The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-03 00:00:00

IRELAND.

REPEAL ASSOCIATION.—MR. SMITH O'BRIEN.
DUBLIN, OCT. 31.—The Nation of this day contains
the following important letter from Mr. Smith O'Brien,
addressed to Mr. Duffy, the proprietor of that journal:—
" Cahirmoyle, Oct, 29, 1846.
" My dear Mr. Duffy,—Notwithstanding the deep in-
terest which I felt in the discussions occasioned by the
recent proceedings of the Repeal Association, I have pur-
posely abstained, as long as possible, from mingling in
the controversy as a partisan, in the hope that I might
thereby be enabled to assist in restoring union amongst
the repealers of Ireland. Since, however, the events of
each succeeding day appear to interpose new obstacles to
such a re-union, I do not feel myself at liberty any longer
to shrink from an explicit declaration of my opinions
with respect to the questions at issue. Forbearance is,
indeed, a virtue; but so long as our country continues in
bondage, inaction is a crime. We who have devoted our-
selv, s to its emancipation are not entitled to rest from
our labours until our mission shall be fulfilled.
" I do not think it necessary to repudiate the many
absurd imputations which have been cast upon me; but
neither have I any desire to shield myself from animad-
version by concealing my real sentiments with regard to
the rights and duties of Irishmen. In the following ex-
position of my opinions I am disposed to believe that no
inconsiderable portion of my fellow countrymen concur.
" We conceive that duty to our country is our highest
political obligation, and that our primary allegiance is
due to Ireland. We honour the Queen as our sovereign,
not because she is descended from a race of kings who
throughout many centuries wronged and afflicted the
people of this land, but because we believe that if our
interests and liberties were protected by a national
legislature, the Irish nation would enjoy happiness and
security under her sway. We do not desire to sever the
connexion between Ireland and the rest of the empire.
We believe that the legislative independence of Ireland
is perfectly compatible with the maintenance of that
connexion, but if separation be hereafter produced by
misgovernment, we are persuaded that Ireland would
suffer much less than Great Britain from such a contin-
gency. We obey the laws made by the British Parlia-
ment, because such obedience is necessary to the main-
tenance of social order ; but, remembering that the Act
of Union never received the sanction of the Irish people,
and that it was conceived in perfidy and brought forth
in crime, we deny the moral right of the British legisla-
ture to make laws for our nation. We hold ourselves
pledged to spare no legitimate exertion which can tend
to procure domestic legislation for Ireland. We desire
to achieve a repeal of the Act of Union by peaceful
means, believing that such means are more desirable and
more efficacious than any other ; but we decline to ab-
jure, under every possible contingency, the right of re-
sistance which is the last resort of the oppressed—a right
inherent in the natives of every country, but especially
the inheritance of the subjects of a dynasty which owes
its sceptre to a successful effort to achieve political ame-
liorations by means of the sword.
" It is not easy to understand what is the orthodox
creed of the Repeal Association ; I confess that I was
unable to comprehend the subtle distinctions and con-
tradictory definitions with which the moral force' doc-
trine has been enunciated ; but I infer from the pro-
ceedings of the Repeal Association in the case of others,
that the foregoing avowal of my opinions disqualifies me
from continuing a member of that body.
" The regret which I naturally feel upon finding my-
self excluded from an association with which, under very
trying circumstances, I acted, on terms of perfect cor-
diality, for nearly three years, is greatly diminished
when I remember that many of those whose abilities,
patriotism, and disinterestedness shed lustre upon that
confederacy, and won the admiration even of its oppo-
nents, have been contumeliously expelled from it. Nor
would it have been posdble to avoid collisions of opinions
upon other questions connected with the policy of the
repeal movement. The support given by the associa-
tion to an anti-repeal Ministry, accompanied, as it has
been by open encouragement of the solicitation of patron-
age, the pursuit of which tends to render repealers the
creatures and dependents of the English Government,
must have occasioned perpetual remonstrance on the part
of those who spurn the blandishments of English . cor-
ruption ' Under these circumstances, no practical ad-
vantage could arise from an attempt to bring together
persons who, though professing to seek a common end,
yet differ widely as to the means by which it may be
attained. It is true, indeed, that the value of a power-
ful organisation, such as that which the Repeal Associa
tion maintained during the years 1844 and 1845, can
scarcely bo too highly appreciated. It embodied the
sentiments of millions, and through many ramifications
gave strength to the cause which it sustained. Those,
therefore, who have been excluded from the Repeal
Association are now deprived of many favourable
Opportunities of advancing the interests of their
country. Mon who are really in earnest, how-
ever, create opportunities of action for themselves, and
are not the mere slaves of circumstance. It is to be
hoped, therefore, that a field for useful exertion in the
cause of Ireland will ere long be presented to those who
have dedicated themselves to the sacred task of redeem-
ing; their native land. In the meantime, it is a fortu-
nate circumstance that your journal offers itself as an
organ through which their voice may be heard. The
young men of Ireland—what more cheering denomina-
tion could they covet than that of " Young Ireland ?"
the legion of ardent and accomplished men who proudly
accept this title, may, by your instrumentality, be en-
abled to train their fellow-countrymen to that intel-
lectual and moral discipline which best fits men for free-
dom, and, in so training others, will discipline them-
selves to become the leaders of a peaceful revolution—
the guides of an emancipated people.
" I do not hesitate to believe that you will gladly
place an assigned portion of your journal at the di: Toast
of those who are qualified to prepare their countrymen
for liberty, and who are not ashamed to avow, by the
signature of their names, the sentiments which you in-
vite them to record. Your past success, in eliciting the
latent genius of the men of your generation, gives an
earnest of your capacity for this noble function. Ad-
vance, then, in the same course ; combine and concen-
trate the energies of minds of varied character ; direct
and regulate the patriotic enthusiasm which you have
kindled ; encourage self reliance and the manly virtues
which individual responsibility calls forth, by securing
fame and national gratitude to every man who can pro-
mulgate a thought calculated to ennoble his race or to
elevate their destiny.
" Need I advert to the multiplicity of subjects the
illustration of which may be made instrumental in in-
spiring a spirit of nationality? What branch of human
knowledge is not capable of being rendered subservient
to the aims of patriotism? The history and antiquities
of Ireland, its legislation and jurisprudence; its ex-
ternal policy and internal administration, its resources,,
military, commercial, and agricultural; its mines, its
fisheries, its manufacturing capabilities; the advance-
ment of eur people in abstract practical science; the
cultivation of the fine arts whatever bestows true
dignity upon individuals, whatever contributes grace
and accomplishments to society, whatever confers hap-
piness and strength and honour upon nations; such are
the studies to which it ought to be your pride to allure
the men who are entrusted with the future destiny of
Ireland.

