Star.
London, England, 1828-10-17 00:00:00

eornaagen •
Lubeck . .

BRUNSWICK CLUBS.

• MEETING OF THE PROTESTANTS OF THE •
COUNTY OF MONAGHAN.
lABRISKILD nu .:a* MALIN 111011116
Friday the most numerous and highly respectable
meeting ever held in this county took. place in the town
of Monaghan. The object for which the meeting as-
sembled was to establish a Brunswick Constitutional
Club, and those present comprised the wealth, rank,
and intelligence of the County. At an early hour the
toads leading to the town were thronged with Protes-
tants of every decontination and grade in society; from
the highest Peer to the humblest peasant, all , seemed
animated with one desire,--that of shooing by their
presence at the meeting their unalterable attachment to
the Constitution, and their determination to sacrifice
their lives in its defence, if necessary. So early as ten
o'clock the space before the Court-hoose began to be
filled with the well-clothed, respectable Protestant yeo-
manry of the neighbourhood. The crowd became
momentarily more dense, and by twelve o'clock. several
thousand persons had assembled in the Diamond. At
a few minutes before one o'clock, Evelyn John Shirley;
Esti: one of the Members for the County, arrived in a
barouche and four horses. The Hon. Gentleman was
received with the most enthusiastic cheering. Led
idlarey's carriage next drove up, and it is quite impos-'
ethic to describe the enthusiasm with which his Lord-
ship was greeted. Lord .Blaney was accompanied by
Sir Harcourt Lees, who, Of) being recognised by the
people, was received with the warmth which bisexei titan
an the cause of Protestantism so justly entitle him to.
At this period the crowd had increased to such an
exint, that it was found quite impossible to hold the
meeting where it was ori4inally intended—namely, the
Cow t-houi,e ; and at was then resolved, in order to give
all present an opportunity of hearing the sentiments
delivered by the several speakers, that the meeting
should be held an the open air. A chair was accord-
ingly placed on. the balcony of the hotel—and on the
emotion of Meijor Richardson, seconded by. Capt. Ten-
nison, the Right Hon. Lord BLANEY was called to the
Chair.
The moment his Lordship made his appearance on-
the balcony, he was received with the loudest cheers and,
waving of handkerchiefs. Three cheers wei e then gives
fur Pi °test ant Ascesdancy,.and " one cheer muse fit.
" No suroender.'

The CHAlRMAN—Gentlemen, I feel myself hishij

gratified by the honour you have conferred upon me,
in calling me to preside at this most numerous and
highly respectable Meeting of the Protestants of the
county of Monaghan—and I feel particularly gratified
at finding myselt surrounded by the property, the cha-
a acter, and respectability of this great county—(Cheers)
Tiiere is also another matter which increases the grati.
fication I feel, namely, that of beholding so numerous
an assemblage of the Protestant Yeomen of the county
(Loud cheers). This county has to boast of an intelligent
and spirited Protestant Yeomanry, who bid defiance to
the enemies of the Constitution. and who are ready to
repel any attack which its enemies may make upon it—
(Loud cheers). Gentlemen,' must inform the meeting
that I accept the situation to which your kindness' has
called me in some respects with regret. In s .und
mimic principles I will yield to no man--(Cheers)—but
though I have ever maintained those principles, I ab..
stained from publicly coming forward, lest my doing
so might increase that party spirit which I had hoped
would have subsided. It is not party spirit, however,
that assembles us hereto day. No, Gentlemen, we are
called togetner here in our own defence—(Cheers)
Gentlemen, when the Popish Association, whose poser
is represented to be omnipotent, assails our religion, vi.
lilies our need. and tramples upon the laws—when re-
bellion is openly proclaimed, and the Constitution
attacked, it becomes my duty, and the duty of ever y
Gentleman in the country (and I am proud to see so
many of them coming forward), and it is your duty,
Protestant Yeomen also, to stand firm and support the
Constitution—(Cheers, and cries of "No surrender.")
