The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-30 00:00:00

CHURCH RATES.

BUNGAY, ST. MARY, AUG. 29.
This vexed question has received another temporary
settlement, and the authorities of the Church another
repulse. On the 19th of June last, a Church-rate was
made in *Vestry, the well known Archdeacon Glover
presiding at the ceremony. Application for payment
was immediately made by the Churchwardens to several
of the persons who have previously refused to pay, but
omitting those who had before defended themselves,
and defeated the rate.

Legal proceedings were first taken against one pa-
rishioner, Mr. Thomas, between whom and one of the
Churchwardens a psrsonal quarrel exists, and as it was
deemed advisable to suffer collection in one case, with a
view to future proceedings, no defence was offered, and
distraint and sale followed.

Summonses were then taken out against five more
parishioners, which came on for hearing before J. L.
Bedingfeld, Esq., and Mr. Butcher, on the 15th instant.
A barrister, Mr. Cooper of Norwich, appeared for the
defence, and proved that the notice by which the Vestry
had been called was invalid, by reason that although
it had been published three clear days before the day
of holding the Vestry, as the statute requires, such pub-
lication had not been been made on a Sunday three
days before the Vestry.

Mr. BUTCHER, the Magistrate, who moved the rate
in Vestry, :el-flanked that it ts.as a pity to tipscc
rate by a quibble, and a fortnight was taken for delibe-

ration.

On Thursday last, the defendants were in waiting
;o receive the decision, but before the arrival of one of

the Justices, the Churchwardens gave notice that they
had abandoned all the informations—preferring, it is
presumed, to be " let down easy,"—to retire rather than
be kicked out.

We advise the extensive adoption of the tactics which
have for the last two years been found successful in
this parish, viz., to examine the Church-rates with the
help of an ecclesiastical lawyer, and to find, as it is in
almost every case practicable to do, a flaw in its le-
gality. It is useful to know that the omission of any
property from the rate, or inequality of assessment,
renders it invalid beyond all power of correction.

MEETING OF MR. O'CONNELL'S

CONSTITUENTS.

(Abridged from the Dublin Pilot of WednFsday.)
This day a meeting of Mr. O'Connell's constituents was
held in the Corn Exchange, pursuant to his requisition
calling them together. At the hour named in the adver-
tisement the room was filled by numbers of respectable
people. At half-past one o'clock Mr. O'Connell entered
the room, and was received with deafening cheers. As soon
as the cheering had subsided, he moved that LAURENCE
FINN, Esq., should take the Chair.
Mr. RA r read the advertisement convening the meeting.
Mr. O'CONNELL then rose, and was received with anew
burst of applause. He said—Mr. Chairman and Gentle-
men, I must congratulate you on those subjects which
are the causes of either satisfaction or exultation.
Among those subjects of gratulation there is one which
principally demands attention, and that ist he very happy
administration of the Executive Government, especially in
this country.—(Cheers.) What Lord Normanby so
nobly and so well began, Lord Ebrington is (and to his
honour be it said) quietly, because in happier times, but
firmly, carrying out.—( Cheers.) We may have more en-
thusiastically grateful sentiments for Lord Normanby than
for his successor, but we respect Lord Ebrington not the
less.—( Hear, hear.) Our hearts are bound to Lord
Normanby, because the ancient enemies of Ireland are his
bitterest enemies.—( Cheering.) We ought to love him
