Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/211

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Tin- duty which is proposed to entrust to you is that of a private and confidential agent of this government, for the purpose of pro - \ the agents of the United States to obtain in Ireland recruits for their armies. It is understood that under the guise of assisting needy persons to emigrate, a regular organization has hcert formed of agents in Ireland who leave untried no method of deceiving the laboring population into emigrating for the ostensible purpose of sec-king employment in the United States, but really for recruiting the Federal armies.

TO USE HONORABLE MEANS.

The means to be used by you can scarcely be suggested from this side, but they are to be confined to such as are strictly legitimate, honorable, and proper. We rely on truth and justice alone. Throw yourself as much as possible into close communication with the peo- ple where the agents of our enemies are at work. Inform them by every means you can devise, of the true purpose of those who seek to induce them to emigrate. Explain to them the nature of the war- fare which is carried on here. Picture to them the fate of their un- happy countrymen who have already fallen victims to the arts of the Federals. Relate to them the story of Meagher's Brigade, its for- mation and its fate. Explain to them that they will be called on to meet Irishmen in battle, and thus to imbrue their hands in the blood of their own friends, and perhaps kinsmen, in a quarrel which does not concern them, and in which all the feelings of a common human- ity should induce them to refuse taking part against us. Contrast the policy of the Federal and Confederate States in former times in their treatment of foreigners, in order to satisfy Irishmen where true sympathy in their favor was found in periods of trial. At the North the Know-Nothing party, based on hatred to foreigners and espe- cially to Catholics, was triumphiant in its career. In the South it was crushed. Virginia taking the lead in trampling it under foot. In this war such has been the hatred of the New England Puritans to Irishmen and Catholics, that in several instances the chapels and places of worship of the Irish Catholics have been burnt or shame- fully desecrated by the regiments of volunteers from New England. These facts have been published in Northern papers. Take the New York /'"rfcmans Journal, and you will see shocking details, not