The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-20 00:00:00

!JOUR OF AIEETING„

It was resolved, that in future the Association should assemble
at twelve o'clock each day.
Mr. O'CONNELL next rose, and said that gentlemen intending
to bring forward any measure should give one day's notice: and
on to-morrow he would do so respecting several subjects of peti-
tions. In offer:ng himself to the notice of the Catholics of Ireland
0.0 should first observe on theiv present degraded position; degraded
sot by any act of theirs, but by the success of their enemies ; and
the terms in which that success was conveyed and made known to
them—he would say at once that lie alluded to the oath of the Heir
Presumptive ; that he alluded to the terms in which the Prime
Minister was pleased to announce his perpetual hostility to the li-
berties of Irish Catholics—At no former period was a royal oath
obtruded between the rights of the people and common justice.
Whets a member of that family, brought to the throne to support
the British Eumititution, forgets the very charter upon which rests
his °ult. title to prerogative; and who, adopting re than the
vices of those whom his family displaced. swears that conscience
shall not be free..and that Irish Catholics shall continue proscribed
in their native land, this is at least a feature of novelty in the Ca-
tholic question; but it is said there yet remains that only conso-
lation of the conquered—hope. lie (fur. O'Connell) slid not
despair, for he felt no doubt but the voice of an united people
would deter, and the interests of the British Empire forbid,
the fulfilment of that oath. There was, to be sure, no oppor-
tunity at present for those amsiderations to come in aid of
Catholic claims; but who would tell him (Mr. O'C.) that
' England had got a lease of tranquillity to save her from do-
mestic evils or foreign aggression ? Who knew whether the 'W-
restle Emperor Nicholas sod his ruffian guards of legitimacy, those
sapient lawgivers, who have more than once decided questions
of conetitutional rights and theoretic principle, may consider it his
interest to preserve the existing state of continental affair, ? IVltere
can England look for support in the hour of peril and the day of
need, but in the blood of brave though oppressed Ireland? Erg-
land may disguise her weakness from her enemies, but she cannot
from herself; and if ever it should be necessary for her to tight one
battle, Catholics will be emancipated—because England cannot
avoid it. At the commencement of the last war, when an English
fishing-boat might ransack the largest American ship—when Ame-
rican commerce was impeded by British tyranny, and their citizens
dragged front their vessels and forced to light the enemies of Eng.
lane—when the replies to American remonstrances were conveyed
in terms more galling Hutu the injuries complained of, anti a Brie
tish Minister, in describing American ships of war, called them
boats of fir, with stripes flying at the mast-head ; but let them now
look at American fir-boats--let them look at the vessels of happy,
free, and independent America, anti he (Mr. O'Connell) defied the
boasting English nation (and if they were not boasters, lie knew
nut where they yore to be found) to name him one of the noblest
vessels, whom meteor flag had triumphed for a thousand years,
that would now dare to meddle with an American cockboat of the
present day. (Tremendous applause.) That is a transition of 20
years; let England reflect on that tact, and that not even the ta-
lent of her mighty and royal Commander will protect her against
the western breeze, which blows frequent and strong; for although
the Royal Commander may be very flippant on shore, in taking
up a position in the rear (laughter, ,and hear, hear), yet his naval
tactics would ,be but a poor defence against such an enemy. It
might be said that he was daring England, but he was merely re-
plying to threats advanced in opposition to Catholic supplication for
justice. lie did not speak of that virtuous and amiable family
who fill a Throne. whose personal expenses are considerably below
those of many persons in England, but whose public and indivi-
dual charities exceed the luxuries of the richest aristocracies and
bloated monarchies. lie spoke not of the national strength of
that kingdom where the nobility and the people are one. Ile
apuke not of that country where the Protestant Clergy are paid by
the Catholic state more liberally than its Catholic Clergy. (Hear,
hear.) He spoke not of that kingdom where there are neither poor-
rates, church-rates. nor parish cess; where the great majority of the
people being Catholics, were not taxed to pay the salaries of sexto-
: nesses. pew openers, and to find two pipes of Port wine in the
year for the COMMUIIIOII table of a parish in which there were but
five Protestants; nor of that country where the potatoes of the
wretched cottier are tithed to support the indolent. bloated man of
God. (Hear, hear. hear.) Ile spoke not of France; but let Eng-
land look to her: and was it not at least friendly for prostrate Ire-
land to turn upon the heel that melees her, and say, Look where
your natural enemies lie; they are before you ; but let the world in
arms be grayed against you, and the combine) freemen of your
own soil, with those of emancipated Ireland, are squat to any fo-
reign millions. There is but one mode of safety fur you—do an
act of justice (applause), you give happiness to a people, and
strength and stability to your institutions. The Learned Gentle-
man next adverted to the charge of divided allegiance ; and said the
man was not tit for Christian society who charged Catholic millions
with perjury ; and yet such a man cominuil the Prime Minister of
England. Those, the Learned Gentleman said, were the existing
obstacles to Catholic emancipation ; there was to he sure a calumny
timing the monarch too horrible to be credited • and lie (Mr.