with a warmth of affection proportioned to the hate which
they bear him, and we do.—(Renewed cheering.) The
conduct which drew upon him the hatred of the bad men
who so long oppressed us makes us cling to him the
more, and forces us to entertain towards him feelings which
no other could excite. He was the first that struck down
the combined monster of bigotry and intolerance that so
long oppressed Ireland.—( Cheers.) He was the first that
gave the death-blow to the Orange ascendancy, and
opened the offices of the State to men who could fill them,
whatever might be their creed. Lord Normanby hewed
the way, and Lord Ebrington is walking in it. The enemy
even, who were so noisy under his predecessor, are lulled
down into apparent quietude. Sir, this is one subject on
which I would congratulate the country—the rest are the
recent appointments, which I am convinced must delight
you all.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) Lord Melbourne
does well to make no distinction of creed in selecting men
to fill the high offices of the State.—( Hear, hear, hear.)
The Catholics of the empire are now beginning
to feel that they are really emancipated.—(Loud cries
of " Hear, hear.") And when we see the appointment
of that sterling patriot and distinguished individual, Mr.
Wyse—( Cheers)—to the high office of Lord of the Trea-
sury, which has been conferred on him, must we not feel
gratitude to the Ministry, who have conferred a benefit on
the public by elevating the individual to the position which
he deserved ? There is no man more highly gifted than
Mr. Wyse. He has been the patron and the useful advo-
cate of a free and enlightened system of education in all
parts of the world—( Hear, hear)—and his mind and great
talents have placed him among the most eminent men of
his age. I rejoice, too, that that excellent gentleman,
Mr. More O'Ferrall, is to be raised to a position where
his utility will be increased.—( Hear, hear.) And when
I recollect that Richard Sheil—(Cheers)—has been ap-
pointed to the Board of Control, how must I feel ?
( Cheers.) lam happy to have it in my power to do jus-
tice to that excellent patriot, and to add my testimony to
others of his merit, worth, and genius.—(Cheers.) I
think, then, I am borne out in stating that there are many
subjects of gratulation surrounding us.—( Hear.) Is it
nothing that the judicial bench has received so many orna-
ments ?—( Hear.) Need I mention the name of Stephen
Woulfe ?—( Loud cheers.) And though he may not have
been an agitator, nor have taken a part in the struggle, I
cannot forget the name of Mr. Ball.—(Cheers.) And
what may I not say of my loved friend, Sir Michael
O'Loghlen ?—(Loud cheers.) Since the world began
anything so atrocious, anything so disgraceful to the indi-
vidual from whom it emanated, anything so false in fact
and foul in intention as the attack of Lord Brougham upon
that much and deservedly esteemed man was never wit-
nessed.—(Tremendous cheers.) But the foulness, and
falseness, and bitterness of the attack stained only him by
whom it was uttered, while it left the robe of Sir Michael
O'Loghlen pure and unsullied.—( Cheers.) I cannot pass
over the name of Baron Richards in giving acatalogue of the
good men who have been elevated to the bench.—( Cheers. )
I love to dwell upon these things before I come to other
topics, upon which I shall have occasion to speak diffe-
rently.—( Hear, hear.) Sir, Wellington and Peel opposed
with all their might one measure of general advantage to
the empire at large which passed during the last . Session
of Parliament. Humble as I am, I feel a pride in boast-
ing before my constituents that I took an active part in

