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New York, February 9& 1870.
jo the
‘BROTHERS,
{Ificorg sid Hlonberg aff tlhe
9D
It must have been apparent to the dullest understanding that
the late numerous and conflicting orders emanating from your Exccutive, were 4 certain and
infallible indication that the affairs of the F. B. were not being conducted under the laws pre-
scribed by you for its guidance and governmeyt.
“The attack made by your Executive MEY ck-ordinate part of your governing body, must have
given you cause of regret (which we pa ici ygte in) that these matters were not deferred to the
mecting of your Congress, and thereby Sia h rother exhibition of our weakness before the public.
We had hoped that good sense, and a more fraternal fecling, would influence every member of
your organization, and we wished to be.spared the disgrace of our sacred cause being again made
the subject of a newspaper war. oo
- For the last six days your Senate has been insession here, and has alternatively begged
‘and prayed that. your Executive would. consent to some stated time and place for-the-caling- of
Kighth General Congress mutually agreeable, and giving the Circles time enough to be fully and
fairly represented.
The action then and since had by your Senate, will be laid before you in ‘full at your
approaching Congress, and it will be for you to say whether or not its action was patriotic or tlic
reverse,
For the discharge of his duty, one of our body—the truest, the best : P. J: Meehan—has been
stricken down in the midst.of his usefulness by the hand of an assassin, while another is hourly
threatened with a like penalty for his fidelity as the Sceretary of your Treasury.
In conclusion, after a full and complete examination of the requirements and effectiveness of
your organization, we say to you: you are not in a position at present to mect the demands
made upon you—when you are, we will not be slow to say so. We feel we but represent your
wishes when we say, “We will fight when prepared, and not before.”
The Senate will notify you in a few days of the time and-place fixed on for holding the
Highth General Congress. Until then, send no delegates to any Congress at present called,
P. §.—Since the adoption of the above address, the President and Senate of the F. B. have
decided that the Eighth General Congress shall be held jn Chicago on Monpay, the eleventh day
of April, at twelve o’clock noon.
JAMES GIBBONS,
President Senate F. B,
J. ©. O'BRIEN,
Sceretary Senate F, B.