Star.
London, England, 1831-01-25 00:00:00

IRELA A D.

MR. O'CONNELL'S LETTER TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.
Within that land was many a malcontent,
Who cursed the Tyranny to which he bent
That soil full many a wringing despot saw,
Who work'd his wantonness in Form of law.
Marion-square, 21st Amway, 1831.
MT SIELOTED AND ILICIPTCrID FXITYDII{-1 11111 your servant.
My deity is to do your business, and to obey your canmands. 1 en-
drab dhalaim the tits:trine that a representative of the people can, without
Wig dishonest, disobey his constituents. If be differs conscientiously
from his constituents, these is but one course for him to pursue, and
that is, to tesign. In fact, the contest between a representative and his
constituents is almost always a controvessy between selfish interest and
sacred duty.
When I solicited your votes I pledged myself to constant attend.
twee in the house. I have hitherto kept that pledge unbroken. It
was and is my flied determination to be in London the day the
Parliament meets, unless i am prevented by the paltry prosecution
which has been instituted against me.
I am bound to say that I am perfectly convinced that the prin.
cipal motive of the most active advisers of this miserable prosecia-
lion is to prevent me from attending in my place to describe and
denounce the despotic, arbitrary, and most unnecessary measures that
have been resorted to in Ireland.
It would not be convenient for some arch-jobbers in Ireland,
who contrive to stick their families, like leeches, to suck the heart's
blood of Ireland, to have me expose all the details of that species
of peculation which enriches one family at the expense of an im-
poverished and exhausted country.
But there is one prime grievance, which, above all things, it is
my duty to expose—the vestry cases and the tithe system. In all
my addresses to you before my election, I ventured to prophecy that
the time was fast approaching when the people of England would
join us in a loud and irresistible demand tor the total abolition of the
tithe system.
That .alutary cry has commenced in England. It is beginning to be
re-echoed in a proper and legal manner in Ireland. The accomplish-
ment of my prophecy is fast approaching. If 1 shall be permitted to do
my duty in Parliament this session, I hope that this most important
result will be advanced; but, after all, it is wily to the repeal of the
Union that we can loot with certainty for the total abolition of tithes.
This is one of the great reasons why I insist upon that repeal. In-
deed, the repeal of the Union is the great and really healing measure
which alone is calculated to fonn the basis, and raise the superstructure
of prosperity in Ireland. Without it, distress must accumulate; po.
Teny must ; famine and pewilence, which we yearly taking a
wider range, must become almost universal ; and Ireland must become
a solitude or a slaughter house. I say this advisedly.
But therepud of the Union terrifies the sordid aristocratic absentees,
and especially the bloated pluralists of the established church, who
shudder least we radical reformers and anti-Uniontsta should realise
our plan, of the payment by the state, of all such of the Protest.
ant clergy as really perform spiritual functions, in an ample propor-
tion to their real labours, and not paying at all those who do no work.
It is, however, thought wise and prudent to keep me out of the
House of Commons this session, and, accordingly, this strange prosecu-
tion has been got up against me.
Here I am striving for three things :
First—To abolish Tithes.
Second—To destroy corporate monopolies.
Third—To Repeal the Union.
And endeavouring to do these things by peaceable, legal and consti.
tutional means, and none other, 1 am set toe and assailed as if it were a
crime to love one's country, and to struggle honestly, faithfully, and
disinterestedly to serve her, and to seek peace, comfort, prosperity, and
liberty for her inhabitants.
My constituents—my friends, be not discouraged. Patience—obe-
dience to the law—no oatia--no secret *wieder—Do turbulence
—no violence•—but at the same time peaceable, legal, and constitu-
tional agitation. Let every parish, nay, let every village meet. Let
there be a petition from every village, parish, town, and district. Let
those petitions firmly, boldly, but respectfully demand the total
abolition of tithe and vestry ceases. Let them state that Ireland is an
agricultural country, in a most depressed state, and, therefore, requires
that
rt the agricultural produce should be relieved from all ecclesiastical
buhens.

Let your petitions state those three fat to
Ireland is the most fertile (*entry in the world —the
most productive for bet extent—the best situate for industry and coo.
mores, and yet that she is the country in the world deriving least benefit
from them advantages.
Secondly—That Ireland produces more of all the prime necessaries of
life than any other country under the sun ; and that there is no ether
country in which the people receive so little of the necessaries of life for
their use as In Ireland.
Thirdly—That Ireland has, at one and the mime time, the richest
estiblidted church in the world, and the potent population, with the
smallest number of votaries of the religion of the state.
Do not ask why all this is so. We do not gotten onmelves. We
are maned and managed by others. We are a province, when we
ought to be a tattoo.
Do not, therefore, ask why there is so muds okay and woe in
Ireland, but seek for an amelbeadon through the only channel by
which it can be obtained, that of the law and cesetitutien ; and if I
have any influence with you, now at my instance. and for toy sake, re.
doable your e=choes—mul;iply your petitiona—aind domains never to
(slat until Ireland regains her legislative independence.
I am, my hounds,
Your devoted and most faithful servant,
DANIEL O'CONN EL L