Promoting that measure--ssZelately, the general reduction
of postage.--( Cheers.) It is not asks desirable as being
tis eUtteet for the holiest affections of the heest, but it will
ttliebtirege Ilitetatore in every possible way.--( Hear, hear. )
Every ohs Wilt thee find it necessary to read and write;
and thus will a sprilig 1)6 given to education in every de-
partment of society.—( Hear.) Sir, all these things put
together must go down to posterity as proofs of the ex-
cellence of the Whig Ministers, and he a triumph over
their enemies. f cotta now to that which relates more par.
ticularly to the business of the day. I have brought you
together to bring under your consideration the entire griev-
mans Under which we labour, and to discuss with you what
we looked for at the commencement of the Session, when
you will clearly ate how little we have obtained of all we
we then desired.--( Hear, hear.) The first great evil to
which we directed our attention was the state of franchise.
—( Hear, hear.) It is notoriously in a bad state in both
countries; but in England it is as 19 per cent. of the male
adult population, while in Ireland it is not five.--( Hear,
hear.) We demand to be placed on the same footing with
England, even though a greater extension be given to the
people of that country than they now possess. I
demanded that footing from the present Administration,
and carried with me to England that demand as that of
the Irish people, and it has been miserably rejected. Sir,
the next grievance of which we had to complain, and
which remains unredressed, is the franchise of the cities
and towns.—(Hear.) The next grievance of which we
had to complain was the state of our Corporations— it was
admitted by all parties to be a grievance of great magnitude,
and let it go abroad through Ireland, that notwithstanding
such admission we could obtain no redress.—( Hear, hear. )
The next topic to which I shall refer is the Poor-law ; it
has been supported by many honest men and sincere phi-
lanthropists, all actuated by the very best motives, who
only wished to improve the condition of the poor of their
country. The operation of that law has not yet come on
you. I opposed that law, because I was of opinion that it
would produce more misery than relief—that we were too
poor for it. It will, I fear, be found after a short time,
that this law will press too heavily on the country ; but
before that time arrives we ought to demand, with a strong
voice, that the rent-charge of 75 per cent., which exists in
lieu of Tithes, be appropriated to the purposes of the
Poor- law.—( Cheers.) There are many highly influential
men in the country who were altogether opposed to Tithes
in any shape. Let them support, me now to get the 75
per cent. rent-charge transferred to the support of the
poor.— (Continued cheering.) Ido not want to sacrifice
the incomes of the existing clergy—l would not deprive
them of the means of support, but the State should take
this rent-charge and should procure a respectable mainte-
nance for the clergy—let the Catholic, the Presbyterian,
and the Protestant, be all taxed for the support of their
own clergy ; but let the rent-charge at present in ex-
istence be applied to the Poor-law.—( Continued cheering.)
The next topic on which I shall address you is on the sub-
ject of railways in Ireland.--( Hear, hear.) We were
opposed on this question, not only by the Tories, but by
the Radicals. The Goveanment brought in a measure for
30,0001., to bo disposed of in the education of the entire
population of the kingdom. It was, to be sure, an im-
mense bounty to bestow 30,0001. on the education of
nineteen millions.—(Hear, hear.) But how was this
splendid grant received?—( Hear, hear.) They raised a
great commotion all through England on the subject lest
the Catholics should obtain any benefit by it, as if it was
proposed that the Queen should marry a Papist, and go
publicly to mass.—( Hear, and laughter.) Out came the
Wesleyan Methodists.—( Loud laughter.) They attacked
the measure in a most furious manner, but I came out
upon them, and I told these men themselves what mul-
titudes of them did not know a word about, and I told
their wives and children what kind of a genius John
Wesley, their founder, really was.—( Loud laughter.)
The next question to which I have to call your attention,
is of great public importance, I mean the renewal of the
Bank of Ireland charter.—( Hear, hear.) They would
have that monopoly continued for fifteen years longer but
for my exertions.—( Hear, bear.) Now, I was determined
that they should not get it, and I succeeded in my opposi-
tion.—(Cheers.) They shall not procure the proposed
extension, for I will let the public see that by the present
monopoly the fortunes of mercantile men within fifty miles
of Dublin, are at the mercy of this corporation.—( Hear.)
The Learned Gentleman then, at some length, deprecated
the conduct of the Chartists, and went on to say—l have
showed you that we must despair of obtaining any thing
from England—( Hear, hear)—l have told you that from
the Imperial Parliament there is no hope—( Hear)—l have
told you that the Tories rage rampant in England—that
the House of Lords is opposed—that the middle classes,
even if friendly, are frightened and deterred from assisting
us by the Chartists—in fact that we have no prospects
before us from that quarter ?—( Hear, hear.) Where is
the use of boasting of our loyalty ? What is the utility of
sending Representatives to England? All is of no use.—
(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Your petitions are re-
jected with scorn, and the remonstrances of your advocates
are met with a sneer.—( Hear, hear.) Once more I re-
peat, you will get none of your rights from England.—
( Hear, hear.) There is only one thing possible, and
that is the repeal ! (Here the Hon. Speaker was interrupted
by one of the most enthusiastic bursts of applause that we
have ever heard. The cheering was renewed for several
minutes, each time more loudly than before ; when it sub-
sided he continued)—l have said it—l repeat it—there is
nothing for us but the repeal of the Union.—( Cheers.)
We must not any longer say that we will wait for this or
that, or we will see whether we will make an impression
there or elsewhere. lam thoroughly convinced that it is
now my duty to look for the repeal.—(Loud cheers.) I
must be cautious and deliberative, but from this day forth
to the end of my life I am a repealer.—(Renewed cheer-
ing.) I have turned the subject in my mind well and often.
Most solemnly. I repeat, have I weighed the matter in my
mind, and this day begins my agitation for repeal.—(Great
cheering.) I must be cool and cautious, but my efforts
will be determined and continuous.—( Cheers.) The first
objection that I will have to meet is that by repeal of the
Union we mean a severance from England. I deny it with
scorn.—( Hear, hear.) The Sovereign of these realms
(God bless her) has not in her widely-extended dominions
a subject more loyal, one more opposed to her enemies, or
one less likely to insist in taking one gem from her diadem
than I. When we seek for a repeal of the Union we seek
for true combination—a perfect union and not a separation.
—( Hear.) Jamaica has a Legislature of its own, and still
is subject to the Crown. Even Barbadoes has a domestic
Legislature, and yet the power of the Sovereign is not
weakened by it. New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, all the
colonies have their own local Legislatures, and yet they
are still subject to the Queen.
[Left speaking.]