, the Brotherhood maintained its semi-secret 
 character, rapidly spreading its ramifications through 
 every State of the American Union, and through 
 Canada and the British provinces. A regular sys- 
 tem of communication was maintained by all the 
 branches with the Head Centre, O'Mahony, to whom 
 was committed the despotic rule of the vast frater- 
 nity. 
 
 EARLY DIFFICULTIES. 
 
 The Brotherhood had its assailants. A portion of 
 the Catholic clergy of America at first opposed its 
 operations ; some were its virulent denouncers, while 
 
THE FENIAN BEOTHERHOOD. 
 
 45 
 
 some ardently espoused its cause. But in America 
 it is notorious that clergy, of whatever denomination, 
 have little or no political influence with their con- 
 gregations. 
 
 CHANGE OF BASE. 
 
 Three years ago the Fenian, organization assumed 
 a new character. A grand national convention of 
 delegates from the various branches of the Brother- 
 hood was called, and met at Chicago. The delegates 
 assembled to the number of two hundred or there- 
 abouts ; they reformed the constitution of the or- 
 ganization, and boldly avowed its purpose and the 
 means relied upon for its attainment. 
 
 The objection which was urged by the clerical 
 opponents of the movement was removed, and the 
 Brotherhood became thenceforth an open organiza- 
 tion. The members were endowed with power to 
 elect their officers, the head centreship itself was de- 
 clared an elective office, the organization was divided 
 into States, each State of the Union having its chief 
 centre, who is called State Centre, and means were 
 taken to assure t^e furtherance of their one object. 
 
46 THK I'ENIAN BKOTHlijRHOoD. 
 
 Since that time the Fenian movement has spread 
 more rapidly than before, and it is now, perhaps, 
 saying much less than the fact, to state its numbers 
 at not less than three hundred thousand members. 
 Each member pays a dollar as his entrance-fee, and 
 subscribes, in a great many instances, the same 
 amount weekly to the funds of the organization. 
 Peculiar precautions are taken that no member shall 
 have a chance of divulging the vital secrets of the 
 body ; and that kind of miniature republican govern- 
 ment is maintained successfully throughout every 
 department. 
 
 THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION. 
 
 Another "Grand Convention" was held in Janu- 
 ary of this year, at Cincinnati, attended by some 
 three hundred delegates from the United States, 
 representing two hundred and fifty thousand mem- 
 bers, and by delegates from the British provinces 
 and from Ireland. American newspapers state that 
 its proceedings were conducted with all the dignity 
 and courtesy of a national representative assembly. 
 Not so much of the business of that convention, 
 
THE Ji-ENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 47 
 
 however, has been divulged as of the former one. 
 One important resohition of the convention was a 
 call made upon each branch of the Brotherhood for 
 five dollars a member, which call, we are informed, 
 has been promptly responded to ; and anotlier, per- 
 haps the most suggestive resolution, to the effect, 
 " that the next convention be held on Irish soil." 
 About the period of this last convention was estab- 
 lished a Fenian Sisterhood, which bids fair to rival 
 the masculine fraternity. 
 
 OBJECTS OF THE MOVEMENT, AND MEANS FOR THEIK 
 ACCOMPLISHMENT. 
 
 So much for the history of the Fenian move- 
 ment. Let us take a survey of its objects, and 
 the means relied on for their accomplishment. 
 
 The Fenians are avowedly revolutionists, not of 
 that class of Irish insurrectionists who believe it 
 possible to upset the British empire with pikes and 
 reaping-hooks. The Fenian leaders are no mere en- 
 thusiasts, but men who have taken up downright 
 revolution as the business of their lives. O'Mahony, 
 the Head Centre, is spoken of, even by the bitterest 
 
48 THE FENIAN BKOTHERHOOD. 
 
 clerical enemies of the movement, as a man of highly 
 cultured mind, chivalrous nature, and great deter- 
 mination of character. No one speaks or writes a 
 word derogatory to his personal character, and 
 among the Irish in America he is idolized, while 
 by the disaffected in Ireland he is looked upon as 
 their future deliverer. The organization which this 
 man rules proclaims as its leading axiom, that, to ef- 
 fect an Irish revolution, a grand military preorgani- 
 zation is absolutely necessary; that a disciplined 
 soldiery, led by experienced officers, are a sine 
 qua non ; and that, in short, to destroy English 
 dominion in L'eland, a desperate struggle must 
 be encountered. Powder, shot and shell, rifles 
 and cannon, are foremost in the Fenian litany. 
 Accordingly, at every meeting of the Brotherhood, 
 the necessity of supplying these indispensables to 
 the revolutionary element in Ireland is earnestly 
 impressed upon the brethren. Money and war- 
 material are freely subscribed ; and ^o great is the 
 ardor manifested in this portion of the Fenian 
 programme, that in two months from its founda- 
 tion the Fenian Sisterhood alone returned up- 
 
THE FENIAN BliOTHEliHOOD. 49 
 
 wards of £200,000 sterling to the Fenian ex- 
 cliequer for the purpose of supplying arms. 
 State organizers visit each branch regularly, lec- 
 turing and acquiring funds for the same purpose. 
 Monster picnics, fancy fairs, balls, concerts, and 
 fetes, are constantly being held in each State of 
 the Union, the proceeds of which are avowedly 
 for revolutionary purposes. ITor do they confine 
 their operations to the mere supplying of arms. 
 A fleet of privateers is one of the possibilities of 
 their philosophy. They acknowledge the supe- 
 riority of England on the seas, and deem it neces- 
 sary to meet her on. her favorite element. They 
 even aspire to the dignity of iron-clads. !N^ot very 
 long ago, the Head Centre of their organization 
 proclaimed an expectation, in which he feels as- 
 sured there is little chance of his being disap- 
 pointed, that President Johnson will give to the 
 Irish the same facilities for procuring material of 
 war M'hich the Confederates obtained in England, 
 and that Ireland would be recognized as a bel- 
 ligerent by the American Government ; and the 
 New York press are not slow to favor this Fenian 
 
