The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-30 00:00:00

APRIL 30, 1846.

PRICE SD.

THE IRISH COERCION BILL.

A meeting of the friends of Ireland was held at the Crown
and Anchor Tavern last evening, for the purpose of express-
ing their hostility to the Irish Coercion Act, and was very
numerously attended.—Dr. Rogers presided.

The SECRET& RY ( Mr. Daily) read letters from the .O'Co-
nor Don, Mr. Grattan, and Mr. Smith O'Brien, stating their
inability to attend—the last-named gentleman stating that
his absence was occasioned by the recent proceedings in Par-
liament in reference to him—all, however, concurring to the
full in the object of the meeting.
On the platform were Mr. Dillon Browne, M.P. ' • Francis
'
De Monte, Esq., from Madras • the Rev. Mr. Moore, the
Rev. Dr. M'Gbee, and several other Irish Members and
gentlemen.

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son had not been selected for the presidency on the present
cwohuonster3, sufferingspresented,
occasion. He himself was more fitted by professional duties
for other spheres of action, but as an Irishman he could not
AN said he regretted that a more eligible per-
e
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their
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country. They would hear from the speakers who would'
f
could testify, having travelled in countries where despotism
wit-
nessing the distressing scenes which his own unfortunate
meet-
ing the necessity of union, the want of which had given
their enemies the power of oppressing them, and had led to
all the evils by which they were at present afflicted.
Mr. DILLON BROWNE said he appeared there that evening
for the purpose of recording his detestation of that Bill,
which sought to trample on the last remnant of Irish liberty.
—(hear, hear.) He did conceive that this meeting would
have been an assemblage not only of Irishmen, but of
Englishmen, and all the elements of democratic power, to
preserve inviolate those liberties which were handed down to
them in the reign of Charles the First. He regretted, there-
fore, that there were no representatives of the people of
England present there that evening.—(Hear.) It had been
objectedsympathy of the people of England for Ireland.—(Hear,
hear.)- Now he denied that, for there were none more
anxious to give cheap food to the English mechanic
with
br reference
to
retnhee em
to ,thtabtebyctehrn e coßuirse,
Bill,
otfbpeoy licwyerthee
than-the Irish people, 'and the Irish Members. had, on
more than one occasion, endangered their popularity by their
YlesseningdP u 1 i
teht
adherence to the principles of those who were opposed to the
corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.) But were the Irish Members to
stand still and allow the Ministry to chain them while the
League tied their hands ?—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) He
did not see that they were called upon to act in any other
fi n
way than they had done.—(Hear, hear.) Did they d any
opposition to the, various oonoxious measures which had
been introduced from time to time against Ireland exhi-
bited by Englishmen,—(Hear.) Were there any demon-
strations on the part of England against the Arms Bill?
Where were the advocates of English liberties and rights
on the present occasion ? Where were Mr. Cobden,
Mr. Bright, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Wakley, Mr. Dun-
combe, and that little contemptible wasp, Roe-
buck.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Irishmen, as well as
Englishmen, were convoked by the advertisement to attend
there that evening, and resist this aggression on the liberties
of the subject, and yet they had not responded to the call.
It, therefore, devolved upon Irishmen to depend upon them-
selves, and by persevering in their present course they
would obtain their liberties.—(Mr. O'Connell here entered,
and was received with the most deafening and protracted
applause.) He would conclude-by proposing the first reso-
lution, and by assuring the English Members that there was
a recuperative power in Irishmen to obtain for their country
its legislative independence, and restore its nationality.
The CHAIRMAN then read the following resolution :
"That the government of Ireland has been one of unmitigated
cruelty and unrelenting injustice. That this course of legis-
lative criminality has led to incalculable woes to Ireland.
That therefore, considering the sanguinary character of the
as much indignation as is consistent with faithful loyalty, the
dmurnyg p
ther evis po
rs Coercion i
toflrishuActs,stic all
al l
and
df
liberty,wh ich have failed
we in subrepudiate-
pending effort of the Ministry to inflict upon Ireland another
characteristic Coercion Bill, a Bill which in its malignity, its
unconstitutional character, its brutal perversion of domestic
protection, and its sacrifice of public.liperty, is only a proper
sequel to b
to the long
the victim."longsadcalogue of nu ustices,
.of which Ire-
land

Dr. DRURY briefly seconded the resolution which was carried
with acclamation.

The Rev. Dr. M'GHEE proposed and Mr. Richard TAYLOR
seconded the following resolution: "That the calm,
eloquent, and determined conduct of the Liberator in re-
sisting the first reading of the atrocious Coercion Bill is de-
serving of our warm and heartfelt gratitude."
Mr. O'CONNELL (who was received with the greatest
enthusiasm) said, that until the present moment he
was not aware of the strength of his party in England.
He was desirous of proving himself deserving of that
support, by showing himself the uncompromising advocate
of civil and religious •liberty all over the world.—(Cheers.)
In every portion of the globe—in every country—in every
clime, freedom had in him an unflinching advocate.—(Loud
cheers.) And every enslaver had in him an enemy.—
(Cheers.) That had been the great object of his political
life. He had struggled for it for his own native land—he
commenced his struggle for freedom when Catholic was
an unmitigated slave.—(Hear, hear.) The circumstances
under which he was then labouring, the disqualifications
which were imposed upon him, were almost in-
credible. The Honourable and Learned Gentleman then
referred to the different provisons of the penal code. But
these were no longer to be recollected, they were so dis-
tant.—( Cheers.) He mentioned these circumstances to re-
mind all those who might hear him of the justice of their
claims to national and legislative independence.—( Hear.)
He had spent thirty years of his life loooking for freedom,
and was then struggling in Parliament to keep what they had
got of that liberty.—( Hear.) Ile did so because he was not of
opinion that slavery was a cure for any malady. With
respect to what had been said about the corn-laws, he had
to say a word. He considered the corn-laws an English
question, and he came to England expressly for the purpose
of supporting that measure. He certainly did not deny that
he had acted vexatiously with reference to the subject, and
he would take advantage of all the forms of the House in
persisting in that line of conduct.—(Loud cheers.) The
Hon. and Learned Gentleman having deprecated the com-
mission of crime in Ireland, which he traced to the conduct
of the landlords, concluded by saying thvt if he were spared
to see England restore to Ireland her nationality, he would
on College Green hurl the cry of triumph, and wish pros-
perity, and strength, and success to England; but if it were
otherwise, he would say, a Woe to England."—(Lond
cheers, in the midst of which the Hon. Gentleman ,resumed
his seat.)
Resolutions of approval of the conduct of Smith O'Brien
and other Irish Members were agreed to, as well as in favour
of repeal; after which the meeting separated.