The Sun.
London, England, 1845-09-08 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DueLitr, Sm. 6.—Mr. O'Connell has sent a subscription
of twenty guineas towards the relief of the friends and sur-
vivors of the persons who lost their lives in the unhappy con-
flict at Ballinhassig ; and in performing this act of humanity
the Liberator seizc,s the opportunity of writing a long letter to
a n4rnesako, Mr. P. O'Connell, of Cork. It runs as follows :
" Derrynane Abbey, Sept. I.
" My dear enclose you the sum of twenty guineas,
my Mdivi'Aual subscription It, the Ballinhassig Sufferers'
Fund ;' you will be so good as to transmit this money to who-
ever am the management of that fund.
" I have considered with the deepest attention the case of
flee unhappy sufferers in the Ballinhassig affair, and I deeply
«deplore the very preposterous, and I would add, cruel ver-
dict, given by the majority of the jurors at the coroner's in-
quest. How they could have arrived at the conclusion of
Justifiable Homicide' exceeds my powers of belief. It is
;really revolting to think of the flippancy with which they
brought themselves to consider that so much human blood was
innocently shed, and so many human lives innocently sacri-
ficed. If the opinion of the minority of the jury had been
adapted, the only consequence would be, that the matter
would be thus placed in a train for further investigation—and no
man would have been punished (fer what I think were compli-
cated murders) unless found guilty before a judge of the land,
and by an undoubtedly impartial jury. The verdict, as it
stands, potentially prevents any further judicial inquiry.
It is not a positive estoppel, but it practically terminates
any hope of indicting just punishment, or of obtaining any
kind of redress.
" The Government will of course continue to decline
any further examination into the matter—they are not likely
to be discontented with the escape of the instruments of their
power.
t, What is then to he done ? You ask what I advise to be
done. Alas ! after the fullest consideration, I have arrived at
the result that nothing effectual can be suggested. There is
not the least prospect of our procuring a bill of indictment to
'be found for murder, .sr even for manslaughter—not the least ;
and it is difficult to say that any other course could be open,
save that of presenting to the grand jury an indictment. At
present, therefore, I have no advice to give—and I say it with
bitter affliction of heart. I will, however, give you intimation
of the time when I can be in Cork on my way to Dublin-so
that we may arrange a consultation between me and the gentle-
men who so ably conducted the inquiry—in order to see whether
we could strike out any plan to satisfy the demands of justice
and humanity.
" 'Tis really shocking to think that the police should be
employed, with deadly weapons in their hands, to decide
neon the necessity of arresting persons net guilty of felo-
nious or capital offences. It is a bad system that sanctions
the use of murderous weapons upon occasions where,
even if the imputed crime of the slain were really proved,
the utmost punishment could not exceed a small fine or a short
imprisonment. The origin of this Ballinhassig slaughter is to
be traced to so silly and trivial a cause as that of a man beating
his own horse on the head with his own hat.

" And yet, originating in so trifling a cause, the death-
dealing weapons were handled, and the corpses of the husband,
the father, the brother—ay, and of the wifle—strewed
takova i 4/ t
j out tne earth as not covered
it, it remains crying to Heaven for vengeance, and to the all-
mercifel hut all-just Providence we leave the vindication of the
crime committep in the face of Heaven---' Vengeance is mine,
saith the Lord, anti I will repay.'
" This most meancholy slaughter reminds us, alas 1 of many
other scenes of massacre, from Castlepollard to Skibbereen,
all distinctly traceable to the fatal policy of, I will say, un-
necessarily arming the police with murderous weapons.
Whenever it is necessary to use instruments of immediate
death, the military should be called out. The soldiers, under
the command of their officers, always in Ireland act with
humanity to the people. If there had been soldiers at Ballin-
hassig, instead of police, not a single life would have been lost,
and peace would have been perfectly preserved.
" I entertain no present hope (as you perceive) of any re-
aress ; yet we will consider of it more attentively, with this
melancholy pressure on our minds, that the slaughter at Bailin-
hassig is already fading from recollection, although as many
human beings were massacred and as much human bloodshed
as in the recent insurrectionary movement at Leipsic, which
convulses central Europe, and threatens overthrow and extinc-
tion to thrones and principalities.—Believe me to be, my
dear Philip, most faithfully yours,
" DANIEL O'CONNELL.
" Mr. Philip O'Connell, solicitor, 37, South-mall, Cerk."
_ ORANGE DEMONSTRATION IN BELFAST.