50 TITE FKKIAN BROTH ERHOOD-r 
 
 notion. There are many men of undonbted stand- 
 ing at present in tlie organization. The State 
 Centres are, for the most part, wealtlij Irish 
 merchants ; many Catholic clergymen are in it& 
 ranks ; and, not very long ago, a General McGro- 
 arty, President of the Fenian Military Council, 
 went arm in arm Avith Father Wigelt, the Su- 
 perior of the Jesuits, to head a Fenian procession 
 in "Washington. General Meagher is one of its 
 members, and the late General Smith, of the 
 United States army, whose death was recorded 
 by the American papers with strong expressions 
 of regret, was, at the time of his death, a 
 member of the Fenian Central Council. Nearly 
 every Irish officer and every Irish soldier, M'ith 
 scarcely an exception, are members of the or- 
 ganization ; and it is no secret that many United 
 States senators and government officials are its 
 avowed friends. 
 
THE FENIAN BEOTHEEHOOD. 51 
 
 MTSTEKIOUS CHARACTER OF THE ORGANIZATION IN 
 IRPXAND. 
 
 In the United Stcates there is littl-e room for doubt- 
 ing that the Fenian Brotherliood has attained 
 formidable dimensions. The only question is, 
 has it been successful in Ireland ? As a matter 
 of fact, the Fenian Brotlierhood does not exist 
 in Ireland at all. Nevertheless, it is not de- 
 nied that the Fenians base much of their hopes, 
 in the success of their desperate enterprise, on 
 the existence of some form of revolutionary or- 
 ganization in Ireland. It is not denied that the 
 Irish organization is a secret one, to which the 
 American society is an auxiliary. The American 
 leaders avow that the Irish revolutionists at home 
 have done their share of the work, and only wait the 
 supplies necessary from the American sympathizers. 
 That the Irish organization has a widely spread ex- 
 istence is manifest enough by the displays, with the 
 details of which every day's newspapers are filled ; 
 yet it is a singular and conclusive evidence of the 
 completeness of the Irish organization, that although 
 several persons have heen arrested dwriiiy the i)ad 
 
52 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 fou7' years on charges of heing memlers^ or attempt- 
 ing to make m,emihers of the conspiracy^ in not one 
 single case has the government heen ahle to procure 
 evidence of the guilt of the parties. The work- 
 ings of the Irish society are as impenetrable as 
 the operations of the Greelc Heferists, who, by 
 tlieir secret associations, delivered Greece from 
 the Sultan's rule. Certain it is, however, tliat 
 the American Fenians receive constant reports of 
 the progress of their friends in Ireland. The Irish 
 organization is known by them as the I. R. B,, 
 and its invisible chief is the acknowledged head 
 of the entire movement. It was in resj)onse to 
 tlie demand of this " great unknown" that the 
 call of five dollars per head was decreed at the 
 last Fenian convention. No one knows who he 
 is, or where he is, but all believe in his existence. 
 It cannot be said that, at least as far as the Irish 
 revolutionists are concerned, " a little knowledge is 
 a dangerous thing." The want of knowledge seems 
 their great safeguard. In the United Irish con- 
 epiracy the informer was at work almost from the 
 beginning, and the victims convicted and punished 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHEKIIOOD. 53 
 
 for complicity were legion, but this jpresent organi- 
 zation seems impenetrable. 
 
 FENIANISM A SERIOUS FACT, AFTER ALL. 
 
 It is easy enough to see the ridiculons side of all 
 these known details of Irish conspiracy, but it exists 
 as a serious fact, for all that. What it may become, 
 how it will end, who can tell ? 
 
WHO WERE THE FENIANS? 
 
 Irish tradition says that the Fenians were an an- 
 cient militia or standing army, employed only on 
 home service for protecting the coasts from invasion. 
 Each of the four provinces, says the tradition, had 
 its band ; that of Leinster, to which Fionn and his 
 family belonged, being called the Clanna Baoisgne. 
 This militia is said to have been paid by the king, 
 billeted on the people in the winter, but to have 
 lived in the summer by the chase; and these are 
 supposed to have been the qualifications of a Fe- 
 nian : 
 
 Every soldier was required to swear : that, with- 
 out regard to her fortune, he would choose a wife 
 for her virtue, her courtesy, and her good manners ; 
 that he would never offer violence to a woman ; that 
 
THE FRXIAN BROTIIERHOOD. 55 
 
 as far as he could, he would relieve the poor ; and 
 that he would not refuse to fight nine men of anj 
 other nation. No person could be received into the 
 service unless his father and mother, and all his 
 relatives, gave security that none of them should 
 revenge his death upon the person who might slay 
 him, but that they would leave the matter to his 
 fellow-soldiers. The youth himself must be well 
 acquainted with the twelve books of poetry, and be 
 able to compose verses. He must be a perfect 
 master of defence. To prove this he was placed in a 
 field of sedge reaching up to his knees, having in 
 his hands a target and a hazel stick as long as a 
 man's arm. Nine experienced soldiers, from a dis- 
 tance of nine ridges of land, were to hurl their 
 spears at him at once : if he was unhurt, he was 
 admitted ; but if wounded, he M^as sent off with a 
 reproach. He must also run well, and defend him- 
 self when in fight. To try his activity he was made 
 to run through a wood, having a start of a tree's 
 breadth, the whole of the Fenians pursuing him. 
 If he was overtaken or wounded in the wood, he was 
 refused, as too sluggish and unskilful to fight with 
 
