The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-07 00:00:00

IRELAND.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION.

DUBLTN, MAY s.—The weekly meeting of the Association was
held this day in the Conciliation Hall. M. J. Barry, Esq., bar-
rister, in the chair.

Mr. O'CONNELL said he wished to settle a little account with Sir
J. Graham.—(Laughter.) He (Sir J. Graham) condescended on
one occasion to call him a " convicted conspirator," but he had
freely forgiven him, and lie should never retract that forgiveness,
or hear one word of reproach on the subject, but he wanted to set
him right on a matter of law and fact. The newspapers repre-
sented him as having said that the conviction of the conspirators
was quashed merely on technical points. Now there never was a
greater mistake or misrepresentation made by human being. He
dared say his legal advisers might have told him so. Although it
was a dry question of law, he (Mr. O'Connell) had no doubt but he
would be able to prove that the judgment was set aside on the
merits. After some further remarks on the subject he handed in
571. 16s. from Dundalk, and a sum of money from Wexford.
Mr. SMITH O'BRIEN said the task:devolved upon him of reading
to the meeting the resignation of Mr. Grey Porter. He regretted
to be obliged to say that he considered that that gentleman used too
much precipitation in joining the Association, and also that he was
too precipitate in withdrawing from it.—(Hear, hear.) He (Mr.
O'Brien) felt confident that notwithstanding the secession of Mr.
Porter, that gentleman would at all times be found working in
the cause of his country. The Hon. Gentleman then read the
fallowing letter :

" Shelbourne Hotel, May 3, 1845.
" Sir,—Yesterday evening I read the speeches at the Dundalk
dinner, and as it seems to me that the Association is now
thoroughly pledged by its leaders to the establishment of a Par.
liament in Dublin (no matter how well and how justly our inter-
national and our internal grievances arc redressed by the Imperial
Parliament), and as I feel that I have no right any further to
put forward my awn views, I beg leave to retire from the Asso.
elation.

" If the repeal Members would make a trial in Parliament to get
a fair union (and thousands and thousands of Irishmen, now
hostile or neutral, would assist them in the trial, and it could
be done within a month), and should fail in the attempt, I
would be as warm an advocate of a Parliament in Dublin as
yourse:f, and you would then carry with you the public opinion of
the country. But without the previous failure of such an attempt,
c., without some •isible proof of the necessity of an Irish
Parliament, I am quite sure that you cannot even try to esta-
blish a Parliament in Dublin without a violent civil war and so-
cial revolution.

" I especially regret that the Association will not at this most
favourable time use its great influence to get a better Act of Union,
as 1 think that in that case her Majesty might visit Ireland this
summer, and that those questions which have so long disturbed the
country might be brought to a fair and honourable settlement, and
a great career of prosperity open to Ireland.
" I also quite deny that under an Irish Parliament, and with
separate independence (and the terms are, in fact, one and the
same), the people of Ireland arc likely to be better off, or to enjoy
more liberty or more happiness of any kind, than under a good
union with Great Britain, and under one supreme legislative Parlia-
ment in London, over this immense empire.
" I shall be much obliged to you if you will next Monday thank
the members of the Association for the kindness with which which
they listened to me. I did my best to put my views forward, and
I firmly believe that after a time they will be found to be quite
right.
" With sincere hopes that you will have no reason to regret
your present policy, I am, dear Sir, with great respect, yours truly,
" W. S. O'Brien, Esq." " J. G. V. PORTER.
Mr. O'CONNELL moved that the letter of Mr. Grey Porter be in-
serted
on the minutes, and that the thanks of the Association be
tendered to him for the spirit and manliness of his conduct.—(Hear,
hear.) He (Mr. Porter) differed with them, as he had a perfect
right to do. He had made an experiment, and although attached
to his own opinions, he nevertheless respected theirs.—(Hear,
hear). Surely Mr. Porter must have forgotten that he had
established a precursor society; and if they had succeeded in
obtaining the object which they aimed at, namely, perfect equality
with England, they would never have sought for a repeal of the
union. On the part of the Catholics, he denied that they ever
contemplated an ascendancy—they despised ascendancy—and, for
his own part, he would declare that there was not a man in the
north of Ireland who had a greater antipathy to a Catholic as.
cendancy than he had.—(Cheers). In conclusion Mr. O'Connell
declared that he was a repealer, that he would live a repealer, and
if he did not see the Parliament in College-green he would die a
repealer. —(Cheers.)
Mr. J. 11P/sTevisr (barrister), rejoiced at the secession of Mr.
Grey Porter, as it proved incontestibly the sincerity of the repealers.
Mr. O'CoNsrect. again rose, and congratulated the Association
on the late demonstration in the north in favour of legislative in-
dependence. He never, in the course of his experience, beheld a
more numerous, orderly, or peaceable assemblage. When entering
the town of Dundalk they met Lord Cardigan, the colonel of a
regiment of Dragoons, driving out in his carriage, which clearly
showed him that he did not consider there would be any
occasion for his troops. He was perfectly right.—(Hear.)
It was too late in the present session to bring the question of repeal
before the Legislature. They would wait till they were able to
concentrate such a manifestation of popular opinion as would
give greater weight to their arguments. Lord Althorp had de-
clared that the moment the entire people of Ireland demanded a
repeal of the Act of Union they were entitled to it. That was a
sound and constitutional declaratioN, and stood in bold relief to the
vapourings of the Member for Edinburgh.—(Hear.) The Hon.
Gentleman then entered into a long argument in favour of repeal,
referring again to the condition of the people, and concluded by
asserting they would therefore continue the agitation in the same
legal and constitutional manner which had at all times charac-
terised their exertions. During the present month they would
have a demonstration in Cork, and another in Meath, besides the
celebration of the 30th of May, in Dublin.—(Cheers.) Against
the commencement of the next session of Parliament they would
have petitions from every county, every town, every village, and
every family in Ireland, in favour of domestic legislation. He was
determined that the British Minister should have ocular demon.
stration of the feelings and wishes of the Irish people.—(Hear, and
cheers.) Sir R. Peel seemed disposed to win the people of Ireland
from him. He would freely give them to him, but he knew the
terms.—(Laughter.) The Minister deserved their gratitude for
abolishing the duty on glass, and the monopoly of the Bank of
Ireland, and also for his excellent Maynooth Bill.— (Hear, hear.)
He was grateful for their measures, and he understood they were
to be succeeded by others of an equally liberal character. He
trusted he was not misinformed, but he could net be grateful by
anticipation ; he would thank him for them when he saw them. Let
Ireland be conciliated, and England might defy the conjugated
powers of the world.—(Cheers )
Some routine business having been disposed of, Mr. O'CoNNeLL
announced the rent for the week to be 41.161. 3s.
The meeting then adjourned.