198 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



ing such a hasty and secret repeal of the writ were: 1 (i) The rapid spread 

 of the Fenian organization over " great counties, wide districts, and whole 

 provinces;" and (2) the desire to pounce without a moment's warning 

 upon numbers of "native" Irish claiming to be naturalized American 

 citizens. The suspension met with opposition, particularly from Bright, 

 who seized the opportunity to enlarge upon the wrongs 2 of Ireland. But 

 the measure passed and for some weeks after its passage the summary 

 arrest 3 over in Ireland of all Irishmen who had the slightest appearance 

 of being Americans went merrily on 4 — that is, the arrest of all that they 

 could find, for the moment the officials began making arrests the Irish 

 Americans beat a hasty retreat to the United States. 5 Within a couple 

 of months, quiet once more prevailed in the Emerald Isle. 6 



This effective quietus upon the revolution was decisive proof to the 

 Roberts-Sweeney faction that the proper way to begin the conflict was 

 to acquire Canadian territory. It was so accepted by the majority of 

 the Fenians. Therefore plans were at once perfected and hurried to 

 completion for the Canadian invasion, O'Mahony, for the time, losing 

 his grip upon the Brotherhood. War meetings were held. The treasury 

 was replenished, not only by means of dues but by subscriptions and the 

 sale of Fenian bonds. 



The plan 7 for the invasion called for a general advance upon the 

 Canadian frontier with the advance centered at three places: upon 

 the Niagara frontier; upon the frontier in the neighborhood of Prescott 

 and Cornwall; and along the line of the Richelieu. Fifty thousand 

 Irish 8 were to be marshaled for the invading army and these were to be 

 reinforced when they reached Canadian soil by the Canadian Irish. 9 



1 Diplomatic Correspondence, 1866, Vol. I, p. 69; Bright's Speeches, Vol. I, p. 350. 



' Bright's Speeches, Vol. I, pp. 351. 355- 



3 Diplomatic Correspondence, 1866, Vol. I, pp. 70, 74; Lalor, Vol. II, p. 173. 



1 On March 31 there were 670 in prison {Contemporary Review, Vol. XIX, p. 312). Adams thought that 

 the most of the Americans who had been arrested were more or less implicated {Diplomatic Correspondence, 

 t866, Vol. I, p. 7°)- 



s Providence Daily Journal, January 4, 1866, p. 1. 



6 Contemporary Review, Vol. XIX, p. 313. 



' Correspondence Relating to the Fenian Invasion (printed by the Canadian government), p. 144. 



8 Contemporary Review, Vol. XIX, p. 304. 



" The force which invaded Fort Erie brought with them a large quantity of arms to put into the hands of 

 their Canadian allies {Correspondence Relating to the Fenian Invasion, p. 144); "9 wagon loads of arms and 

 ammunition" {Providence Daily Journal, January 4, 1866). 



