*-To James Kelly from O’Mahony-October 19, 1863

Copy of letter, John O'Mahony to James Kelly [James Stephens], 19 Oct. 1863, New York, 3pp. 'Brother, The time is come when I feel called upon to resign my position as H.C F.B. into the hands of my constituents as they are to be represented at the forthcoming general Convention to be held in Chicago on the 3rd of November next.

'My personal motives for this step are many and grave. They are such as to justify my action to my own conscience and also to any thinking and unbiassed mind. But these I might disregard were I not convinced that the well-being and success of the cause represented both by the F.B. and the I.R.B. demand a radical change in the constitution and working machinery of the F.B. in as far as regards these States. The F.B. requires, for efficient action, to be placed on a basis more in accordance with the habits and customs of the American Republic than that whereupon it has hitherto stood. The chief officer thereof must hold his position by election and his office must be terminable within a period to be fixed at the aforesaid Convention.

'Whether I shall again accept the Head Centreship will depend upon two contingencies. The first of these is my unanimous re-election at the Convention. The next is such a change in the bye-laws and working machinery of the F.B. as will satisfy me with respect to its efficiency for the future.

'At the said Convention it will be submitted to the delegates assembled whether it be timely and judicious or not to declare the I.R.B. as an already established and fixed institution, and that under the name it has adopted within the past two years. The C.E. of the said I.R.B. shall also be declared its chief officer, president, and commander-in-chief within a certain clearly denned area.

'Again, I shall require that the F.B. shall covenant to supply to the I.R.B., through the aforesaid C.E., a certain and definite sum monthly as a subsidy, said sum being sufficient for the proper working of the I.R.B. Unless pledges and guarantees be given me to this effect I shall not resume the functions of H.C.

'Again, I shall refuse to accept office if subjected to the dictation or control of any person or party outside: the F.B. (in America). I will submit to the Control of my constituents through their representatives but to none other. Neither shall any party outside of these States be permitted henceforth to interfere with its internal or external action except within those limits assigned to the command of the C.E. of the I.R.B. All secret emissaries sent here to interfere with and interrupt the action of the F.B by maligning its officers and misdirecting its private members will be treated as traitors and enemies, no matter who sustains them or who sends them hither.

The executive and financial departments must also be separated henceforth. A Central Treasurer must be appointed, with whom all funds must in the first instance be lodged, and whose function it will be to pay out certain defined sums monthly, the first and largest to be forwarded to the C.E. of the I.R.B., the next to be paid to the H.C.F.B. for the maintainance of his official staff and for local contingencies. As already said, both these sums must be clearly defined and laid down at the Convention.

'Inasmuch as certain misunderstandings have from time to time arisen between the C.E. I.R.B. and the H.C.F.B., I think it best, if agreeable to the delegates assembled, that all remittances to the former be made henceforth through the Central Treasurer for the time being.

'Finally, both the C.E.I.R.B. and the H.C.F.B. must in all financial matters be henceforth accountable to a convention of the F.B. assembled yearly or half-yearly as may be hereafter decided . In all his official acts the H.C.F.B. must be accountable thereto, but to no other party.

'Such are some of my views respecting the proceedings of the coming Convention. In order to be a perfectly free agent thereat I have herewith sent you my resignation as an officer of your command, a thing implied by my acceptance of an appointment from you, though as far as regards you personally I am an unpledged man. Should you read this to your associates you will please to read it all. In fraternity, your faithful servant.

'P.S. Henceforth the F.B. and I.R.B. must be considered equal in authority — closely allied but independent powers. Their Chief Officers must treat with each other as equal to equal if my wishes be carried out'.