The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-12 00:00:00

MEETING IN BELFAST.

DUBLIN, Jr.nez 9.—A very numerous and highly important
meeting of the Reformers of Belfast was held in the Theatre
of that torn, on Friday, " to consider the propriety of adopt-
ing resolutions, and an address to Mr. O'Connell, with ref&
rence to the State trials." James Grimshaw, EN., presided.
JA3ies CAmrBELL, Esq., proposed the first resolution. lie
said--I am no repealer. I did not approve of the monster
meetings, but neither do I approve of the recent measure of
the Government. I think the Government was wrong in the
whole tenor of its proceedings, from first to last. If the
meeting of Clontarf was illegal, so was that of Mullaghmast,
so was every other which preceded it, and yet no steps were
taken to suppress them. With regard to the Government,
they have began with prosecution, but ended with perset;n,
tion.—(Load applause.) That a man should be incarcerated
while Lis guilt is yet undecided, and ere the higher tribunal
Were which such decision is to take place has sit upon the
queition, is, gentlemen, a circumstance which should wake
us alermed for our own liberties.—(Cheers.)
T. T. TENNENT, Esq.. proposed the next resolution. He
said—Gentlemen, I perfectly agree with tho judges in their
definiiioa of conspiracy ; I do not question the ficeliMey
with which they have declared the law; but I have been,
from a very eat ly period of my life, engaged both on record
and Crown cases, as a juror, and I tell you that had I been
one of Mr. O'Conneil's jury I would, assuredly. have de-
clared him innocent of the crime of conspiracy.—( freineadenta
applause.) In my c,onsciince, I do not believe that Mr,
O'Connell, or his associates, ever conspired to do one illegal
act.—(Loud cheers.) The consent of many men to meet and
petition for the repeal of a law which they consjak4 op-
pressive, cannot be construed into conspiracy. There
_1444
be some proof that they laid their heads together to bred(
the law. Gentlemen, the right by whleh we are here assent.
bled to-night, is one which, I trust, we are all resolved
never to surrender' except with our lives.—(Trentendoue
applause.)
- IL J. TENSEST, Esq., D. L., in proposing an address to
Ur. O'Connell,.said—Such an event as has lately happened
calls for the condemnation not only of every friend of civil
and rejigious liberty, but of every man. be he Catholic, Pro,
testant, or Presbyterian—be he Repealer. Reformer, or Con_
servative, who values the constitutional rights 4 ;
pr.v..-
loges of the subject, or the due administration of the 14,,
—(Great cheering.) O'Connell and the rest of the trams
versers have not been convicted of a breach of any of the
written or statute laws of the kingdom—they have not been
found guilty of violating, I say, any of the written statutes;
And we have met to-night to pretest against the danger
which may result from lawyer-made law being turned into
ss Instrument.of oppression or of vindictiveness towards a •
political opponent.—(Cheers.) During the spas of tines my
own memory can run over, I have seen but one short whiie
during which England manifested any desire to deal fairly
with our country, I allude to the term of the Government of
Lord lifuegrave.—(Tretnendous cheers.) During that period,
there were no monster meetingo, no monster trials, n g Mon-
ster agitation, no strengthen:rig of forts, no loop-holing
barracks,' What a contrast to tl.at quiet state does
.ur country now present ; her towns crowded with
soldiers, her harbours literally filled with war•iisamerS,
and her coast surrounded' by men-of-war !—(Hear.)
do not wish to create any distreecien in this meeting,
when I ask confidently, what Irishman, tochiOg at this
Coate of, things and observing the manner in which his
country
kir treated—l ask, what Irishmen can, for lam sure
11-
u annot,wonder
feAl that his counyynan abeedd demand
the
The
iiiagge4xtneitev. i
ntefhreir 'affairs
iliAt addressed the meeting,
otounet up, giving hearty
which broke
,11-Leere. for the Queen and
A meeting of the law clerks was held this day lq
Adslphi Theatre, bk. (no
ulm m tlsp chair, when au whims

to Mr. O'Connell was adopted. Nearly one hundred pounds
repeal rent was subscribed on the spot. Similar meetings
were held this day in Rathmines, Catherine's Parish, and the
Post-office Ward.
MORE TROOPS FOR IRELAND.—The Cork Reporter of yes-
terday says, " Her Majesty's steamer Dee, Commander
Driver, sailed this morning from Cove for Chatham, to em-
bark troops for conveyance to this country."
THE LATE MEETING IN WATERFORD—THE PoLtct.—The
firateybrd Chronicle says :—" We are given to understand
that ;the chief of the police applied to the secretary, T. F.
Meagher, jun., Esq., for a copy of the resolutions which were
passed at the meeting on Wednesday last to sympathise with
Mr. O'Connell. An application was also made for a copy of
the address—that is, before it had legal existence or was pre-
sented to the Liberator—Quern Deus vult,&c."