The Express.
London, England, 1848-09-15 00:00:00

IRELAND.
IN THE SOUTH.
Dinuax, SEPT. 14.
t?-day of the

There are abundant

account I was enabled to send you yesterday as to the
source in which the movement in the south has origi-
nated. The Kilkenny Moderator, in a second edition
received to-day, states that there is nothing pelitiesl
in the movement, and, as this is a landlord journal, it
may be received as an authority on such a subject.
The Moderator states that the affair is one for plunder
and the destruction of property, which means, of
mune, any opposition of any kind to anything
a landlord pleases. The Freetnah, in a corre-
spondence from the county of Kilkenny relates the
affair of Glenbower. The police, it seems, had orders
to retire on Callan, but so soon as they were seen
preparing to withdraw the peasantry assembled
around them for the purpose of plundering their
effects, and doubtless of cutting them off in detail.
The police seeing this began to strengthen their bar-
racks, and the people proceeded to plunder. After
they had disposed of the effects which there we% not
time to withdraw into the barracks they called on
the police to surrender, and were answered be a
di<vharge of carbines. At this moment another
police party proceeding to join with that of Glen-
bower, and retire on Callan, reached the rear of the
peasant party, and also fired, wounding one man.
The people immediately flel, and the man was seized
by the police. He had on a pair of police buskins,
which he had just stolen. Both parties then feeling

themselves more safe within the birrack than in
leaving it for Callan, sent word thither and remained.
There is to-day a corroboration of the statement
that Doheny is not with this party, and indeed it is
said that the people have dispersed. On the other
hand the Waterford Chronicle states that there are
thousands on the hills around, partially accoutred and
fully armed, and commanded by men of military ex-
perience who have confidence in their followers. In
the affair of Partlaw eight police drove off a large in-
surgent force which attacked them, and killed two at
least of the party. It is said two children are also
dead, overwhelmed with the people and crushed in
the retreat. Further accounts to-day will probably
give us authentic particulars.
Yon will desire to know what is the came or origin
of this movement, and what object do the leaders pro-
pos. I have made inquiries upon this subject, and
have satisfied myself that whatever aspect this out-
break may assume, it is social and not political in its
origin ; and that the result those who are engaged in
it aim at is protection against the power of the land-
lords, and the immoderate exercise of it. You are

aware that the poor-law commissioners have issued di-
rections to all boards of guardians throughout the
country to levy a rate for the maintenance of the poor,
and for repayment of relief advances. You are aware
also that this rate the boards are ordered to collect as

speedily as possible. The landlords reclaimed strongly
against the limit of the rate pointed out—as. in the
pound—and listening to those reclamation the corn-
misioners have made the extreme limit 3s. instead of

ss. The landlords not content with this have adopted
very extensively an in genions methodofanticipating the
rate collector, and thus of throwing the whole burden
of the poor-rate upon the occupier—until next year
at least, and probably for ever. The method is this.
An emissary or bailiff of the landlord accompanies
the farmer when proceeding to market to dispose of
his grain. When the merchant purchases in the
market, and the corn is delivered, the custom is to
. .

give i sale ticket setting forth the quantity,
price, and amount of the sale. This ticket
en-
titles whoever presents it at the counting-house
of the merchant to so much money. Now
the moment the merchant issues the ticket to the

farmer the bailiff seizes it, gets the amount, and
carries it off to the rent-office, to be placed against
the account of rent and arrears due by the tenant.
It is against this practice that the people hay.: risen.
It is against this they fight. Not for repeal, or
aer
ration, or a republic, or a provisional government, at
against a proceeding which would leave the best
of the farming class under present circum-Lanes
no better than paupers, and would crowd the
workhouses with myriads of them. This is the move-
ment with which the government has now to deal.
Its duty will be not to protect the Queen's dominion.,
but the landlord's domains. The revenue of the