56 THK FKNIAN BEOTHKKHOOD. 
 
 lienor among such valiant troops. Also, he mnst 
 have a strong arm, and be able to hold his weapon 
 steadily. Also, when he ran through a wood in 
 chase, his hair should not come untied ; if it did, he 
 was rejected. He must be so swift and light of foot 
 as not to break a rotten stick by standing upon it : 
 able also to leap over a, tree as high as his forehead, 
 and to stoop under a tree that was lower than his 
 knees. Without stopping or lessening his speed, he 
 must be able to draw a thorn out of his foot. Fi- 
 nally, he must take an oath of fidelity. 
 
 The Reverend Geoffry Keating, who wrote a his- 
 tory of Erin in the year 1630, gravely says : 
 
 " So long as these terms of admission were ex- 
 actly insisted upon, the militia of Ireland were an 
 invincible defence to their country, and a terror to 
 rebels at home and enemies abroad. Goll Mac- 
 Morna had slain Fionn's father Cumhaill, in battle, 
 and was Fionn's mortal enemy in early life. After- 
 wards he made a peace with him, and fought under 
 hira as chieftain of the Conn aught Fenians. But 
 the supremacy of the Clanna Baoisgne led to feuds ; 
 and at last Fionn and his clan, defying the throne 
 
THE FENIAN EROTHEKHOOD, 67 
 
 itself, were attacked by all the forces of Erin except 
 
 those of the king of Munster, who took part with 
 
 him, and suffered carnage in that battle of Gabhra, 
 
 wherein Oisin's son Oscar and the king of Cairbre 
 
 fell by each other's hands. Fionn, who was absent, 
 
 arrived only in time to close his grandson's eyes ; 
 
 and after this defeat, peace had no sweets for him 
 
 and war no triumphs. Fionn died at last, it is said, 
 
 by the lance of an assassin. It is noticeable, how-- 
 
 ever, that the Fenians were not confined to Erin. 
 
 In the ancient poem on the battle of Gabhra, we 
 
 read of ' the bands of the Fians of Alban,' Alban 
 
 being the old name of Scotland, north of the Firth 
 
 of Forth and Clyde ; ' and the supreme king of 
 
 Breatan,' Breatan being Southern Scotland, of which 
 
 Dunbreaton, now Dunbarton, was the chief seat, 
 
 ' belonging to the order of Feinne of Alban ;' and 
 
 also that 'the Fians of Lochlan were powerful.' 
 
 Now Lochlan was an ancient name for Germany, 
 
 north of the Ehine ; but when the Norwegian and 
 
 Danish pirates appeared in the ninth century, they 
 
 were called Lochlanaels, and the name of Lochlan 
 
 was transferred to Norway and Denmark. It has 
 3* 
 
58 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 been argued from this, that the Fenians were not a 
 militia of Gaels, but that they were a' distinct Celtic 
 race, connected with the only two races who are 
 spoken of as having come in oldest time from Loch' 
 Ian — namely, the Tuatha de Danann and the Cru- 
 ithne- These are thought to have been some of the 
 Celts who preceded the Germanic peoples now oc- 
 cupying the north German shore and Scandinavia.T— 
 Morley's ' WriteTS hefore Chaucer? " 
 
FENIAN MOVEMENTS 
 
 IN LIVERPOOL 
 
 LrVEEPOOL COKRESPONDENGE OF THE LONDON POST. 
 
 Agitation is still rife in Liverpool*, in spite of the 
 vigilance of the police, and both drills and meetings 
 for discussion are conducted with comparative free- 
 dom. During the present week a numerous meet- 
 ing has been held. It was attended not alone by 
 men of the lower ranks, but by some persons of 
 considerable means. At this meeting resolutions 
 .were adopted to support the Fenian objects and 
 organization, both by money and also by physical 
 aid if necessary. The question was also discussed 
 of the purchase of vessels and the formation of an 
 
60 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 armament for privateering purposes ; and the idea 
 of preying upon British commerce at sea, appeared 
 to be keenly relished. A resolution to carry out an 
 ol)ject of this kind was put and carried with enthn- 
 suistic demonstrations, and much violence and wild- 
 ness of language. As a proof, however, that the 
 resolution was not mere froth, a call was made for 
 subscriptions, and in a very few minutes nearly 
 £200 was laid down. With the exception of the 
 vaporing and declamatory style of talk, which might 
 be expected on such occasions,- the proceedings were 
 orderly and business-like. Minutes were reaa of 
 previous meetings, and memoranda made of the 
 resolutions above described, by a person who acted 
 as secretary. It is feared, with regard to the royal 
 naval reserve, that the Fenian disaffection has 
 spread considerably. A strong feeling is enter- 
 tained in the town in favor of a rigorous and 
 prompt canvass of both the volunteer and naval 
 reserve forces, in order to discover recreants. 
 
 The man who acted as " treasurer" to the Liver- 
 pool Centre, and who left the town when the news 
 of the Dublin arrests came, has returned. When 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 61 
 
 accused of plundering his brethren he snapped his. 
 fingers at them, and declared that if thej " bothered 
 him" about the money he would give evidence 
 against them, and have the whole hanged. An 
 accredited agent from Liverpool sailed by the last 
 steamer for New York. He was to be joined at 
 Quecnstown by a delegate from Dublin. It is stated 
 that both Sir K. Peel and Sir George Grey were 
 apprised months ago of some startling features of 
 the movement, but that the information was regarded 
 as too absurd to be true. 
 
