The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-19 00:00:00

nour--but, oh, English honour will never again betray our land, and became thereby the law of the land. He haul a high
fir the man would deserve to be betrayed who would again con- opinion of the authority due to the is ords of 31r. Saurin; and
fide in England. I would as soon think of confiding inthe cousin- he was sure that Mr. Saurin would be the last person to say
german of a certain personage having two horns and a hoof— that resistance to a measure became a duty when it was once
at that last battle the Irish soldiers, after three days' fighting, made the law of the land. The authority of that man was
being attacked by fresh troops, faltered and gave way, and one now made use of to mislead the people amongst whom
thousand five hundred' of the British army entered the breach, this paper was circulated, while it was knewn that after
The Irish soldiers were fainting and retiring, when the women the Union became law be never uttered a syllable,
of Limerick threw themselves between the contending forces, to show that he never recommended anyviolation
and actually stayed the progress of the advancing enemy." of what had once received the sanction of Parliament.
The traverser (Mr. O'Connell) then rent on to say, 6. See He would now read the article in the Nation newspaper to
low we have accumulated the people of Ireland for this Repeal which he had alluded. It was this :—" THE CRISIS is
When on the 2d, of January I ventured to call it the upon us.—Our union with England was not merely an un-
Repeal year, every person laughed at me. Are they laughing just and iniquitous, but an illegal and invalid act. The
now ? It ie.otli turn to laugh at present. Before twelve natural rights of the people were trampled down, in utter
months more the Parliament will be in College Green. • I disregard of the forms and spirit of the Constitution. The
said fife Union did not take away from the people their legal statesman's wisdom and the lawyer's learning, lent authority
iehts.- I told you that the Union did not deprive the people to the instructive repudiation of the patriot. Setif in, amongst
of that right, or take away the authority to have self-legisla.. others, declared that resistance was a question of time and
udence, and would become a duty whenever strength and
tion. It has not lessened the prerogatives of the Crown, or o"
taken away the rights of the Sovereign, and amongst them is pportunity might concur in justifying the effort for its abro-
gation. A greater than Saurin has at length given forth the
the right to eall her Parliament whenever the people are en-
irrevocableevoice—resistance to the union has become a duty.
titled to have it in Ireland.
.. And the Queen hey only to-morrow to issue her writs and
.This, the forty- third year of the pruvincial degradation, may,
re-
set the chancel*, 16- seal them, and if Sir Edward Sugden if tha people. have worth and energy, become the first of re-
stored independence. The knot, which had baffled every attempt
les not sigiettlem she will soon get an Irishman that will to
to unravel its complications, has been severed with one final
revive the Irish Parliament. The towns which sold their birth-
rights have no right to be reckoned amongst the towns send- decisive blow, struck with the sword of peace consecrated on
ieg Members to Parliament. King James the First in one day the height of Tara. There is a way, if there exists a will,
created forty boroughs in Ireland, and the Queen has the same for the liberation of Ireland—for the re-construction of her
right as her predecessor to do so. We have a list of the towns Legislature. The case between the people and her leader stands
to return Members; the counties, as a matter of course, will thus:—ln a season of apparent apathy to the high and. holy
return them according to their copulation ; and the Queen has impulies of nationality—when cicatrizatien seemed superin-
only to order writs to issue and tohave honest Ministers to advise duced by Whig palliatives, and the wound inflicted on our Irish
her to issue those writs, and the Irish Parliament is revived pride and honour no longer gaped and bled—O'Connell tore i
by its own energy and the force of the Sovereign's prero. asunder the bandages and revealed to Ireland the exact seat and
gative. I will only require the Queen to exercise her prero- trite character of her social and political disease. He cast to the
gative, and the Irish people will obtain their nationality again. winds the soothing system, and aroused his countrymen from
If at the present moment the Irish Parliament was in the delirious repose produced by dependence on the sympathies