:stay I take the liberty of adding that enough has
been said in vindication of the motives and conduct of
the party with whom you act. The time has arrived.
.•A hen the two sections into which the Repeal force is now
unhappily divided ought to abandon mutual recrimina-
tion, and to vie with each other in fidelity to Ireland and
in devotion to her interests.

" r remain, very faithfully, yours,
" WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN.
Charles Gavan Duffy, Esq."

SHOCKING MURDER OF A
POLICEMAN NEAR BRISTOL.
BRISTOL, MONDA.Ir MORNING.
Yesterday evening the densely populated distr.:ct of
St. Philip's was thrown into a state of great excitement
from the appalling circumstance of one of the Bristol
police force, No. 172, Patrick White, having been mur-
dered by a woman. The particulars of this awful tra-
gedy are derived from the officers at the police-station
for the St. Philip's division. The unfortunate deceased,
who has been connected with the police for about eight
years, was an Irishman, aged about 30. He was un-
married, and lodged in the house of a female named
Louisa Ferris, a married woman, but who, in conse-
quence of domestic broils, bad for a long period lived
separate from her husband. His fellow lodge, were,
Thomas Edwards (brother to Ferris), a cab-driver, and
Elizabeth Jones. Last evening Ferris, with Is er bro-
ther and a third party, had been drinking at a public-
house known by the name of the Blackbird. About six
o'clock they returned home to Lion-street on th,e -Easton:
road, and Louisa Ferris upon going
up stairs found
White and Elizabeth Jones in bed together. At this
she was very much enraged, having as it was previouslyi
known entertained kindly feelings towards White. s A
d cease , Louisa Ferris, Thomas
some trifling matte;
Jones. A dispute arose about
short time afterwards the partiesEd Edwards,
I4dowannd stairs, de-
ceased,
words ensued, the circumstance of White's inti-
macy with Jones was alluded to, and Ferris, seizing a
rasor or a sharp knife (we have not been able to ascertain
which), walked up to White and inflicted a deep wound
in the throat, severing the wind pipe and penetrating
the carotid artery. The effect of which was, of course
almost instant death. The poor fellow staggered to the
door leading to the street,, and fell into the road. He
was picked up immediate y and carried into the house.
A medical man was sent for, but death had done its
work long before his arrival. The parties in the Ivo
were at once apprehended, and upon their arrival at the
police-station house Ferris admitted that she had com-
mitted the dreadful act. The 'man Edwards was ex-
ceedingly callous; he thought no more of the affair than
if it had been one of the ordinary transactions of life
but fell asleep within a few minutes of entering the pri-
son. An inquest will be held to-day, when the whole
facts will be developed. The account thus forwarded is,
however, substatially correct.

His
Excellency the Earl of Elgin, the new Governor-
General of Canada, arrived in town on Saturday last
from his Lordship's seat in Scotland. No day is yet
fixed• for his Lordship's departure for North Americt.
John Bright, Esq., M.P., is now seriously india.
posed, arising, it is said, from an ulcerated throat. In
consequence the public meeting which was to have been
held in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on Wednesday
evening last, has been postponed, he having promised to
attend the meeting in question, wbich had been called in
consequence of his having consented to become a candi-
date fir the borough at the neat eke tivn.—Leedt Merfainfi.