Gentlemen, it may be necessary for me to explain, in
order to prevent misrepresentation, what our objects art
in establishing a Brui.swick Club in this c-unty. A self-
, constituted body, called the Catholic Association, meets
regularly in the metropolis. Their first object is to
petition for a redress of wrongs, and then, nest, to fur.
then what us called Catholic Emancipation. That quer
tion of Emancipation has been d.bated frequently tot
many years back in both Hi.uses rst Parliament, and I
do not believe there ever was exhibited in the debates
upon any other subject such a degree of inconsistency
and duplicity as was shown at both sides of the House
on that question. When, however, the Catitiiiic Asso-
ciation, ant the Catholics in general, were called on for
securities, that is, when they were asked what securities
have you to give us-for the sacrifices that we Protestants
are called on to make?—they replied and 'mid, they had
none whatever to give. They boldly state that they will
give us no securities, and they claim, as their right, un-
limited and universal emancipation. The definition
of the term universal emancipation is, in fact, a sup•
render on our part of the Protestant Constitution, which
was fought for by our ancestors, and settled at the
Revolution of-16138—at which period our liberty, our'
religion, and our properties, Were secured to us (Cheers).
EVILYN JOHN SHIRLEY, Esq. M -P. then rose and
spoke as follows : " My Lord, I feel, most proud in
coming forward to propose, that a Ptotestait Constitu-
tional Club should be formed in this county. I need
not. my Lord, I am sure, remind the Protestants of
Monaghan that Ireland at the picsent juncture expects
every man to do his duty—(Loud cheers). And I know
no way in which Protestants can better evince their de.
sire to do their duty than by enrolling themselves as
members of the Brunswick Constitutional Club—
(Cheers). When I look around me and see the vast con-
course of Protestants by *horn I am surrounded, I own
the prospect that presents itself is of the most cheering
description. It :does one's heart good to see that when
the Constitution is. threatened, a body of Protestants,
such as I have now the honour of addressing, are ready
to start . up in its delence—(Cheer9. I am sure the
Protestants' of this county. require no encouragement
horn me to induce them -to come forward and enrol
their names; but one thing I beg to impress upon them,
that in -order to give the- cause of Protestantism that
' effectual support which it st suds in need of, we must
be temperate, be peaceful, be firm, but, above all, be
united—(Cheer's). •
Colonel Lesetz-1 believe, Gentlemen, it is unneces-
' nary for me to state what my principles are—(Cheers).
You have had twenty-six years experience to prove to
you what these principles are, and I hope that during,
that period I acted as your representative coiformably
to your wishes—(Cheers). Gentlemen, I assure you
that the event which took place at the last election for
this county does not distress me, provided I maintain
your good opinion--(Cheers). It is Protestant support
and the good opinion of Protestints I wish for-1
de-
spise Priesteraft and Popery—(Cheers)--and in con,e-
quence of that being known, and my. not giving way to
the arrogance of the Popish Association, I forfeited,
my seat; but if I retain your good opinion, I am smile
fied—(Cheers). I certainly did not expect to have wit.'
(wised such a mi eting as this. It is quite exhilarating
to see so many Protestant yeomen, and neatly all the
Nobility. And Gentry of the county, assembled, for tie
purpose of defending the Constitution—(Cheers). I
hope and trust every one present will become member,
of the Club which will be established here to-day. Ab-
stain from giving offence, but support the Constitution
as now•established—(Cheers).
ArtiaTtee, Esq.—Gentlemen, it has been at-
tempted to change the fabric of the British Constitu-
tion, and we are met here this day publicly to btAte,All st
that sacred fabric never can be altered while we are
living--(loud cheer4)--that sacred fabric, which was
I cemented by the blood of our ancestors, and handed
down to us by them, must be transmitted to posterity
• unimpaired, though we risk property and life in defend-
ing it—(Cheer). The public voice of the country is
with us. This arena resembles the Campus Martins of
ancient Rome, where the people stood forward ready to
sacrifice their lives, and shed the last drop et their blood
in defence of the interests of the country—(Cheers). The
Protestant Constitution in its purity is to us what the
Palladium was to Troy ; it has invited the rapacity, not
of the open assailant, for he dare not as yet make the
attempt, but of the midnight thief—(Cheers). It is our
duty to protect the Constitution alike from the open
assailant and the disguisedfoe; and no means appear
so likely to effect both, as the establishment of Pro-
' -testant Clubs—(Loud cheers).
