The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-13 00:00:00

IRELAND.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION.
DUBLIN, AUGUST 10.—The weekly meeting of the Asso-
ciation was held this day. Mr. O'Connell was present. The
attendance was very numerous, and considerable anxiety
was manifested to hear what bad been the decision of the
committee with regard to the Nation. It was also believed
that some new accessions of a respectable character to the
movement would be announced.
On the motion of Mr. O'CONNELL the chair was taken by
J. C. Fitzpatrick, Esq., barrister.
The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the meeting, thanking
it for the honour conferred upon him by placing him in that
honourable position. He regarded the distinction as a com-
pliment upon him by the committee in consideration of the
part which lie had lately taken, in the absence of better
men, for the sustentation of the real interests of the country.
Mr. O'CONNELL rose and moved the suspension of the
standing orders, to enable him to move that the committee
of the Association be directed to prepare a petition to the Le-
gislature against any renewal of the Arms Bill.—(Cheers.)
It was with the deepest regret that he (Mr. O'Connell)
perceived that the subject had been brought before the
House, but still he had some reason for believing that the
measure proposed by the Government was not understood
in this country; on Wednesday next, however, they would
be in full possession of its nature. He would, therefore,
propose that the committee should not meet till they had
all the facts before them. If they were ' not satisfactory,
petitions ,should at once be adopted, imploring of the Go-
vernment not to renew that nefarious Act.—(Cheers.) He
had no doubt but in Dublin alone 50,000 signatures would
be attached to such a petition in one day.—(Hear, hear.)
In conclusion, he moved that the committee should meet
on Wednesday. The Honourable Gentleman then pro-
ceeded to say that there was another subject which he
wished to bring under the consideration of the Association,
and which was of infinitely more importance than any-
thing connected with the Arms Bill. It related to the
recent conduct of some Roman Catholics in the north of
Ireland—(Hear, hear)—and which deserved severely to be
reprobated. The Orangemen, it appeared, had lately, in
the course of their insane " marchings" (as rimy were called),
committed several horrible outrages which loudly called for
a Government investigation.—(Hear, hear.) But the fact
of these outrages, atrocious as they were, having been com-
mitted was no reason why the Catholics should interfere
with the savages who perpetrated them. The Orangemen, if
prosecuted, were sure of an acquittal, as no Orange jury
would find them guilty. It was not so with the Catholics—
innocent or guilty, they were sure to be convicted. The Hon.
Gentleman having read several documents in connexion with
the affair, concluded by moving that the repeal wardens of
the south be directed to use their influence in the prevention
of outrage, and likewise that Mr. Steele be deputed to exhort
the Roman Catholics of Ulster not to interfere in any way
with the proceedings of the Orangemen.
Mr. O'CONNELL here wished to announce, and he trusted
his friends of the press—(Cheers)—would notice it, he had
been again tormented with an anonymous letter. Fifty times
in his life had he declared that he had an utter contempt for
such productions; for if the writer's name were worth giving,
he would be sure to give it.—(Laughter.) It was a very
lengthy document, and was dated "Camberwell, Aug. 6th."
The writer had taken immense trouble with it, but he (Mr.
O'Connell) would show them hew little trouble he had in
getting rid of it. [The Hon. Gentleman here tore the docu-
ment amidst much laughter.] He would next hand in 1/. the
subscription of Constantine J. Smith, who had heretofore been
deterred from becoming a member by the conduct of the
Young Ireland party.—(Cheers.) His next duty was to read
the following letter:— 1

" Reform Club, Friday, Aug. 7, 1846.
" My dear Sir,—Although you affirm that a public letter
does not often carry conviction, I am sure you will not be
sorry to hear that your letter to me has done so.
" Last Monday's proceedings at Conciliation Hall,have con-
vinced me that the principle of moral force has been finally
adopted by the Association, and I therefore no longer hesi-
tate in enrolling myself a member.
Inclosed is a:five-pound note, for my first year's subscrip-
tion; and I am, my dear Sir, most faithfully yours,
" CECIL LAWLESS." .
As Mr. O'Connell pronounced the name, with great em-
phasis, the entire auditory rose en masse, and cheered loudly
for several minutes. The cheering having subsided.
Mr. O'CONNELL said he had the honour to move that the
Hon. Cecil Lawless should be enrolled a memberof the Loyal
National Repeal Association.—(Cheers.) He would also
move that his letter should be inserted on the minutes; and
he took that opportunity of expressing his heartfelt delight
that Mr. Lawless had joined the cause of repeal. Fifty years
ago his father had been imprisoned for loving Ireland too well ;
but his nine months' imprisonment had only created a
more fervent affection for his native land. The real
reason why he had been sent to prison by Lord Clare
was well known; A poor man was drinking at a well
by the roadside, nn a Scotch dragoon rode up, and
asked him " why he dared to be out so late." The man
replied that part of the district was not proclaimed;
but he brought him to a turnpike, and there cut him down.
—(Oh, oh.) Lord Cloncurry with difficulty had prosecuted
the miscreant, but Lord Norbury had told the jury to acquit
him.—(Disapprobation.) From that hour Lord Cloncurry
had registered a vow in heaven to look for the good of Ire-
land. He was an excellent man, and a good landlord ; one
on the surface of whose property there had been no ruffle,
while all Limerick had been disturbed. He (Mr. O'Connell)
was rejoiced that his son had joined the ranks of " Old Ire-
land." He had now the honour to move that Thomas
Maher, Esq., born that morning, and presented to him by
his excellent friend, Mr. Maher, should be enrolled a member
of the Association.—(Cheers and laughter.) He was not very
old, but he was not a Young Irelander.—(Cheers.)
A Voice—He may be worse.--(Order.)
Mr. STEELE read a letter from the Right Rev. Dr. Coen, en-
closing 401., and expressed his gratitude for the high honour
which had been done him by selecting him to submit it to
the Association.