O'Connell) would never believe it until it was manifested by sonic
public act, and yet why were they not emancipated ? Let the
Monarch in his vindication repent the noble, magnanimous decla-
ration so often made to the friends of his youth, and to Lord Sten-
mom in ICIII • let him but say it in one sweet sentence on the 2d of
February, and by allowing his Catholic subjects to love him, se.
cure his own glory and their happiness. The question would now
be, what course to take in the present posture of Catholic affairs ;
and it has been already answered in the emphatic language of a
mere motto—" Firmness, temperance, and union." They would
be firm, for the intermix of seven millions in Ireland, and of the
growing Catholic millions of England and Scotland, required it.
They would be temperate—for it was the great principle of con-
science for which they sought. Should they be united ? Ile
'corned to call upon any man for n sacrifice of principle and old-
nion ; but every thing short of principle he would sacrifice towards
that union. The Learned Gentleman then proceeded to a review
of the affairs of last year, connected with the deputation to London.
Many things had been said anti printed on those subjects, as con-
trary to truth as light is to darkness, and concerning himself; but
such was his desire to preserve unanimity, that lie refrained front
contradicting them. After observing upon the benefits derived
from the existence of the Catholic Association ; that when it was
established, eleven counties had been proclaimed, anti on the
day of its suppression the entire county was restored to cum-
, plete tranquillity, the Learned Gentleman proceeded to advert
to the progress of the Emancipation Bill, during part of which
t time lie was in communication with that moat excellent gentleman,
air. Plenkett, and he (Mr. O'Connell) fearing the effects of sup-
I pressing the Association, and how such a despotic measure might
work upon a mercurial, sensitive, warm-hearted people, pressed
the dangers to the country upon those hi whose power it lay, in a
great measure, to evert them, and the Bill for restoring the Catho-
lics to their natural rights would have pas.eetl, but the Heir Pre-
sumptive to the throne, who stood between the people and their
liberty—yes, to the influence of one man is it owing that millions
are discontented and oppressed. (Hear, hear, bear.) During the
time the Bill was in progress, it had been suggested to him (.lr.
(►'Connell) that the Duke of fork was relentine, and would be
well pleased to see some of the Deputation. and he did receive those
who waited on him in the kindest manner—and would that that spi-
rit of conciliation had continued—and, oh ! what a country would
Ireland now be ! There was another occurrence to the date of
which, As erroneously stated, great importance was attached. On
the 7th a March it was amerced that lewd Killeen and himself 1
(Mr. O'Connell) waited on the Attorney-General. and although it
was reported of him (Mr. O'Connell) that lie haul misrepresented
the conveesation on that occasion, he never contradicted it in the
absence tit Lord Killeen, but he did so now in bits Lordithip's pre-
sence. (Hear, bear.) It was on the first, and nut these-tenth, of
March that this interview occurred, and at which it was stated
that a considerable addition of votes would be obtained in support
of the t'atholic Bill, if the two measures of the freehold and the pm-
vision for the clergy were acceded to ; and having stated that the
Catholic Bishops were shortly expected in lenntlon.the consideration
of the clerical measure was not emceed upon ; but the freeholders'
watt, and upon that very day he (Mr. O'Connell) wrote to Ireland,
requesting that no discussion on the measures should take place,
until either he (Mr. O'Connell) arrived, or the provisions of the
Bill should be laid before the public. He (Mr. ('Connell) upon'
his arrival in Dublin, did exert us much as possible his influence
to procure a public or Aggregate Meeting of the Catholics. in order
to learn their feelings ; cool although he was charred with having
endeavoured to suppress public opinion, yet his vneh to convene a
meeting was overcome by several influential Catholics, who have
since changed their opinions on those measures ; and he yielded to
their desire, sad afterwards when he refused to proceed again to
London. unless a public meeting was convened ; find when, he at-
tended meeting, lie was prevented from speaking by the same
peewit to whose influence he had submitted in the first instance.
He ( Mr. O'Connell) did not mention those circumstances as • re-
•proach to any one for their change of opinion ; but he claimed' the
mute toleration fur himself for entertaining his opinion ; and with
a