existence, even as it was in IBoo—is there a coward amongst of foreign faction. The memories of the past, blending glorious
you—is there a wretch amongst you so despicable, that would traditions of remote days with recollections of modern 'B'2,
not die rather than allow the Union to pass ? Let every man were appealed to, the necessities of the present time were
who, if we had an Irish Parliament, would rather die than allew bared to view in their appalling reality, the hopes of the future
the Union to pass lift up his hands. Yes, the Queen will call were invoked, until by every varied argument addressed to their
that Parliament. You may say, it is the act of her Minis- judgment and their feelings—their own firesides—the tombs of
their fathers—the cradles of their children—he so wroughtupon
try, if you please. To be sure, it would be the act of her
stry, and thepeople of Ireland are entitled to have
the millions that then answered his invitation to come forth
their friends appointed Alini pe pto the Ministry. The Irish Parlia-
from bondage with the unanimity of one man. It seemed as if
talent wil then assemble, and I defy all the generals, old and the time had come to evoke the slumbering might of
young, and all the old women in pantaloons—nay, I defy all
that Irish army which the legend tells us was doomed
the chivalry of the earth to take away that Parliament from
to sleep entranced in panoplied array, until aroused by
sonic potent spell for the expulsion of foreign tyrants. So
US again.." " Give me three millions of Repealers, and I
sudden, so enthusiastic, so resistless was the response of the
will vein have them ; the next step is being taken ; and I an-
Irish mind to the call of the Irish leader! Meeting was held
nounce to you from this spot, that all the magistrates that
have been deprived of the commission of the peace, shall be after meeting, exceeding its predecessor in numbers, and all,
appointed by the Association to settle all the disputes and dif- without exception, challenging respect for the demeanour of the
ferenees in their neighbourhood. Keep out of the Petty masses who attended. Evidence was piled on evidence of a
Sessions Court, and go to them. On Monday next we will national will, combined with a national morality and intelli-
submit a plan to choose persons to be Arbitrators to settle genre,
universal throughout every county in Ireland. The
the differences of the people without expense; and I call upon million shout of Tara completed the proof, and flung back the
every man who wishes to be thought the friend of Ireland to reeponsibility again upon the leaders ! Yes I the people had
have his disputes settled •by the Arbitrators, and not again go sufficiently shown their willingness and worthiness to be led,
to the petty sessions. We shall shortly have,
the Preservative by a thousand proofs of their devotion to the cause and of fidelity
Society. to arrange the means of procuring from her Majesty to their leaders. Whither and when? began to be asked, ere
the exercise of her prerogative ; and I believe lam able to the echoes of Tara had died upon the public ear. The leaders
announce to you that twelve months cannot possibly elapse have answered, and the responsibility is again upon the people.
without having an hurry for our Parliament in College-green. The Rubicon has been crossed by the promulgation of a plan
Remember, I pronounce the Union to be null—to be obeyed for the reconstruction of an Irish legislature. For weal or
as an injtietice must be obeyed, when it is supported by law, for woe—for ages of bondage or centuries of independence—
until we have the Royal authority to set the matter right and we stand committed. Forward and prompt action is sure of
substitute our own Parliament." its reward, in speedy and glorious triumph—the
criminal abandonment •of ',"opportunity is equally certain
Observe the statement of Mr. O'Connell, that the magis-
to be avenged in the perpetuation of misrule. In
testes deprived of their commission by the Crown, in the exer-
the making or marring of our own fortunes, we involve to an
use of its prerogative, should be appointed by the Association
incalculable extent the hopes of the whole human family. We
as Judges of the Arbitration Courts. But he stated with con-
have gloried in the irresistible effieacy of a new element in po-
fidence—and he was confirmed in his opinion by the dictum
laical warfare which we boast to have invented, and by whose
pronounced by the Judge who addressed the grand jury, and
employment we have already won many outposts. W ill the
said, " That, under whatever pretence these Arbitration Courts
principles or the men fail now in this last decisive struggle ?