BELFA ST,

THURSDAY Nxawr.—A soirée was held this

evening, for the purpose of expressing the public sympathy of
the Protestants of that portion of the north of Ireland in favour
of Mr. Watson, and their indignation at his dismissal from the
office of Deputy-Lieutenant, which he had filled so honourably
for upwards of a quarter of a century. The place selected for
this display of public feeling was the Music Hall, a large and
handsome building, situated in the neighbourhood of Donegal-
square. At the back of the chair was placed a crown, beau-
tifully made and tastefully decorated; and before it a
small tag, on which was engraven, in letters of gold, the
words, ." The Orangemen of Ireland." Other parts of the
ro im were also covered by similar flags with the words—
" The Protestant Operatives," and at the lower end was a
large circular flag, on which were ingeniously worked in
dahlias, " Watson for ever." At the lower end of the room
is a large gallery, which was also crowded by numbers.
The hour determined on for the commencement of the soiree
was half-past seven o'clock ; but long before it the streets in
the neighbourhood of the hall were crowded by thousands of
anxious spectators, while the doors of the building continued
closely blockaded by those who had purchased or obtained
tickets of admission. The price ef each ticket was five shil-
lings, but so great was the anxiety to obtain them, :hat the
number which the building milli contain was sold in a few
hiturs. Shortly before half-pst seven, Jams Rose Cleland,
Esq., entered the hall, and was rereired with the most. rap-
turous 0:ee: ing, and rounds of Kentish fire; but the en-
_

thusiastin reception of the evening was re,ef red for the Earl of
Dorian, Colonel Verner, and 11r. Watson, who-le, entrrnce
trait marked by s, enthusiastic a welcome, as to be absolutely
d...ifening in Ito effect. Peal upon peal followed close on each
Other, until the very building seemed to resound with the
deafening echo, and then followed the Kentish fire, which was
eo.otinueci pith the same enthusia-nn for at least ten minute,.
:The Noble Earl, on taking the chair. was supported on his
by Watson, rx,D.L. and J.P. ; Colonel Verner,
;!. ; and on his left by J. R. Cleland, Esq., &e. &c.
!!.e rtr,ti.J) of J. W. ~,LixtsrFnr., Esq., of Fionrbrogue,
b.senn,l,o. by J. W. SHA NNON. of Belfast, the Bight lion. the
Eid of lio,ten was appointed President, amid the most enthu-
si•tstic acclamation,.

The Nobly CHAIRMAN then observed, that before proceed-
ing with the bu-irrss of the evening, he would call on the Rev.
M'llvraiLe to open that mee.ing, as was their usual cui-
t,rn, with a prayttr to the Giver of all Good.
The Rev. Gentleman having done so,
His LORDSHIP next said, that he was anxious, before he pro-

erected further, to express to the meeting the sincere gratiiica-
t he felt at the opportunity thus afforded him of uniting with
Lis Protestant brethren—the operatives of Belfast—in the great
*and important objects for which th,,y were assembled. He was
also anal. us to express his thanks to the Committee, first,
and to the society at large, fur their kindness in having

