The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-19 00:00:00

IRELAND.

PROPOSED PLAN OF A NATIONAL
POLITICAL UNION.
(From the Dublin Morning Register.)
Its objects are—l st. To support the King and his Mi-
nisters against a small and interested faction, in accom-
plishing the great measure of Parliamentary Reform.
2d. To procure the utmost practical and useful exten•
sion of the elective franchise.
3d. To unite all well-wishers of their country, from the
richest to the poorest, in pursuit of these important objects.
4th. To use, incessantly, all possible exertions to bury
in perpetual oblivion all religious feuds and animosities in
Ireland, and to ciihivatt- in their stead mutual benevolence
and unbAuntled Christian charity ea all.
sth. To preserve peace and order in the country, and
to guard against any infraction of the law, or any convul-
sion which the enemies of the people may endeavour to
bring about.
6th. To watch over and promote the interests, and to
better the condition of the industrious and woi king claves.
7th. To procure for Ireland and all its classes, of every
sect and persuasion, and of every station in life, from the
richest to the poor.,st, all the comforts, protection, political
benefits, and tostering care, which could possibly be pro-
duced by a domestic and local leeislatut e.
DANIEL O'CONNELL.

TO TIIE PEOPLE OF IRELAND.
Merrion-square, Nov. 13.
Fellow Countrymen,—Yon have above the prospectus
of a plan for a Nation Political Union. I submit it to
your deliberate consideration and judgment.
It raises two separate and distinct questions for your deli-

heration :
First,—ls it necessary or advisable to form a Political
Union ? And if it be—
Secondly,—Whether the plan I propose be the best suited
for the occasion ?
The second question involves every species of modifica-
tion in the details. No person can be more ready than I
am to attend to every suggestion which may tend to in-
crease the utility, or to facilitate the working of any plan
for the advantage of the people of Ireland.
The important consideration is, whether such a political
body would afford a reasonable prospect of doing good to

Ireland.
Upon this subject, I acknowledge I entertain no kind o
doubt that it is not only advisable, but absolutely necessary,
to constitute, without delay, some such combination—a
combination which may include within it every man, no
matter what may be his station in life, or his creed, who
may be desirous to prevent domestic strife and confusion,
and to procure political amelioration, by a constitutional
and legal course, and without commotion, bloodshed, or the
violation of any human law, or the commission of any
crime before God.
Every man of that description—every man who is de-
sirous to put an end to our religious feuds—every man
convinced of the impolicy of continuing division and dis-
sension in Ireland--every friend to rational liberty—every
lover of the peace, prosperity, and freedom of Ireland—
should combine together to put down faction—to annihi-
late corrupt influence and monopoly—and to obtain con-
stitutional rights and perfect protection for all men.
Such a combination is essentially necessary, and the pre-
sent period is precisely the most fit for its formation.
I ground this assertion on the following reasons :
First,—The great, the paramount; the giant evil of
Ireland, has been religious dissension. We were politically
and morally divided, in order that we might become weak
by that division, whilst it gave strength to the enemies of
our country. Divison was not only the cause, as is inevit-
able, of nations! weakness, but was also the prolific parent
of monstrous crime, unchristian hatred, violent strife,
bloodshed, and murder. Religious controversy was amongst
us, excited, I fear, by the spirit of party, rather than by
charitable zeal, or the desire to enlighten ignorance or ex-
tend the truth. To triumph over sectarian hostility was,
perhaps, a more inciting propensity than to maintain the
faith of God, er to glorify his power and holy name.
The curse of religious dissension has been upon ue—it has
blasted the energies of our country, like a poisoning blight
or destrt:ctive pestilence. Ireland, with more natural,
physical, and mental resources than 5-6ths of the indepen-
dent nations of Europe,—lreland, the best situated for,
and the most capable of, natural prosperity of all the coun-
tries in the western world,—with all these advantag, a Ire-
land is a miserable province—a pitiful pelting farm of the
absentee and the stranger—with a declining trade—a
fading population—industry palsied—manufactures extin-
guishing—poverty accumulating—and hope disappearing
from the political horizon.
But hope shall not—must not—disappear. We know
the cause—the source of our political evils. We all know
that it is to be found in religious dissension.
What, then, is the duty of every honest Irishman ? To
take away that cause—to bury it in eternal oblivion. To
bear every thing,—to forbear, ro exhort, to counsel, to
set the example of perfect charity and of genuine reconci-
liation.
But the efforts of individuals, if isolated, may be easily
defeated. The struggles of each, by himself, may be re-
sisted or counteracted. Let us then combine; let the
good men of every sect and party combine in a great
National Union, capable of extending its influence over al I
Ireland, and of every where, and on all occasions, dis-
countenancing dissension, party spirit, and religious aui-