were appointed, it was an illegal attempt to deprive the Crown
Shall thenndattiontwhohaveaenfours
braggarts?—our
admiration, and sym-
of its power to appoint magistrates for the people"—theseus . children's
courts usurped the privilege of the Crown ; they issued sum- Pchaileifenacursreuou'r mockmemories as they spit on our dishonoured
monses for the parties, and got them to sign a consent to abide clay ? 'the world twits to our country for an example. Ire-
by their award. But that subtle device does not remove the land must oecome a nation now, or continue a province for
illegality,.or prevent their conduct from being plainly stamped
ever. We purposely postpone critical details of the plans sub-
as an usurpation of the Crown's prerogative. The gentlemen,
milted under the sanction of O'Connell's name, and with the
of the jury should remark the time when these arbitrators were
authority of the Association—contenting ourselves to admire—
appointed, and the class of men as magistrates dismissed by the and inviting our countrymen to admire with us—the symmetry
Crown by virtue of its prerogative. At the dinner, at Tara, of
the temple of freedom raised for their reception. The
Dr.. Gray addressed the assembly, and said— portals stand open—the genius of 'B2 has consecrated the
"In one thing only was he compelled to differ from the edifice—there may be a bench removed with advantage, or
observations which bad fallen from their respected chairman. an alteration of internal arrangement with convenience;
In giving the toast he stated that the press was of no politics, but the exigency of the hour is to secure the possesson
and be wished to correct the error by declaring on the be- and appropriatee the structure to the sacred uses of self-legis-
half of the national press of Ireland, that the members of it knob number_ of representatives who will occupy scats
were politicians in the strongest sense of the word. He had in the future Irish House of Commons, happens to comeirie
himself the honour of being among them that evening as S with that determined upon as the most eligible limit for the
guest ; but he felt that wherever he was, be was an Irish- intended Preservative Society. It:is desirable for many reasons
man, and as an Irishman he was ready to strike out boldly for that the distribution of representation should be the same, so
the political liberty of his country. The Repeal press was a that the transition may be easy and natural to the recognised
political press, but its politics were the politics of Ireland ; and and technically legal condition of a Parliament. The chosen
steadily adhering to the coarse it had adopted, it would never trustees of the peoples' money now, will have the first claim
deviate to the right hind or to the left until the people of that upon their votes het eafter. Much inconvenience will be pre-
epanteywer6 relieved from Saxon tyranny and oligarchic domi- vented by limiting the number strictly according to the schedule
nation. He believed he would best evince the high sense he en- submitted to the nation in the plan of the Association. Con-
tertained of the compliment he paid the press gang by being stituencies—as they will be—districts as they are—having
brief, and allowing them to gang home, that they might send greater enthusiasm in the cause, or enabled to contribute more
their broad sheets through the length and breadth of the land, liberally to the qualifying fund than others, can transfer to less
fortunate
amid not of this land only, but to the alien isle hard by that so localities their surplus of ability and pecuniary weight
jealously watched the proceedings of that day. Every eye was with advantage and honour to both parties."
fixed upon- the. Council that day at Tara, and eagerly
On the 4th of September, a meeting took place at the Re-
bolted to its resolves. Was it not a national Council in the
peal Association. at which there were present Mr. O'Connell,
most extended meaning of the phrase ? Had they not at their
Mr. J. O'Connell, Mr. Steele, and Dr. Gray. At that meet-
head the monarch of the Irish heart—had they not at their
ing subscrfromiptions were handed in Isom places
Judge Doran ;
abroad. They
head the spiritual peers of the realm—did not the lay peers aid were,
by their counsel? They had there, too, the clergy of the land,sol.by
581. from Boston ; from the State of Maine, thirty dears ; and
and the constitutional representatives of the people, aye, and
from Albany, New York, twenty-two pounds. 'those were
the people themselves in their multitudinous thousands had
the fore gn subscriptions, .which having been acknowledged,
that day assembled, within the precincts of the ane ent
Mr. O'Connell read a letter from the parties who enclosed
Council-hall of Tara, taken counsel together and issued
them, and then proceeded to address the Association, when,
their proclamation, and that proclamation was no compre- among other matters, he stated that the meeting at (dented
raise. As he that day strayed over the ruins of past glory, he would take place on the Bth of October, and that the chair
chanced to walk over the graves of the patriots of what he would be taken on the mound that covered the bodies of the
might call their own day. He could not find words to give
Danes. Mr. O'Connell then went on to call the attention
expression to the emotions he felt as he contemplated their
of the Association to what he called the prospect of the success
sad late. A mournful chill came upon him, when he looked
of the Repeal question, and on that occasion he said that
upon his resting-place and saw in their end the dark history
the speech from the Throne, instead of throwing a damper
of the past ; but that chill passed away and hope revived, when on the wide ardour of the Irish people, as it was intended to
he saw that upon their graves the stone of destiny stood erect.
do, was well calculated to produce the opposite effect.