The Rev. Dr. Roamer RosINSOU—The state of my
health demands rest; but the sight of such an asseuibly
. takes away all sense of exhaustion; and if any exertion
• f mine can adds single spark to the hright flame of the
patriotic and constitutional feelings • that are burning
itound me, I hold it criminal to be silent—(Cheers).—
. Ut this asseatibly, my Lord, the Protestants of ',eland
•nay well be proud—it comprises so many thOusanda
.if the steady, educated, intelligent, and industrious pro-

manry, who are the best treasure that aoy country can
possess. It contains the great body of landed proprie-
tors, and all the Nobility of the county. My Lord, our
property is threatmied by the Association. If they suc-
ceed in their present views, our lives lire in danger ; tf
they are not checked, our religions Rainey must perish
—and we hold religious liberty to be worth more than
either property or life—(Cheers). Prote-tantism is La
vourable to a nation's political power,. to its internal lot .
provement, and to the preservation of pood order and
tranquillity among it: suhj cts, while Popery tends to
disturb and debilitate All the three. A Pri.testant peuple
have, in the very basis of their religion, a spirit of inde-
pendence and self respect which rouses them to energy
and exertion in every line of life, while the noblest part
of human nature is crushed in the Roman Catholic, by
his forced abasement beneath the degrading tyranny of
priestcraft ; and there can be very little doubt as to
whether the morality of the Bible, or, that of the con
fession box, is most likely to diminish crime and im-
prove morality—(Loud and continued cheering). The
Rev. Gentleman then took a brief and. pertinent vies
of the religious history of Great Britain from tw reign
of John to the Revoluti:4l. and proceeded as.follows:
Since the sear 1688. nn country-on. eaith has pros.
pored. like England. Believing, as we do, in an all-
rulina PRoVIDENCE, we feel assured that we shall
continue to prosper, as I. as we continue to h aid
and cherish our pure a::d uncortulat .d religion. But
the liberals abominat • all reference to history. Let
hem, then, use their eyes and 10. k at ns—(Cheers).—
In clamate, in soil, in situation, Ulster is undoubtedly
the least favoured rrtion of the island; yet compared
with the te.t, it seems to belong to another country—
its inhabitant's are an object of almoo envy to the rest
of Ireland—(Hear). I am often asked the can-e of this
by the strangers who visit us, and my answer is the
only one that can b:: given—Ulster is eminently Protes-
tant—the other provinces are en.inerttly Roman Catho-
lic. Surely even the political eci nom:sts ought, if they
were consistent, to pa r..nise a line of conduct the re-
verse of whit they are pursuing.. Instead of flatteripg
demagogues and psie.ts, they should try tn make the
rest of our countrymen resemble us—(Cheers). My
L the Protestants of Ireland know the blessings of
their religion; but they must now struggle to preserve
them ; they ate in danger—(Cheers, and " are—
they are.") In a subsequent part of the Reverend Gen-
tleman's speech, which we ate reluctantly compelled
.to curtail, upon making allusion to the illustrious indi-
vidual who now presides over his Majesty's Councils—
" the master spirit of the age, the conqueror of con•
querors," there was a genetaf chid ang, and cries of
s. Wellington f rr ever I" Yee. continued the speaker,
let us cheer him, let us rely upon him; he that stands
already on the summit of the temple of fame is not to
be cajoled by association or flattery. We must guard
against insidious craft and political mane:warms ; and
the Clubs, for the formation of one of which we are
this day Ft" will enable us to do it—will enable Wel-
lington to do it without firing a shot or drawing a sword.
We call ourselves the Protestants of Ireland. and well we
may; for Lefore the year ends we shall have almost
every person in Ireland is his is nut a oishonour to that
name. The objects of the Brunswick Societies are, in
my Lord Rossaiore's wends, H fair, open, and natural."
Our aim is merely to oppose by lair and lawful means
those acts of the Association which seem to us unjust and
unlawful; and at the same time to avail ()illative' of our
actual union, for the purpose of bringing fully before
the Legislature the sentiments If the ltish Protestants
respecting what is called Emancipation. By f allowing
this course we shall yet save our country—we shall
preserve to our children's children a treasure for which
they shall bless us to remotest generations—the recol-
lection of our good deeds shall remain buoyant on the
stream of time, and the name of the Brunswick Club be
cherished evermore as only second to the glorious and
immortal memory of the great and good King William.
Colonel CARR—My tt lends, I have to propose a re-
solution which 1 know will be received with tne loudest
acclamation: it is that Lord Blaney be requested to ac.
cept the Presidency of the Club—(Cheers). When you
compare the part taken by Lord Blaney, and that pur-
sued by the other resident Lord, I think nay proposal
will be teceived with double cheers—(Reiterated ap-
plause).. The necessity of establishing Brunswick Clubs
arises from the conduct of the Poplin party, who have
vowed our destruction. They have tried to frighten us,
but the Protestants are not to be intimidated—(Cheers).