THE IRISH REPUBLICAN BONDS. 
 
 "We have been at some pains to ascertain the truth 
 of the statement in one of the morning papers, that 
 the steamers City of Boston and Erin,* which sailed 
 from this port for Liverpool on Saturday, carried out 
 $1,000,000 in bonds for the use of the embryo Irish 
 Kepublic ; but nobody can be found who knows any 
 thing about it. If any such bonds- have been sent, 
 it is believed that John Bull's custom-house officers, 
 on the other side, will make short work with them. 
 That such bonds have really been presented in this 
 city, however, we are informed, admits of no doubt 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 63 
 
 ■whatever. The following is a faG-simile of one on 
 exhibition in Spruce-street, IS'ew York : 
 
 Harp. £1 Goddess of Liberty. £1 Shamrock. 
 
 Ninety days after the establishment of 
 THE IRISH REPUBLIC, 
 
 Redeemable by j Board of 
 
 . ( Finance, 
 
 Sunburst. 
 
FENIANS IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 The Chicago Tribune estimates the number of 
 Fenians in Boston at three hundred, which proves 
 that the writer knows little about the Order, whose 
 whole strength in this country, he says, is only about 
 ten thousand. There are in this city alone nearly 
 three thousand, and we think more than ten thou- 
 sand in Massachusetts. 
 
THE RELEASE OF JOHN MITCHEL. 
 
 The release of John Mitchel having been granted 
 by the President, on an application of the Fenian 
 Congress at Philadelphia, presented by a special en- 
 voy, the Congress decided that a deputation should 
 proceed to Washington, to give expression to the 
 thanks of the organization. Accordingly, Colonel 
 W. R. Roberts, of Kew York, president of the 
 Senate, and B. Doran Killian, of St. Louis, as special 
 delegates, accompanied by Mr. S. J. Meany, of To- 
 ledo, proceeded to the White House, and were given 
 an early interview. On being introduced, Colonel 
 Roberts addressed the President as follows : 
 
 Mr. President — I have the honor of being dele 
 gated by the convention of Irish-American citizens, 
 
66 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 assembled in Philadelphia, representing large social 
 classes in thirty States and territories, to wait upon 
 your Excellency and express to you how deeply they 
 feel the act restoring to freedom a man whom they 
 love and venerate for his self-sacrilicing devotion to 
 his native land. They remember nothing of John 
 Mitchel's American career. They can never forget 
 that he risked all a patriot should for Ireland. I am 
 sure, your Excellency, the American people will 
 have no cause to regret the sympathy they feel, and 
 the friendship we believe they entertain for their 
 fellow-citizens of Irish birth. "We, sir, are not un- 
 conscious of the fact, that we have found in America 
 liberty, justice, and an asylum. 
 
 President Johnson replied in substance as follows : 
 
 Gentlemen— ^I am glad to learn that the steps 
 which have been taken in the matter referred to 
 have met with the approval of the gentlemen who 
 have sent you here. As you, sir, delicately re- 
 marked, we could not remember Mr. Mitchel's 
 American career ; but we were anxious, as a mark 
 
THE FENIAN BROTnERIIOOD. 6T 
 
 of respect and compliment to the large section of 
 our countrymen with whom Mr. Mitchel was pre- 
 viously identified, to yield to their expressed wishes 
 in that regard. 
 
 After some further conversation of a friendly- 
 character, the delegation withdrew. 
 
68 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 THE 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FENIAN BROTHERHOOD, 
 
 1865. 
 
 "We, the Fenians of the United States and other 
 portions of America, in order to form a more perfect 
 union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, 
 and secure- the blessings of liberty for the Irish race 
 in Ireland, do ordain and establish this Constitution 
 for the Fenian Brotherhood in the United States and 
 other portions of America : 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. OU 
 
 Article I. 
 
 Section 1. The Fenian Brotherhood is a distinct 
 and independent organization. 
 
 It is composed, in tlie first place, of citizens of the 
 United States of America, of Irish birth and lineage ; 
 and, in the second place, of Irishmen and friends of 
 Ireland living, on the American continent, and in 
 the provinces of the British Empire, wherever 
 situated. 
 
 Its headquarters are, and shall be, within the 
 limits of the United States of America. 
 
 Sec. 2. Its members are bound together by the fol- 
 lowing general pledge : 
 
 "I, , solemnly pledge my sacred word of 
 
 honor, as a truthful and honest man, that I will 
 labor with earnest zeal for the liberation of Ireland 
 from the yoke of England, and for the establishment 
 of a free and independent government on the Irish 
 soil ; that I will implicitly obey the commands of 
 my superior officers in the Fenian Brotherhood, 
 in all things appertaining to my duty as a member 
 thereof; that I will ftiithfuUy discharge my duties 
 of membership as laid down in the Constitution and 
 
70 THE FENIAN BKOTHERHOOD. 
 
 By-laws, thereof; that I will do my utmost to pro- 
 mote feelings of love, harmony, and kindly forbear- 
 ance among all Irishmen ; and that I will foster, de- 
 fend, and propagate the aforesaid Fenian Brother- 
 hood to the utmost of my power." 
 
 Sec. 3. The Fenian Brotherhood shall be sub- 
 divided into State, district, and local Circles, — States 
 and districts to be directed and controlled by State 
 and District Centres, and local Circles by Centres 
 •who shall reside within the limits of their respective 
 jurisdictions. 
 
 Article II. 
 
