DR. MANNING AND THE FENIAN PRISONERS.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 524, 1 July 1869, Page 2

DR. MANNING AND THE FENIAN PRISONERS.

A short time ago Dr Manning refused permission to the members and supporters of the English Amnesty Committee, which has been organised for the purpose of procuring the release of the Fenian prisoners, to receive signatures at the doors of the Roman Catholic chapels in London to the petitions in which the object of the association was promulgated. With a view to induce him to re-consider his decision, a deputation waited on the archbishop on Tuesday, April 13, at his residence, York place, Baker street. After the representations of those who constituted the deputation had been adduced, the archbishop said he was anxious to do all in his power in compliance with the wish of those he was addressing. To prove what his sympathies were in this matter he wished to say that two years ago, when he had been requested to permit a similar course to that which had been advocated by the deputation to be adopted on behalf of men condemned to death, while he had been as anxious as any of them that the lives of those men should be spared, he did not think that the means proposed to accomplish the end were the most judicious which could be suggested. It would, he thought, have narrowed the basis on whieh the petitions had been founded 5 it would have made the English people believe that the plan projected had been an Irish and Catholic movement; he had, therefore, advised that their views should be set forth in such a manner that they would enlist a

wider—in fact, a national sympathy. These things he mentioned to show that, as far as his own feeling waa concerned, it went in the direction of that of the members of the deputation. He distinguished political offences from all other forms of offences, and feeling profound sympathy with Ireland, no one would be more ready than himself to plead on behalf of the men for whose release the committee had been constituted. He asked them to illow him to consider the question igain. It had been under his eonsiderition once already. He would reconsider the answer he had returned to ihe committee, and he would then adIress his answer to the chairman or secretary. He wished to take time in irriving at a decision, and he would give lis judgment carefully weighed in writng, for by this means he would save limself pain. His heart was full of :ompassion for the poor men whose :ause they were advocating, and he ilso, as he had said, felt the deepest sympathy for Ireland.—Dr Manning ias since declined to alter his decision. [n a letter to the Amnesty Committee le states that the invariable rule of he diocese has been to " exclude from he churches all matters that are not •eligious or ecclesiastical," and from his rule he is unable to depart.