On the motion of Mr. O'CoNNELL, the letter was inserted
on the minutes.

Mr. STEELE also submitted some communications from the
Rev. Dr. MacGennis, P.P., of Clones, and presented several
addresses to Mr. O'Connell from various parts of Ireland, ex-
pressive of the utmost confidence in his wisdom and integrity
Mr. O'CONNELL suitably acknowledged the honour which
had been done him, and expressed his conviction that by the
exertion of constitutional agitation they might ultimately
hope for a restoration of their domestic Legislature. With
the adhesion and co. operation of the Catholic clergy, there
was every reason to believe that no violence or outrage would
ever occur, and that the people would be restrained within
the bounds of moderation.
Mr. O'CONNELL again rose, and read a communication
from the Rev. Dr. Burke, enclosing 201. repeal rent. The
constituency of Clonmel had done him (Mr. O'Connell) the
honour of entrusting him with the selection of a candidate to
fill the vacancy which was about to occur in the representa-
tion of that borough. He considered the electors of Clonmel
were fully qualified to select a candidate, but if they should
consider his presence necessary in order to support the cause
of repeal, he should most willingly go down. In conclusion,
the Hon. Gentleman read a letter from Cashel, enclosing 581.
rent, including the subscription of his Grace the Most Rev.
Dr. Slattery, Archbishop of Cashel, likewise the resolutions.
Mr. Joins O'CoNktru. then addressed: the Association
relative to the notice of motion given by his father in Par-
liament for an inquiry into the effects of the union on Ire-
land, and concluded by moving " that a committee should
be appointed for the purpose of preparing documents for the
use of members during the discussion of Mr. O'Conncll's
motion in Parliament." In doing this they were taking a
leaf out of the book of the Anti Corn-law League, as the
League had taken a leaf out of their book. They took their
leaf by forming an association and holding public meetings.
He would take his leaf by the distribution of small publica-
tions to enlighten the public mind. He hoped the com-
mittee would be able to digest the invaluable matter that
had been collected from the labours of former committees, in
order to show the grievous evils arising from the union
and the irresistible necessity of its being repealed.

Mr. O'Connell here handed in several sums of money,
including the remaining half-notes of 90/., forwarded during
the precediag week, in addition to 131. from thirteen Roman
Catholic clergymen by Bishop Cantwell. Having read
letter, in which the writer expressed his regret at the seces-
sion of Mr. Smith O'Brien, and a hope that he would rejoin
the Association,
Mr. O'CositrELL said he heartily concurred in the hops
that Mr. O'Brien would still join them. They had not se-
parated from him, but he had thought it right in his judg-
ment to separate from them, and whenever he could bring
his mind to join them on the principle of moral force, never
did man receive a more enthusiastic reception than he
should. It would not be worthy of the Association
if they sacrificed their principles for any private indi-
vidual. There was a marked distinction—as marked as
that of day from night—between physical force and moral
persuasion. They would fling all idea of physical force to
the idle winds, and would act on moral persuasion alone.
It was that which obtained emancipation; it was that by
which Cobden had carried the repeal of the corn-laws; and
it was by that alone that they would carry the repeal of
the union. It was then late, but he would not allow them
to separate without offering them some considerations on
the present state of political affairs. They had been for-
merly laughed at in England, they had been met by taunts,
but a new era had now dawned, and there was now an uni-
versal wish throughout England to remedy the mischief
and palliate the wrongs of Ireland.—(Cheers.) His object
was to ameliorate the condition of the people, firstly of the
poorer classes, the labourer and the manufacturer—those
men who had no other resource but the strength that their
Maker had given them ; and then his object was to amelio-
rate the condition of the entire of the people. It was said
that the English Parliament was ready to assist them. They
were ready to assist the Government. He was anxious to
obtain good for the people, and enjoy it when they got it.
That was the basis of his exertions. He felt bound to state
what was the condition of the people of Ireland—" it was
worse than that of any people of Europe," as was proved by
Lord Devon's Commission. Those were not the words of a
demagogue, or of a wan fabricating grievances; they were
the words of Lord Devon in his report, subscribed to by Mr.
Redington, the present Secretary at the Castle. He was but
repeating the words of the Royal Commission : truly it
might be said, " non meo hie sermo!" The Honourable
Gentleman then proceeded to advert to the resources of the
country, and their utter inutility, arising from the decay of
trade, and proceeded to say it was his duty to restore
prosperity to the country. Now that the spirit of the dream
of the Times had been changed, it condescended to talk
rationally to him, and he was ready to admit the reason of
what it said—" that he ought to join the Government in
carrying out these measures of good." He was ready:
guilelessly, zealousy, and unremitting would he devote him •
self to do so. There was, however, a question between the
Times and him as to how this good was to be carried out.
He said that it would be by the instrumentality of a legis-
lature in College-green. That was his answer to the Times
when it said that " it was not necessary for him to look for
repeal." Let but a year elapse and he would prove the
Times to be wrong—he would clearly demonstrate that the
Government could not assist Ireland. He saw a threatening
of this breaking out in the protectionist party. They would
be thwarted by party faction feuds, and their best endea-
vours would fall to the ground. But it was right that lie
should not deal in general terms—it w,:s right that he
should show what he expected. There were then three
distinct tonics—the first, as regarded religion, involving
education, the second regarded political rights, and the
third referred to the relation between landlord and
tenant. On the subject of religion they did not re-
quire any connexion with the state, they did not
want that their clergy should become pensioners of
any government, nor subject to the bribery of the
Castle or the seducery of St. James's. The Catholic
prelates had frequently declared that they never would
accept a Goycrument previeice, the micicilhig clergy had'