 Sec. 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall 
 be vested in a Congress of the Fenian Brotherhood 
 of the United States and other portions of America, 
 which shall consist of a Senate and a Representative 
 body. 
 
 Sec. 2. The Representatives shall be delegates 
 chosen every year by the Brotherhood in good 
 standing, of the several States and districts. Dele- 
 gates shall be apportioned among the several States 
 and districts which may be included within the 
 Union and other portions of America, according 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 71 
 
 to their respective number of Circles, each Circle 
 being entitled to one delegate for every hundred 
 members, more or less, but not less than ten, and 
 one additional delegate for a fractional j^art of one 
 hundred members exceeding lifty of such Circle. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Senate of the Fenian Brotherhood of 
 the United States and other portions of America, 
 shall be composed of fifteen (15) Senators ; they shall 
 be nominated by a committee of two from each State 
 and district, elected by the delegates of each State 
 and district in Congress assembled ; and such nomi- 
 nees shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of said 
 Congress. 
 
 Sec. 4r. Each body shall elect its own presiding of- 
 ficers, and shall be the judge of the election returns 
 and qualifications of its own members; and a major- 
 ity of each body shall constitute a quorum for the 
 transaction of business; but a smaller number may 
 adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to 
 compel the attendance of absent members in such 
 manner, and under such penalties, as such body may 
 provide. 
 
 Sec. 5. Each body may determine the rules of its 
 
72 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 proceedings, punish its members for disorderly be- 
 havior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, 
 expel a nietnber. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Senate shall keep a journal, and furnish 
 its members and the Secretary of the Brotherhood 
 with a record of its proceedings ; and said Secretary 
 shall furnish such information as may be contained 
 therein to the Representatives of the Brotherhood of 
 the several States, excepting such parts as may, in 
 their judgment, require secrecy. 
 
 Sec. 7. The Senate shall choose from their body a 
 permanent President, who shall be Yice-President 
 of the Fenian Brotherhood, and in case of the death, 
 impeachment, inability to act, or removal of the Pres- 
 ident of the Fenian Brotherhood of the United States, 
 shall act as President of the Fenian Brotherhood. 
 
 Sec. 8. The Senate shall have the sole power to 
 try all impeachments ; when sitting they shall be on 
 oath ; and, should it become necessary to try the 
 President or Vice-President of the Fenian Jjrother- 
 hood, the Senate shall elect its presiding officer pj'o 
 tempore, and no person shall be convicted without 
 the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senator 
 
TAK FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 73 
 
 No eos post facto laws shall be passed. 
 
 Sea. 9. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall 
 be final, and at the discretion of the Senate. 
 
 The Senate shall meet in perpetual session while 
 in office, and organize within two days after their 
 election, and shall have power to adjourn from time 
 to time, as tMey may determine. 
 
 Sec. 10. The General Congress shall assemble at 
 least once in every year, and such meeting shall be 
 on the first Tuesday of September, at such place as 
 the President and Senate may deem fit. 
 
 Seo. 11. All propositions for raising revenue and 
 fixing salaries of officers and employees of the Bro- 
 therhood shall originate in the Senate, and be re- 
 ferred to the President of the Fenian Brotherhood 
 for ratification. If he approve, he shall sign and 
 return within twenty-four hours after the receipt 
 thereof; if he do not approve, he shall indorse his 
 objections and return the same to that body, who 
 shall enter his objections at large on the journal, 
 and proceed to reconsider. The President of the 
 Senate then shall summon the Senate, if not already 
 assembled, and present the objections ; and then, if 
 
T4 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 the proposition receive a two-thirds vote, it shall be- 
 come an ordinance ; and, in failure to return within 
 one day, the action of the Senate, by a two-thirds 
 vote, shall become a law. 
 
 Seo. 12. The records of the voting, in all such 
 cases, shall be taken and entered at large upon 
 the journal of that body. 
 
 ^o salaried officer shall be a member of the 
 Senate. 
 
 Sec. 12. No appropriation of money shall be made 
 but by a vote of the Senate of the Fenian Brother- 
 hood, subject to the conditions and qualifications 
 laid down in Sec. 11, referring to raising revenue 
 and fixing salaries of oflicers. 
 
 Article III. 
 
 Sec. 1. The executive power of the Fenian 
 Brotherhood shall be vested in a President, who 
 shall hold his term of office for one year, and be 
 elected for said term by a General Congress of the 
 Senate and House of Delegates. 
 
 Sec. 2. Said Congress shall elect the President by 
 ballot, and a quorum for this purpose shall consist 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. Y5 
 
 of two-thirds of said Senators and Delegates, but 
 a majority of the wliole shall be necessary to a 
 choice. 
 
 Siio. 3. The President shall receive for his services 
 a stated compensation, which shall be neither in- 
 creased nor diminished during the period for which 
 he shall have been elected. 
 
 Sec. 4. Before he enters upon the duties of his 
 office, the President shall take the following oath 
 or affirmation : 
 
 " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faith- 
 fully execute the duties of the office of President of 
 the Fenian Brotherhood of the United States and 
 other portions of America, and will, to the best of 
 my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Con- 
 stitution of the Fenian Brotherhood." 
 
 /Sec. 5. The President of the Fenian Brotherhood 
 shall nominate a Secretary of Military Affairs, a 
 Secretary of the Treasury, a Secretary of Naval 
 x\ffairs, and a Secretary of Civil Affairs, whose 
 nominations shall be approved by the Senate ; and 
 in case the President fail within a reasonable period 
 to nominate such heads of bureaus, the Senate by a 
 
^6 THE FENIAN BROTIIEEHOOD. 
 
 vote of two-tliirds of their body shall fill such posi- 
 tions, having previously given the President twenty- 
 four hours' notice of their intention to do so ; and 
 such heads of said departments are hereby consti- 
 tuted a board of advisers to the Executive ; and in 
 case of a disagreement between them and the Exec- 
 utive upon any point involving the welfare of the 
 Brotherhood, the same shall be referred to the 
 Senate, whose decision on the point shall be final 
 until the assembling of the next Congress. 
 