Their threats, however, have had the bad effect of inti-
midating sonic members of his Majesty's Government.
It is necessary, therefore, that we would come for ward
and support the Government, and show tiaein that we
are able to. defend ourselves as well as them. No man
will for a moment suppose that the Duke of Welling-
ton can partake of any portion of the panic which has
been unfortunately communicated to others in the Ca
billet ; and Mr.O.00::nell cast himself bear witness that
Mr. Peel was not to be intimidated, even by the great
leader liimsell—(Lotid cheers and laughed).
Captain Maxsx—lf the Duke of Wellington were
but to s7amp his foot, a host of Bute tants would mite
sufficient to bear down any opposition. But if be did
not choose to give"us aid, I would only ask him to
stand by and look upon the contest, and though we be
left single-handed and utia:drd, he need not fear the
result—(Cheers). Gentleman, it Ministers had clipped
in its bud the Catholic Association, the country would
not have been placed in the appaiing.situation in whit'.
it now stands. What their object could have been in
allowing it to arrive at its present state, it is impo sible
to conjecture. Mr. O'Connell is permitted with impu-
nity to hold installations, to appoint chapters, and de-
corate his knights with the emblem of treason. • What
can the end of all these things be, but to raise the
people to rebellion? And if such be the result, as as-
suredly it will, what Can you contemplate, but•to have
to fight. fur your existence ?—(Cheers). It is said, and
indeed the repot t has been most industi ioutly.ciiculated,
that the Government mean to make a provision for the
Roman Catholic Clergy. It is quite monstrous to con-
template such a circumstance. Dr. Doyle, their cham-
pion of literature, published a letter, in which be had
the audacity to state, that there were no essential dif-
ferences between the two religions ; in fact,. that they
were of so trifling a nature, that he.saw no difficulty
in reconciling both, and establishing a common reli-
gion, to which Protestants and Roman Cathcbics might
treely subscribe; yet in three months afterwards, this
same Dr. Doyle published another letter, in which be
compared the worship of the DIVINITY in our Church
with the idolatries of Juggernaut.—(Loud Cheers).—
How can you treat with men of such a character?--

They draw a circle round themselves which they allo*
no person to enter. If once they become the pensioners
of the State, they will create such a feud as no British
Minister can cope with—(Lund cheers). Gentlemen.
M. O'Connell had once the audacity to state, that be
only wanted to I:ave the inhabitants of one southern
county armed with cabbage stumps, and, with himself
at their head, he promised to drive the Protestants of
Ulster into the ocean. Of Mr. 0. C.'s valour it Is not
iiecessaiy for me to speak ; if he were to choose his
weapons, cabbage stomps are what he would prefer to
havenpposed to him—(Cheers). I do not hesitate to
say that, duly authorised, I would- be content to put
myself at the head of the Protestants of Fernianagh and
Mi:naghan ; and I have no doubt whatever, that with
such loyal and brave spirits as I know the Fermaeagb
end Monaghan men to be, I shoold be able in one
.month to beat the whole Papist population of Ireland.
The Rev. GSM PORTEK.-.lt is the.pat amount obli-
gation r f my sacred profession to allay party spirit
.o,d animosities, and to labour to prod.ice that spirit
which heals as much as possible peace day with all
men: and I do nat see teat any thing can more clearly
tend to bring about that object than by sallying round
ode Constitution, and preserving it from its enemies
—(Hear)-.Whatever be t eir relit hull-whatever be
their piitty. Ocher societies may be founded on
obnoxious principles, but I Jo not we. how any good
Can object to the principles of Cie Brunswick
Club. They are to enable us to live round our own
Ere-side in. peace and sccority, and, if at,acked by the
rues of tranquillity, to defend ourselves—(Loud Cheers).
Popery and as bitrary poser are synonymous terms.
Protestantism and civil and teligi ius liberty are ever
identified. The avowed leaders of the Catholic Awe.
ciation, which is suffered to exist, avow that that which
they miscall emancipation will not satisfy them. Par-
liantentary r form, repeal of the Union, and overthrow
of that Church, which is the warning word of )our
berties, mot be speedily effected. The Roman Catho-
lics are not permitted certain legislative and executive
functions, because they disdain, the supremacy of oar
law. The Protestant acknowledges this power; the
Roman Catholic dares it; and without surrendering
the vast power of their Church, they demand that
they, acknowledging the jurisdiction of the Pope,
shall legislate for our Church. Now, if this is con-
ceded, adults est de ercksia —if this is granted, the
principles which guard the succession of the throne to
the House of Brunswick are destroyed—(flear, bear).
