Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-10-12

about from fny own hoase
in the south to Carrick Fergus Ia the
North of ireland; from the western
extremity of Wales, 10 Maidstone,
nearly the eastern cx remity of Eng
land from Dublin to fort George in
Scotland; within forty miles of John
O'Grots house, to London. In mail
coaches, hackney cosche $, post Garcia
ges, and carts !: on foot and on horse.
back. And all because (for L know
of no other cAuse) that, ten Years bs-
fore the French revolution, I saw the
absolute necessity Of a reform in the
commons in Ireland, which was ac-
knowledsed afterwards By. The factions
of England and Ireland; and because
1 would not consent to legislative u
MON, which Regarded as equally ru
inous to both parts of the kingdorn--
Onthe whole, then, let the people of
England, now thdtthey are in posses.
sion of their s9ber senses, decide be-
tween my. accusers and me; whether
the laws were infringed by me who
have gone through every ordeal, who
have always courtcd investigation and
enquiry; who for years never ceased
to demand trial; or by Them, who
sought the protcctionro of a bill of Inc
tlennity, passed by an assembly of
which 1iey Themselves made part"
Such, reader, is the political history,
such are the crimes OF Mr.. O'Connor |:
such rs the person, to have had whom
in his house, at the time when the ar
my stormed II, was, if the public had
been still fools enough, TO be set down
to the account of sir Francis, aud as
proof presumptive, at least, that he
had wicked designs against the peace
and safety of the country Reader, if
you be an Englishman, and nave nei-
Their job, nor contract, nor places nor
unmerited pension, nor dedication in
Your accounts with the public in short,
ifycu profit from no species of public
robbery, say. how sueuid you like to be
treated as Mr.. O'ConS.er was : How
should ycu like this sort of treatment?
How should ysulike to have your house,
your gardens, your fields, your planta-
lions laid waste and destroyed, as his
were! How should you like to be hur-
ried from prison 20 prison: to be
thrown into dungeon after dungeon:
and when you demdnedd trial, refused
that Trial! But, surely, Ineed NOT ask
these questions. Well, then, is there
to be no feeling for him because he is
an Irishnsan Are we ready to avow
this to the Irish people? / trust not |;
TRUST that we shall prove to that un-
fortunate people, that we feel for them
as for ourselves; that we are as ready
90 resent their wrongs as we are our
own; that, ia word, we regard them
as our countrymen and that we are
resolved to consider their enemies as
ctr enemies. This is the way to pro-
duce an union with ireland; real u
MON Of the hearts of the people of the
whole kingdom and this sort of union
it is thai the borough mongers and
their hirelings would wish to prevent.
Hitherto, indeed, they have prevented
it. Thsy have never missed an oppor-
tupity ofmisrepresenting the people of
ireland. They have caused the PEG.
pie of England 10 believe, that those of
ireland were bent upon surrender of
their country to France, and that all
their demands relating to political and
civil liberty, were mere bretences.
What evils have not sprung from this
accursed source |! beseech the rea-
der to consider, that il is not In nature,
that the people of Ireland should not
hate us, if we presist in our credence
to these calumnies. lit is, on all hands
agreed, tina, Ireland is our vulnerable
part Does it NOT, then become US to
strengthen that part to use all means
in our power ofregainins the good will
of the Irish people, and to induce them
to make common cause with us against
the commou enemy? And, what can
be more opposite TO thisthan reviving
the memory of those cruel times, to
which Mr.. O's narrative refers; than
tearing the skin from the hardly heal
ed and hardly hidden woundI What
he has said, he has been compelled TO
say. He has been calumnia.ed in the
most foul and infamous manner. To
remain silent might have been coastru-
ed into a consciousness of guifs. Hia