 Sec. 6. The President shall have power, by and 
 with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make 
 arrangements and treaties with persons or powers 
 friendly to the objects of the Fenian Brotherhood; 
 and shall, by and with the advice and consent of the 
 Senate, appoint all envoys and ambassadors, and all 
 other officers of the Fenian Brotherhood whose 
 appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, 
 and which may be established under the provisions 
 of this Constitution. 
 
 Sec. 7. In case any vacancy should occur in any 
 of the departments, or State Centres, by death, res- 
 ignation, or dismissal, such vacancy shall be filled 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. T7 
 
 by the President, with the approval and consent of 
 the Senate ; such appointee to hold the office during 
 the unexpired term. 
 
 /Sec. 8. The President may on extraordinary occa- 
 sions convene both houses, or either of them ; and in 
 case of disagreement between them^ with respect to 
 the time of adjournment, each body may adjourn to 
 Buch time and place as they shall deem proper. 
 
 Sec. 9. The President shall receive envoys and 
 other public ministers. He shall take care that the 
 laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission 
 the Central officers and State Centres. 
 
 Sec. 10. The President, Vice-President, and all 
 civil officers of the Fenian Brotherhood shall be re- 
 moved from office and expelled, on impeachment 
 for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high 
 crimes and misdemeanors. 
 
 Article IV. 
 
 Sec. 1. State Centres and District Centres, upon 
 the recommendation of the majority of representa- 
 tives of the respective States and districts who shall 
 
78 THE FENIAN BKOTHEEHOOD. 
 
 be present at the Congress, shall be appointed and 
 commissioned by the President. 
 
 Sec. 2. State and District Centres shall supervise 
 the organization in their respective States and dis- 
 tricts, and shall establish Circles, and communicate 
 with all persons therein, who desire instruction or 
 advice. They shall on the tenth of each month 
 make to the President a consolidated report, thor- 
 oughly explanatory of the condition of the organ- 
 ization in such State or district. They shall, with 
 the approval of the President and Senate, mark out 
 a route in such State or district for an agent to 
 traverse, with instructions to canvass, to organize 
 new Circles, and inspect old ones. 
 
 Sec. 3. Centres shall be elected by Circles ; and 
 after the approval of the President, shall be com- 
 missioned by the State Centres, each commission 
 being countersigned by the President. 
 
 Sec. 4. The Centre shall preside at all meetings 
 of his Circle, and shall report on the last day of each 
 month to the State Centre, setting forth the increase 
 or decrease in his Circle, with names and the aver- 
 age attendance of members, the amount of money 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 79 
 
 received, the amount disbursed for local expendi- 
 tures, specifying each item, with the balance on 
 hand remitted to the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 One copy of this report shall be sent to the State 
 Centre; one copy thereof shall be transmitted to 
 the President; and one copy thereof shall be re- 
 tained by the Circle for future reference. 
 
 Sec. 5. Any Circle or Centre not reporting to the 
 State Centre, as above required, for the space of 
 three months, may be declared in bad standing, and 
 be cut off from the organization by order of the 
 State Centre, with the approval of the President 
 and Senate. 
 
 Sec. 6. In the absence of the Centre, the Chair- 
 man of the Committee of Safety shall preside 
 at business meetings ; and in case of his absence, 
 then the next in rank on the committee shall 
 preside. 
 
 Sec. 7. A Treasurer shall be nominated and 
 elected by each Circle. It shall be his duty to re- 
 ceive and account for all moneys appertaining to 
 his Circle, and to make up a financial report on the 
 last day of each month. The balance on hand he 
 
80 THE FKKIAN BKOTHESHOOD. 
 
 shall forward on the same stated day, without fail, 
 to the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 Bee. 8. A secretary shall be ncMninated and elected 
 by each Circle. It shall be his duty to make a faith- 
 ful record of the proceedings of each meeting. He 
 shall keep the financial accounts, and sign the offi- 
 cial reports, of his Circle, and shall in all things 
 comport himself in accordance with the establi&hed 
 duties of a secretary. 
 
 Sec. 9. A Committee of Safety, consisting of not 
 less than three, lior more than seven members, shall 
 be nominated by the Centre, and elected at a regular 
 meeting of the Circle. This committee shall have 
 the power of receiving members, together with the 
 power of expelling them ; but in each case their ac- 
 tion must be submitted for approval to a meeting of 
 their Circle. A vote of want of confidence in the 
 Committee of Safety will necessitate the immediate 
 resignation of its members. 
 
 Sec. 10. Every candidate for admission into the 
 Fenian Brotherhood must be proposed one week be- 
 fore initiation. Members in good standing are alone 
 entitled to a voice in matters of business. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHEKHOOD. 81 
 
 Sec. 11. Members who have not attended a meet- 
 ing of their Circle, or whose dues remain unpaid for 
 seven successive weeks, when their absence or faihire 
 to pay is not accounted for by a legitimate excuse, 
 shall be considered in bad standing, and their names 
 shall be stricken from the roll of the Fenian Brother- 
 hood. 
 