For centuries had that mysterious relic lain prostrate as the Before, however, he proceeded to the meeting of the 4th of
land whose destiny its fall symbolised ; but now he saw it erect
again, and on Tara's bill, and over the patriots' grave. He felt beptember, there was a previous meeting, to which he had
that the' blood of the last martyr had been shed, and that Ire , intended to call their attention, but it had escaped his memory,
and he would now, with their permission, refer to it. It was
land herself would soon assume the upright position, and ex-
hibit the dignity of a nation. But he is no statesman who a meeting of the 28th of August. He would also first refer to
the speech from the Throne at the close of the last session of
does not recollect the might that slumbers in a peasants arm,
and when you multiply that might by vulgar arithmetic to the Parliament. Her Majesty in that speech stated, in reference
extent of six or seven hundred thousand, is the man a states- to the repeal agitation, " that she observed with the deepest
man or driveller who expects that might will always slumber concern the attempts that were made to stir up discontent
amidst grievances and continued oppression?" the Right among her subjects in Ireland ; that the Crown had ever been,
Hon. Gentleman then read an extract from a speech of Mr. and was, desirous to administer the government of that coun-
O'Connell, in which the following passage occurs, in reference try with impartiality, and to amend the laws and the social con-
ic, the gentry of Ireland :—" Why, then, do they not join us? dition'of the people, and develope the resources of the country.
Is it not their interest to join us ? What are they afraid of The Royal speech then went on to state the determination of the
It cannot be of the people, for they are under the strictest Bier Crown, supported by both Houses of Parliament, to maintain
cipline. lam even one of them myself, and no general ever the Legislative 'e nion inviolate between the two countries. Her
had an. army more submissive to his command than the people Majesty's speech arrived in Dublin on the 28th of August, on
of lieland'are to the vii. bra of a single individual." He which day there was a meeting of the Repeal Association.
At that meeting there were present, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. John
thought that submission of considerable importance under the O'Connell, Mr. Ray, Mr. Steele, Mr. Barrett, and Doctor
circumstances, because if that submission arose from the in- Gray, and it was then stated that the arbitration forms were
fluence of any individual, if it was in the power of any indivi- being made up. An adjourned meeting took place on the day
Ord to direct these congregated thousands not to violate the following, that was on the 29th of August. The same per
and separate without disturbance, at the will of that
sons as those mentioned as having attended at the preceding
todividuar, he thought it was important, because that
meeting were present, except Mr. Barrett. Upon that 29th
individual had the power of giving different orders, which would
be equally implicitly obeyed. " When I want you I know I of August Mr. O'Connell gave notice of the issuing of what he
can get you.' And the comment' on this is, the sooner the (the -Attorney-General) should call a counter manifesto to
better. However, to keep the peace was the present advice of the Queen's speech. '1 hat was to be an address to the sub-
Mr. O'Connell, andthe meetings terminated peacefully ; but jects of the British Crown in every part of the dominions of
her Majesty. That was within three days of the delivery
it evinced' his power to use large bodies of people at will, and
although no violence took place, this was a power most formid- of her Majesty's speech from the throne. At that meeting
able. lhe
en
the next referred to the meeting at Mr. . O'Connell said, among other matters, that his next
Roscommon, held en the 20th August—that meeting was at- topic related to his plan for the restoration of the Irish Parlia-
ment. The plan he recommended was the preparation of an
tended by 'Messrs. O'Connell, Steele, and Barrett—they went
together to the meeting. , Mr. O'Connell addressed the meet- address, or manifesto, to be submitted to the Committee, and,
ing at Roscommon. He said, amongst other thing., the Irish if approved, issued and addressed to all their fellow-subjects
people are too great to remain slaves any longer; he coin- every part of the universe who were obedient to the Brie
merited on the advance of the Irish in temperance ; that the tish Throne. That address was to state the details of the
Inch would not expend their strength in riot ; that temper- grievances under which the people of Ireland laboured, to
ante was the foundation stone of Ireland's tranquillity. Mr. prove to the world that they were not discontented without
O'Connell called on the people of Ireland to keep their pledge. cause. - In• the same speech he said they were accused of