I deny that this is bigotry or intolerance. I fling
back the charge with indignation and scorn. The
bigots and intolerants are those who require special pri-
vileges to themselves contrary to the Constitution, and
will concede nothing—(Loud cheers). In old times,
the Roman Catholic religion would have granted this,
but the Popery of the present day will not. The first
article of the g, eat charter of Henry 111. is, Quad et-
cksia onglicana libera sit d habeat mails aria jure et
libertates ilkeza. Their ancestors willingly allowed such
securities, aid why should not the same be now con.
ceded? Because political power and RonsanCatholic as-
cendancy is the object, and not equal privileges. Thgy
possess personal security, personal liberty, and private
property well secured ; and a more miscalled test than
emancip.oion, or a remedy more ruinous than the
phrase is intended to signify, was never proposed. The
pretext of religion in the many is only a cloak for the
ambition of the few, and the rights of the people are
sacrificed to wink at religious usurpations. Fox says, the
Pope's keys cannot work in England before the lock of
good laws be changed, and we ask no blacksmith to
try experiments upon these necessary securities. The
sth Article of Union prescribes that the United Church
of England and Ireland shall be and remain in full
force for ever. It is not to be maintained in mere exis-
tence, but in peace, and honour. and glory; not only
presetveJ from all aggression. but from the dread of
any, and not trusting for its ordinances, or crouching
for security to the tender mercies of its opponents. The
munificent endowment for our Church, its Prelates and
subordinate orders—the tithes which are held by Laity
and Clergy, and those institutions which have connec-
ted themselves with the manners, habits, government,
and division of property, deserve equal protection from
the State--(hear)--tbe alliance must be preserved entire,
and each discharge their reciprocal duties—(Hear). It
s not by the sword or rceptre,but by the pastor al staff and
keys of St. Peter, tat the most haughty domnion that
ever trampled even upon the rights f man, is exercised
by the Priests over the peasai.try ; from this I would
emancipate them, who aie taught that he wl o has not
the Church for his mother, has not GOD fur his father
--(Hear, heal). What man can say that emancipation,
as it is called, will produce any satisfactory result ? I
cannot see that any securities are likely ti be tendered,
which can guard our throne and our altars, equal to
those which the laws of our country now give; and, as
it was not for trivial and unimportant errors, for vain
tears, our ancestors 'ejected a long succession, sad
placed the House of Brunswick, being Protestant. on
the throne: so, if the Reformation was worth establish.
lug, it is worth maintaining. The fashion of the day is
Ito scout at every thing which wears the garb i f an‘
tiquity. The cry of the day is, that old principles may
now be relaxed without danger, and that principles for.
merly considered inviolable rigid sacred are nos esteemed
chimerical and useless. Them is an alarming fluctua-
(ism, a wavering inconsistency in the principle. What
is our remedy for all the oppression and persecutions
which our poor Protestant brethren suffer, who still ad..
here to their native soil, waiting only for means to carry
them to distant shores?—(Loud cheers). We must be
united under one rallying point—the Constitution; we
must become advocates of the oppressed Prostitute,
and promote a real radical emancipation amongst Roo
man Catholics, by encouraging industry and monthly,
subscribing, not to illegal associations, but farming and
useful societies, promoting schools, and giving them the
light of the glorious Gospel of the Son of GOD, to banish'
that monstrous spiritual. tyranny which blights our land.
. Rev. H. Sr. Gnomon-4 consider the subject which
we are this day discussing as one purely religions, and
oile of all others most intimately connected %Mt our
tatted calling. It is true we do not, as the priests, go
to stations and lead mobs there; neither do we use our
influence to force our parishioners to vote as we would
have them, as the Clergy of the Church of Rome did
in this place at the last election. Did one of your Mi-
nisters, my (*lends, attempt to presume ou the wretched
bitterness of a worldly and-selfish mind, for :scuba*
causes,. to drive you. to the busting: to vote as be
pleased, you would drive us from you with merited in-
dignation and with just abhorrence--(Cbeers). As Chris.