 Sec. 12. Ko member in bad standing shall enter 
 into any Fenian Circle whatever, until he has shown 
 to the Committee of Safety of his previous Circle, suf- 
 ficient cause to satisfy them of his firm resolve to act 
 thenceforward the part of a truthful and steadfast 
 Fenian. Previous to his admission into the Brother- 
 hood, he shall pay a tine of not less than one dollar, 
 and shall clear up all arrears of his weeklj^ dues. 
 
 Sec. 13. Each Circle of the Fenian Brotherhood 
 shall meet once a week for the transaction of busi- 
 ness, at such time and place as may be deemed most 
 in accordance with their interest and convenience. 
 
 Sec. 14. All discussions upon religious or upon 
 political matters, foreign to the cause of Irish na- 
 tionality, shall be peremptorily excluded from every 
 
 meeting of the Fenian Brotherhood. Any presiding 
 
 4* 
 
82 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD, 
 
 officer who shall violate, or suffer to be violated, the 
 foregoing provision, shall be deposed. 
 
 Sec. 15. The weekly dues of each member shall 
 not be less than ten cents, nor shall the initiation fee 
 be less than one dollar. Each Circle can, however, 
 increase the rates of dues and initiation fees in ac- 
 cordance with the devotion and abilities of its 
 members. 
 
 Sec. 16. Centres shall correspond with, report to, 
 and be directed bj their State and District Centres. 
 State and District Centres shall correspond with, re- 
 port to, and be directed by the President. 
 
 Sec. 17. No correspondence other than official can 
 be had with headquarters, except through Centres, 
 State and District Centres ; and any infringement of 
 this rule will be considered a misdemeanor, and be 
 treated accordingly ; except when a party aggrieved 
 ehall have presented his complaint to his Centre, or 
 State or District Centre, and such Centre, State or 
 District Centre, shall have failed for five days to for- 
 ward his complaint to headquarters, then and in that 
 case the party aggrieved may communicate directly 
 W'ith headquarters. 
 
THE FENIAN BROTH EKHOOD. 83 
 
 Sec. 18. Communications on official matters pass- 
 ing between the Fenian Brotherhood and the I. R., 
 and any State or Power whatever, shall, previous to 
 dispatch, or immediately on receipt, be submitted to 
 the President of the Fenian Brotherhood, the Presi- 
 dent of the Senate, and, if necessary, the Cabinet 
 and Senate. Communications from the I. R. shall 
 be received in the first instance by the President, 
 and, as above provided, laid immediately before 
 the Senate. No communication shall be had b}^ the 
 President of the Senate, Secretaries of Bureaus, or 
 any official, with the I. R., or any Power, save 
 by and with the knowledge or consent of the 
 President, or the order of a two-thirds vote of the 
 Senate. 
 
 Sec. 19. Perfidy on the part of a member shall be 
 punished by expulsion. Maligning the objects of the 
 organization, calumniating its officers or members, 
 carrying information to the enemy, or injuring seri- 
 ously the organization by disgraceful conduct or con- 
 versation, shall constitute perfidy. The names and 
 descrip-tions of all persons guilty of perfidy shall be 
 sent to the President, and by him sent to all Circles 
 
84 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 tlironghjout the United States, to be there l^rept on 
 record. 
 
 Sec. 20. When members change localities, they 
 shall carry a letter of introduction and a certificate 
 from the Centre of the Circle to which they had been 
 attached, to the Centre of tlie Circle to which tliey 
 are going. This will be taken up on presentation, 
 and reported back to the Centre who issued it, and, 
 when found correct, the bearer thereof shall be re- 
 ceived as a member. In places where Circles are 
 very large, cards may be issued to identify mem- 
 bers ; but such cards themselves shall, in no case, 
 entitle a member to admission into any Circle other 
 than that from which the card issued. 
 
 Sec. 21. All the elected officers of the several State 
 or district organizations and Circles of the Fenian 
 Brotherhood shall hold office for a period of one 
 year from the date of their commissions, unless in 
 case of death, resignation, or dismissal. In either of 
 these contingencies, the successor shall hold office 
 for the residue of the unexpired time. 
 
 Sec. 22. Resignations, to be valid, must in the first 
 instance be received by a majority of the Circle of 
 
THE FENIAN BKOTHERHOOD. 85 
 
 the resigning officer, and next forwarded by his im- 
 mediate superior to the President for approval. 
 
 Sec. 23. Any officer of the Fenian Brotherhood 
 may be dismissed from his position for perfidy, neg- 
 lect of duty, disobedience of legitimate orders, by a 
 decree of his immediate superior in command, or by 
 a two-thirds vote of his constituents, subject, however, 
 in all cases of appeal, to the approval of the Presi- 
 dent and a majority of the Senate. 
 
 Sec. 24. Each Circle shall have power of enacting 
 by-laws for its special government. These shall be 
 brief and comprehensive, and shall in no way con- 
 flict with this Constitution. 
 
 Sec. 25. No paid officer of the Fenian Brother- 
 hood shall be a delegate from any circle of the 
 Fenian Brotherhood, or have a vote or voice in 
 any Congress of the Fenian Brotherhood, with- 
 out permission of Congress, except on business 
 connected with their office. 
 
 Sec. 26. All resolutions, constitutions, and laws 
 heretofore adopted for the government of the Feni- 
 an Brotherhood are, and the same are hereby re- 
 pealed, and this Constitution, and By-laws made in 
 
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. 86 
 
 pursuance thereof, are and henceforth shall be 
 known and recognized as the government of the 
 Fenian Brotherhood in the United States and other 
 portions of America. 
 
