THE FENIANS IN AMERICA. '

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 185, 21 March 1867, Page 3

THE FENIANS IN AMERICA. '

(From the New York Herald, January 11.) A meeting of the M'Hale Circle, F. 8., was held" on Tuesday, at 267 Bowery. James M'Mahon, Centre, called the meeting to order, and introduced Captain Eugene O'Shea, a gentleman recently from Mountjoy prison, Dublin, who, he stated, could give them some information in reference to the actual state of affairs both in this country and in Ireland. In reference to the whereabouts of James Stephens, Captain O'Shea stated that it was true that he had broken faith, but he was not a traitor, nor had he defrauded the organisation of its finances. What Stephens had done he had done well ; he had organised the FeiSlan Brotherhood as probably no other man could have effected on so grand a scale. W^th reference to the funds of the Brotherhood, which had been-subscribed under "Mr Stephen's control, they were all safe, as they were taken charge of by Colonel Kelly and other prominent officers some time sincei When those gentleman thought that it was time for the chief organiser to leave for the seat of war they found him not inclined to move, and they at once assumed . the virtual control of affairs. Captain . O'Shea stoutly denied the imputation that > Stephens is a British spy, or in the pay of 1 or conniving with "that Government, and stated that -by -force of circumstance at < least he is compelled to remain in this city and that on occasion of the departure of the last steamer from this port for France, Stephens' was without the funds to pay his passage, and went by appoint- ' ment to the pier for the purpose of meet- < ing a friend, who was to furnish the money. His friend failed to put in an appearance, and, Stephens was compelled ' to return to hi'/ lodgings, where he now is, in this city.. At a*«i**tu>g of . the I.R.C. officers or < ce ftj-,jydf held on Wednesday at a private " roor& in Pearl-street, a number of resolutions were adopted declaring the feeling < jp£ the recently expatriatedTTenians to be i 'strongly opposed to the prevailing^ efforts | of a n^wly arisen party to prove James 1 Stephens a traitor, and many such other . 1 libellous things. The general opinion in "1 the assemblage of last evening was, that Stephens after all is not so bad as he is < represented, that a certain clique of selfish ! pseudo patriots unfortunately succeeded ] in making him a pliant creature of their 1 ends, and eventually rendered nugatory i Imb plans for fighting last year in Ireland. < To come to the true nature of Stephen's motives in not acting up to his promises of last year, a committee was appointed to

wait upon him, and upon the receipt of tlieir report— -if favorable : to ; tlie late .G.0.1.R.— -they intend to issue a stirring vappeal t,Q,the mt,n of. lreland to keep i their 'faith iujaet, and that if' no biie else will istill have faith in the now discarded chief rthey at least will be found devoted allies. : ' Last evening another meeting! the third of the series pf'Feriian centres and centrifugal auxiliaries, was held at .193 Bowery, for 1 two objects of hdaririgla' statement from the ; C;O.l.R.j ; ;<and : of : electing five recently nominated: candidates to constK tute a directory, with full powers to see that the future plan of ' liberating Ireland is properly carried out,: and to raise the character; of ;t the Department of Finance, a branch of the Fenian system which has ;JiithertQ been sadly npgleoted. The attendance was large arid demonstrative ; things! were iri that; delightfully harmonious condition, the chairman being for once silent and the audienc&in the full enjoyment of loud and lufp&sal:, discussion, when Stejjhens entered, and like oil . on the troubled waters, his presence produced a peculiar calm. He spoke briefly, and said there was;; a misunderstanding between himself and Colonel Kelly, but he was now ;.; willing, to establish a reconciliation arid assume the civile management of the organisation, leaving tlie iiulitary branch to the prciper, military directors, and declaring his intention of fighting this year at all hazards. The meetirig was perfectly satisfied with his explanation, arid shortly afterwards adjourned.