The Sun.
London, England, 1838-10-05 00:00:00

ft will be recollected that the re-registry of all the county
voters in Ireland is also approaching; and it is perfectly clear
that unless the system of registry be amended, and the rights
be defined, the representation of Ireland will be as completely
in the hands of the Assistant-Barristers as that of Tralee was
in the hands of Mr. Hickson, Q. C., when he disfranchised at
his good-will and pleasure such a number of voters. Indeed it
will be more so; for the error of Hickson was corrected by a
Committee of the House of Commons ; but I know of no
tribunal disposed to correct the illiberal decisions of cur
Assistant. Barristers.
If I had no other reason to urge to every one of my con-
stituents to become " PRECURSORS" than this, the state of the
law of franchise and of registration, it would be abundantly
sufficient to convince them that the political rights of Ireland
are gone for ever, unless the PRECURSOR SOCIETY shall be-
come so morally formidable as to procure a change in the law
and in the practice of registration.
The Ministry cannot procure this change ; the House of
Commons may, by a small majority, assent to amend the law.
But the House of Lords will scout the amendment in the
spirit of hateful despotism. We are the slaves of the House
of Lords; and there is nothing that can relieve us from that
tyranny but a constitutional, legal, aad continued movement on
the part of the Precursor Society.
Give me two millions of Precursors ; and I will undertake
the attainment of justice for Ireland—justice, either from the
British or the Irish Parliament.
Let me conjure my constituents to enrol themselves, and pro-
cure as many enrolments of others as possible in the Precursor
Society.
I cannot but smile at the discovery which some enemies of
mine and 3ours have made—of an inconsistency in my senti-
ments respecting the Ministry. Just as if the nature of the
facts d'd not create that inconsistency. For their conduct
in Ireland since Lord Normanby became Lord Lieutenant,
they have much of my commendation; but in some instances
their conduct in England has justly called forth my censure.
Notwithstanding that censure, they have my support as a
Member of Parliament; that is, I attend and vote with them
whenever they are right ; when they are wrong, they neither
receive, nor do they require my support; in that case they
are quite certain of being supported by the Tories.
In short the single secret of the support I give the Minis-
try is just this—that the only choice lies between them and
the Tories. If my opposing the Ministry gave me the least
chance of a better Administration, I would oppose them at
once; but as their receding from office must inevitably be
fuliowed by the accession of the Tory Cabinet, my choice
is made. I prefer the Whigs (though far from being as
good as I could wish) to the Tories ; whose principles and
conduct, hateful everywhere, would exhibit itself in Satanic
cruelty in Ireland. In a word—l prefer the Whigs to keep
out the Tories.

Nut one honest Irishman in his senses can hesitate to
make the same choice, when he has no other alternative than
" Whigs or Tories." In Ireland, the Tories would, of course,
renew all the atrocity of the Orange system : they would
necessarily drive the country to the very verge of rebellion ;
and the greatest exertions would be required to prevent (were
prevention possible) the country from being deluged with hu-
man blood. My determination is to preserve Ireland from that
catastrophe by all the means in my power; and one of the
means of no preserving Ireland, is to keep the Whigs in office
and the Tories out as long as we can.
I have the honour to be, fellow-countrymen, your ever
faithful servant, DANIEL O'CONNELL.