„
postponed the meeting from Thursday last to the present day,
to give him an opportunity of having the happiness of presiding.
—( Loud cheep.) A list of sentiments was put into his hand,
which it was his duty and his pleasure to submit for the appro.
lottion of that great assembly—and he, therefore, thought he
best consulted their feelings and interests by deferring any fur-
ther observations until another opportunity offered itself, in
:proposing one of the toasts.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.)
• ” Mr. PHILLIPS, the Secretary, then read letters of apology
:from the Earl of Enniskillen, Colonel Blacker, William Black-
'wood, E-q., Alderman Nelson, Alexander Johnston Mont-
I•g*ltery, E.g., Mr. Rowan, agent to Lord Downshire, and Col.
Breen, Carlow, &c., regretting their inability to attend, but
Is.-artily concurring in the ()Noes of the meeting.
ss' The Noble CHAIIIMAN proposed the " Health of her Ma-
esty the Queen, and prosperity to her."— (Great cheering,
sand the Kentish fire.)
.' The Noble EARL had next to propose to them a toast, which
-he had no doubt they would receive with equal loyalty and en-
fthusiasm—it was that of His Royal Uighness Prince Albert,
sisrd the Royal Offspring of the House of Brunswick. May they
•i be brought up in mindful adherence to those Protestant prin-
-elides which placed their ancestors on the throne of these
brealms, and which alone can maintain our present Sovereign
s• t here. ( Cheers. )
The NOBLE: CHAIRMAN, in proposing the neat sentiment,
rsatd—Ladies and gentlemen, I have already taken the opportu-
.'nity et expressing the sincere pleasure it has given me of meet-
Ling the operatives of Belfast, in rendering an act of justice and
gratitule to your excellent guest; and 1 can again assure you
sohat there are few things that give me greater pleasure than
,the opportunity of uniting with my Protestant fellow-country-
amen on any subject connected with the welfare of our com-
mon country.—(Cheers.) It has been my lot during a long
slifa to have attended many public and important meet-
sings of my Protestant fellow-countrymen ; but I think I
esin undertake to say, that at no time have I felt greater
;pain, although that pain is mixed with considerable satisfaction,
"Sthan on the occasion which brought no together this evening.
Cheers.) Ladies and gentlemen, I have felt pain at seeing
AL Conservative Government, which you, as operatives, in con-
4unctien with the Protestant gentry of this land—both united •
-together, and each acting in his separate sphere—placed in that •
.position which they now hold—( Cheers)-s-I felt, I say, the
greatest pain that that Government should be now induced to
take the part it has latterly taken with respect to the object
* hich brought us together this evening, in a case connected
with our respected friend, Mr. Watson.—( Hear, and cheers.)
. When I bear in mind the course pursued by her Majesty's Go-
. vernment with respeet to our valued friend, I cannot help
. feeling the sincerest sorrow, because I cannot help coming
to the conclusion that in this instance the Protestants of Ire-
, land were affected; for he came forward and stood up for those
• principles which are near and dear to us all.—( Tremendous
cheering.) I trust, therefore, that the sentiment lam
about to take the liberty of proposing on the present occasion
will meet with your hearty approbation, and that we shall let it
be known that we and the Protestants of Ulster sympathise
. most deeply with hint—(Cheers)—in the course the Govern-
ment thought proper to pursue.—( Cheers.) We have been
led to ask what crime he had committed which caused him to be
dismissed from the office of a deputy-lieutenant, and the situa-
tion of a justice of the peace, which he held for so many years,
with honour to himself and usefulness to his country and so-
ciety.—(Cheers.) For my own part, I should have been at a
loss to know the reason of such dismissal, and so also would
have been my respected friend, if it were not for the letter he
_received signed " E. Lucia," and written by direction of his
Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant, wherein it was declared that
the reason of his being removed from the commission was be-
, wane he placed himself in a position wherein he was enabled
to check any violence which might have arisen, and allay
• that irritation in the Protestant mind of Ulster which the
acts of the Government had unfortunately raised up.—(Great
cheering, which lasted several minutes.) Under these circum-
• stances, I will not detain you with any further observations, but
propose to you the toast which I am sure will meet with uni-
versal approbation, and that is " The Independent Gentry of
Ulster, and James Watson, Esq., of Broekhill, their worthy and
. excellent guest."—(Great cheering.)
, [The Banner of Ulster gives the following as the true
vet-
lion of the concluding portion of Lord Roden's speech-
shall proceed to read the sentiment put into my hand—a senti-
ment which, lam sure, you will all receive with
isnadtiesfaentdiort
rs The His Lordship then read the following:_
saristocracy of Ulster, and our high-spirited guest, James Watson,
of Broekhill, Esq., the first victim of the assertion of Protestant
freedom, in these perilous times, at the shrine of expediency,"
As many as agree to that sentiment will signify their assent by
standing up. The company rose simultaneously, amid deafen-
ing and prolonged cheers.
Mr. W.arsos then presented himself, an orange and blue
`kerchief in his breast, and was received with loud cheers and
'peals of the Kentish fire. When silence was restored he said—
• 111 y Lord Roden, brother and sister operatives, you could not
-confer on me a higher honour or greater favour than you have
done this evening, and which I duly appreciate. I am aware
`that I am only a secondary object ; it is the Protestant cause
you have at heart.—(Cheers.) It is toshow Sir Robert Peel
that ho misrepresented the feelings of the Protestants of the
north of Ireland when he asserted they were favourable to the
Maynooth grant. The Protestants are awake and stirring to
uphold their rights and privileg,es--by all lawful means to main-
tain their position, to hand-dews unimpaired and scatheless
those valued benefits derived from their ancestors, purchased
by their blood, cheap at any price.—(Cheers.) Allow, me,
• brother operatives and Protestants here assembled, to
onngratatlate you on having that valuable, that un-
ccmpromising champion of Protestantism and religious
faith presiding over you this evening—that nobleman revered,