At the dinner which ensued, Mr. O'Connell said that of all the being disaffected. He denied the charge—" it was as
meetings which had taken place, the meeting of that das was false as hell." He asserted (referring to the speech from
the Throne) that they made a distinction between the
the one most calculated to stimulate the elections, to strike their
Sovereign on the throne and the Minister acting for
enemies with the greatest terror, and give their friends the
greatest confidence. He (Attorney-General) contended these her, and responsible for the advice he gave her. He
should have further occasion to direct their attention to
meetings were in truth deeply calculated to strike) terror into
this document so prepared by Mr. O'Connell, and adopted
the minds of all who in this country were the friends of British con-
nexion. There was a meeting of the Association on the 22d of by the Association. He had now to state to them, and to
August, at which Messrs. O'Connell, John O'Connell, Steele, call their attention to a publication in the Pilot newspaper
of the '2Bth of :August. the progress of the conspiracy had
Dr. Gray, and Mr. Barrett attended. The object of this
been carried on to this extent by every means that suggested
meeting was, that 31r. O'Connell might submit'a plan for the
themselves to the minds of those engaged in it. Ever
restoration of the Irish Parliament. He (Mr. O'Connell) telt
it his duty to protest, in the face of heaven, and the congre- means had been used to excite discontent and dissatisfactiony
in the minds of the p;Opie of this country. They had been
gated multitude, that there was no Union. He read the third roused into feelings of anger
resolution—the people of Ireland do firmly insist neon the re- against those who were called
their " Saxon foes." The people had been taught their own
storation of the Irish House of Commons, consisting of 300
representatives of the Irish people, and claim, in the presence strength—they had been brought together from great distances
of their Creator, the right of the people of Ireland to seek re- in thousands—they had been taught to know the reliance they
storation. Mr. O'Connell submitted the Act of Union was might place in themselves. This conspiracy had been thus
binding as a law, but having been obtained by fraud was not carried on to a certain extent. But still there was a great dif-
oblieatory in-conscience. If it was binding in law, he did not ficulty which stood in the way of the full accomplishment of the
understand how it was not binding in conscience ; but we designs of those who were engaged in it. That difficulty was
are told that resistance to that measure was a duty in the this if the army was to be depended upon, there could be no
abstract, and the exhibition of that resistance was merely a possibility of successfully carrying out these designs. They had
question of time. -Then the plan with regard to the represents- already heard of several speeches in which Mr. O'Connell had
tier' of the counties and towns was detailed, and after providing endeavoured to excite dissatisfaction among the - non-commise
that there should be household suffrage and vote by ballot, it sioned officers of the army, by drawing a parallel between the
was stated that the king or regent de facto in England should course adopted towards them in the English army, and that
be king 6r regent de jure in Ireland. After having provided pursued towards the non-commissioned officers in foreign ser-
that the connexion between Great Britain and Ireland should vices. He had done nothing new in this ; the same attempts
to excite disaffection in the army had been made at former
be perpetuated by:the Crown, it concluded by stating that it
should be carried into effect according to law and recognised periods of their history. In this, as in so many other of
constitutional principle—that was, by the Crown dispensing his proceedings, Mr. O'Connell ad acted on the precedent
the given by the proceedings of the Rebellion of 1798. It was
with the provisions of an Act of Parliament, and directing
art of the system of 1797 ; it wasprecisely the same in its view
issuing of writs for the assembling of an Irish Parliament. But p
it was not by saying' that a thing was to be done according to and objects ; the same attempts were made upon the army of
that day. In the report of the Committee of Secrecy, ap-
law that it was so, and he contended, under the correction of
pointed by the Hoese of Commons, which he had referred to
- the coast; That the Crown did not possess the power of dis-
peesing with an Act of Parliament,- and could net issue writs on a former occasion, it was stated that while these designs
tJ summon an Irish Parliament. On the 23d day. of August a were nurturing in secret, and acquiring strength and consis-
, meeting took place at the Association, at which-Mr. O'Con- tency, no device was omisted by which they might hope to