 Secretary of the Treasury. 
 He shall be appointed bj the President, by and 
 ■with the consent and approval of the Senate, and 
 shall have full supervision and control of the Finan- 
 cial Department, shall daily audit the accounts of 
 all officers thereof, and make weekly reports, of the 
 receipts and expenditures in the same to the Presi- 
 dent and Senators, He shall employ such addi- 
 tional assistance as he may find necessary, b}'' and 
 with the consent and approval of the Senate. 
 
 Agent of the Irish Eepcblio. 
 He shall be appointed by the President, by and 
 with the consent and approval of the Senate, and 
 shall be subordinate to and under control of the 
 Secretary of the Treasury, shall sign all bonds as 
 Agent of the Irish Republic, on receipt of voucher 
 from the Treasurer that the moneys therefor have 
 
THE FENIAN BROTH EEHOOD. 87 
 
 been received by him, which voucher he shall file 
 in his department. He shall also assist as secretary 
 for the Secretary of the Treasury, and make out a 
 daily statement of the business of his ofiice for the 
 examination and auditing of the Secretary of the 
 Treasury. 
 
 Subscription Agent. 
 He shall be appointed by the President, by and 
 with the consent and approval of the Senate, and 
 shall be subordinate to and under control of the 
 Secretary of the Treasury. He shall receive all 
 orders for bonds, and on receipt thereof take the 
 letters unopened to the Treasurer and Correspond- 
 ing Secretary, in whose presence they shall be 
 opened. He shall receive blank bonds, and a 
 voucher for the amount of moneys contained there- 
 in. These letters or orders shall be retained by him 
 and filed in his department. He shall take said 
 blank bonds to the Agent of the Irish Republic, 
 presenting said Agent with the Treasurer's receipt 
 or voucher; and, on the said Agent signing said 
 bonds, he shall receive, stamp^ and issue the same 
 to parties ordering them, keeping a receipt-book or 
 
00 THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD. , ' 
 
 Other voucher, which shall state the date, number, 
 amount, and description of bonds, by whom or- 
 dered, on whose account, how dispatched, and 
 when. 
 
 Treasurer. 
 He shall be appointed by the President, by and 
 with the consent and approval of the Senate, and 
 give bonds to the amoimt of five hundred thousand 
 dollars, to be approved of by the President and 
 Senate, which shall consist of bonds, mortgages on 
 real estate, and other collaterals. He shall be un- 
 der the supervision and control of the President and 
 Secretary of the Treasury, and may be removed on 
 the recommendation of the President by a vote of 
 two-thirds of the Senate. He shall receive all 
 moneys of the organization from all sources, and 
 pay out no moneys without an order from the Secre- 
 tary of the Treasury. Said order must fully explain 
 the object the money is required for; and, if a bill, 
 it must be attached, and the items explained therein. 
 He shall, in case of doubt, refuse to pay until a ma- 
 jority of the Secretaries of Bureaus shall so order by 
 their indorsement. He shall be guided in pay- 
 
THE FENIAN BKOTHEEHOOD. 89 
 
 ments, and pay nothing foreign to the following 
 heads, viz : 
 
 First. Remittances to I. li., on order of the Presi- 
 dent and President of the Senate. 
 
 Second. Secret service, by indorsement of the 
 head of Military Department. 
 
 Third. Oi'ganizing expenses, by indorsement of 
 the Secretary of the Treasury. 
 
 Fourth. Salaries of officers, by indorsement of 
 secretaries of their respective departments. 
 
 Fifth. Military envoys, by indorsement of the 
 head of that department, or his deputy during his 
 absence. 
 
 Sixth. Naval affairs, by indorsement of Secretary 
 of that department. 
 
 He shall render a daily statement of the receipts 
 and expenditures, under their respective heads, for 
 the examination and auditing of the Secretary of 
 the Treasury. 
 
 He shall allow the Agent of the Irish Republic 
 to examine his books, for the purpose of perfecting 
 weekly statements to be furnished by the Secretary 
 of the Treasury to the President and Senators. 
 
90 THE FENIAN BROTHEKHOOD. 
 
 He shall be entitled to employ an Assistant 
 Treasurer, to be appointed by the President, by and 
 with the consent and approval of the Senate, who 
 shall give bonds in an amount suflBcient to satisfy 
 the Secretary of the Treasury, and whose business it 
 shall be to keep the books of this department and 
 superintend the same. 
 
 The Treasurer shall give to the Secretary of the 
 Treasury a power of attorney for and in the name 
 of the Assistant Treasurer, to be used only in case 
 of accident to the Treasurer (or his blank check, as 
 he may elect), for which the Secretary shall give 
 him a bond of indemnity that it shall not be used 
 improperly. 
 
 The Treasurer shall give a receipt for all moneys 
 received from the several Circles and other sources 
 (exclusive of bonds) to the Corresponding Secretary, 
 who shall remit said receipts to the proper parties, 
 keeping a record of his correspondence. All letters 
 shall be opened in the presence of the Treasurer, 
 or Assistant Treasurer, Subscription Agent, and 
 Corresponding Secretary. 
 
the fenian brotherhood. 91 
 
 Corresponding S egret aky. 
 There shall be a Corresponding Secretary, who 
 shall be under the supervision and control of the 
 Secretary of the Treasury. He shall be appointed 
 by the President, by and with the consent and ap- 
 proval of the Senate. He shall receive all corre- 
 spondence connected with his department, in the 
 presence of the Subscription Agent and Treasurer. 
 He shall file all letters in his department from the 
 several Circles and other sources, not connected 
 with or in reference to the issue of bonds of the 
 Irish Eepublic. He shall take receipts from the 
 Treasurer for all money received (exclusive of sub- 
 scriptions for bonds), and remit them to the proper 
 parties. 
 
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