country will have to be drained that the proprietors
may exhaust the farmers, and the maintenance of the
' roue which the law makes the first lien, will be had
but by a scramble with grumbling &al exhausted
occupiers.
Men look upon this unhappy outbreak as most
disastrous to constkutional liberty, and most perilous
to the men who are soon about to be placed in a posi-
tion of the greatest hazard which our laws contem-
plate. It is no matter what may be the origin of this
movement—no matter how disconnected those parties
may be with its councils or its plans. Still the go-
vernment cannot, and society will not, separate them
from a movement to which their courses have eer-
toinly given sanction, and which their writings
pointed to as no lees just than indispensable. We
cannot forget, and the authorities cannot overlook, the
interminable exhortations to the people to keep the
harvest for themselves and to retain the land in perpe-
tuity, the rent to be settled by the measure of their
own conscientiousness, and paid according to their
own convenience. When therefore we look at this
aspect of affairs, and have regard to the obligations
of those who rule, we shall not feel surprise at the
alarm lelt by the class to which I have referred lest
this mad outburst should risk us what remains of
constitutional liberty in Ireland.
The impression has got abroad that in
eases of conviction at the special commis-
sion the law would be vindicated to the uttermost
and treason punished to the extremity. I have not
been able to trace this impression to any authorita-
tive source, but I believe it has bad its origin in an
extremely ill-judged attempt of a near relative of one
of the state prisoners, who on Saturday last obtained
an interview with Lord Clarendon, and after some
assertion of his own claims, and of what was due to
the loyalty of his family and connexions, suggested
that the state prisoners should be permitted volun-
tarily to expatnate themselves, or be sent to some
colonial possession or foreign land. I have heard
that the proposition was received in a manner very tar
from gracious—how, indeed, could it be otherwise?—
and hence the intelligence of to-day. is looked upon as
" a death-warrant" to convicted insurgents, a con-
clusion which, from the known temper cf a large
tory party in Ireland, and as appears from Lord
George Bentiack's letters, of a large tory party in
England also, it would seem the government would
find it difficult to resist. But, first, it would seem as
if all constitutional liberty in Ireland should be abro-
gated. This la a terrible penalty for us to pay who
have never ceased to denounce the wickedness which
prompts to, and will excuse, if not justify, this inva-
sion of law and liberty.

The accounts from the scene of insurrection inform
us that at Pilltown, in the vicinity of Lord Bessbo-
rough's demesne, 'there are two pieces of artillery and
several companies of infantry; at Carrick on-Sair,
the 3rd Buffs and the 83rd regiments have halted on
their march through. The 47th, which marched from
Clonmel for Limerick, yesterday, under previous or-
ders, will doubtless be remitted to the scene of action ;
the 64th is at Clonmel, and before this time the troops
—infantry, rifles, and constabulary—sent hence yes-
terday, have arrived at their cestination. Major-
Gen. MDonald has assumed the command of the
entire—Kilkenny, Waterford, and South Tipperary
having been formed into a separate district
under this gallant officer's orders. Portlaw
is defended by a body of the Marquis of
Waterford's tenantry, enrolled as " specials " under
the noble lord's own eye, and known to him, and by
this time their spirited leader is amongst them.
The marquis had not reached home from the
Curragh races when the news of the disturbance
reached his mansion ; but the marchioness, with
courage as strong as her humanity, took the necessary
precautions for the defence of her house and fortune.
How truly has this act approved her a noble gentle-
woman.
The Dawager Lady. O'Brien and Mrs. Smith
O'Brien have taken lodgings in Clonmel, intending to
be present at the special commission. &sL. O'Brien
will also be there during the trials.
The whole of the pohtical prisoners in Clonmilgsrl
have received notice of trial for the special commis-
sion, and it is stated that those of them not charged
with treason will be put on trial during the five day.
which the treason•charged parties must by law have
after indictment found and before trial. I think this
is very unlikely, however, as it would unnecessarily
expose the case and evidence on which the crown will
rely.

The following letter presents an encouraging view
of the state of affairs 'beat Dundalk. Its informa-
tion harmonises with what we have received from
other parts of Ireland. We may observe tbat we
have not denied the capability of the Encumbered
E<tates Bill to work for good to a certain extent, we
have only regretted that the application of its prin-
ciple was not made more extensive, and through a
simple and more efficacious machinery.
I am pleased to are the increased circulation of the
&paw Perhaps you could inform the editor (bat
Dr. Coolly, the catholic primate at Armagh, will not sniff,
the clergy of that diocen to tupport ?dr. John O'Cesneire
renewed effort to egi•ate for a repeal of the union; and as
that distriet extends from Drogheda to Moneymore, in the
county Derrv, nearly 70 miles, and as Dr. Denvir, his col"
league at Belfast, will act a similar part with his clergy in
the diocese of Down and Conner, I fairy the i,ter.ded agita-
tion and maintenance of the hall in Pullin will fall to the
ground. I am enured that the agitati m in the north-
eastern counties has tithertn checked trade and sonatina%
vet there to considerable employment for the working Glasses;
1,400 are engaged on the Lower Ban river, In order to re-
duce Lough Neagh to the rummer level md reclaim 24,010
ammo( land on the margin of that great lake ; 1,200 more at
full work in the harbour of Belton; and 800 on the county
Down Railway, with 700 in the same county between Newry
and Roatrevor; and my letten from Dundalk all state that
ro atle-bodied men are suamployad in that town. The
two railways, the harbour, and new gaol, having above
12,000 at work in that ilitact, with giod wages, aye
b. per wcek. And as to the potato failure, it w'
sot affect the working classes es in 1840: they
bus isnot planted any since that year, and the Limn
(who will be the sole "effete's) have got such good prior
for their corn since 1846, that they will feel the loos of the
pctato crop lightly. Indian corn meal e 9s. td. per
will feed the people cheaper and better this that ItAl