,nell, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Ray Mr. John O'Connell, Mr. Steele, embarrass the Government ot the country. Early in 1792, the
and Dr. Gray attended. l'he jut'. y would recollect the language seduction of the soldiers was made part of the system Ima-
gining that the season had arrived for the accom lish.ment of
'he read from the Nation of the Pth of August, that Ireland
I their designs, no means were left uhemploved foretxhoiistipnujptohseeir;
was again about to be a nation, that she had obtained all the
inaehinery of public order, taxation, justice, and legislation. printed papers were circulated among them,
This was in reference to the Arbitration Courts ; and he would minds, and holding out offers of preferment to such of them as
now state-en-at Dr. Gray said at that meeting of the 23d of might desert their colours. He must now call their attention
August, in detailing the: plan of the Arbitration Courts which to the publication he had mentioned, the Pilot of the 28th of
• were established, because the Crown exercised its prerogative
in depriving certain magistrates of the commission of the peace August. It was entitled— The Duty of a Soldier." '
who thought fit to attend thowsheicr
illtitidinous meetings. article was long, and he should read a portion, or the whole of
said was made to it, if necessary. The Attorney-General then read from the
After alluding to a reference,
' Lint by Mr. O'Connell, and to the confidence article, it was in the form of a letter, signed Richard
" thtt people on their leaders, he said that dence
bestowed by Power, P.P. :--
ointed "had the sanction of the Ass .those who were ape " There are at this instant more men in Ireland who under-
oeiation "
alluded to the labours of the Committee in drawing.He then stand their just rights, and who are conscious of their power of
, .
' Report, which at this state of the proceedingsheer upld thenot
times asserting
its
ptohpeuml
a, thant
te;ioble them by reading. It will be a part of the evidence in as ever trod the igorna. s 3 . Thereunit
united
daraes
one, three ma i lli on
sufficients of as
numberbrave men
o
• titer ,course of the trial; but it was clear from Dr.
. secretions, that the Association sanctioned the appointjeantehof conquer Europe, ready at a signal, and determined to die, or
tlio6e, arbitrators. He would now call the attention of the havetie full and ample justice; and yet I don't fear to assert it
' jury to a publication in the Nation of the 26th of August, a shilling'sis not one man amongst 'Them who hopes to obtain one
worth of any. man's property, or who intendi to do the
:ortionu of the repeal press, to which he hathmore than once al-slightestperonal injury to any human being, by joining in
1,1.4, and which was widely circulated by the Association. The the great national revolu'ion upon which they are now unal-
artiere he alluded to was called, " The Crisis is upon Us," and terably determined.
ha'lt'inhoins ies,
ethe y
e highestwaabr
odueggbrete oflt
ispoliticaltosociety
whicha
after alluding to a declaration made by Mr. Sanrin, "that trainmin!ff
ever imagined until the great
re iVartee was a question of time and prudence, and diti
~,Li become' a duty whenever strength and opportunity apostle of peaceful agitat°ioonnehas exhibited it to the astonish-
is not depriving the thief of
,:e y concur in justifying the effort for its abrogation," it merit of the world. This, aftergalal
;), overwhelming force which
uhnuttere,recaotninstructed, however, upon. such. a
went on to say, " a greater than Saurin had at length given his physienaeltfoernceee,
forth the irrevocable voice—resistance to the Union has he dare
become a duty." Before reading the entire article he principle that no other thief can use it, its animating prin-
'would remark, that. the observation made by Mr. Saurin was ciple being justice, peace if possible—but, peace or war, justice
eteade before the Union became law, which was a very There is one class of persons whom Mr. O'Connell
has nt);
,ditTerent thing when spoken after it became law. There was taken into hie school in his lectures upon political rights and
eaccparallel whatever between an observation made with a view duties, but who have it seems profited, notwithstanding, to
of opposing a measure before it became law, and an observation some extent by his peaceful doctrines—l mean the military.
-aiwide when that Act became the law of the land. A man was Mr. O'Connell is the best abused man in the world—his mo-
-sestifled in stating the grounds of his objection to a measure times are misconstrued, his objects misrepresented, his cha-
Which be believed would rove injurious to the best interests of ratter maligned, his person insulted, and his religion held up
pia country, in language stronger than would be permitted to scorn—his course must be cautious. If he touched upon
when that measure receaved the sanction of the Legislature, this subject, he would be cried up at once as an open rebel.