The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-11-16


During tie year 1898, year offoreign invasion
and domestic rebellion, the expenditure of Ire
land under an Irish Parliament was but four
millions .
During the year 1909, year in which the ar
my were so employed rs TO leave Ireland under
an apprehension of either invasion or rebellion,
her expenditure by an Imperial Parlxmest was
ten millions five hundred thousand pounds
The debt ut ireland, in 1873, was to the debt
OF Great Britain as one 10 one hundred, and IS
now as one to seven, and since the Union, has in
creased in proportion to the debt Of Great Rri-
tain as one to two; whereas had the relative re.
sources of the two countries been justly estims-
ted at the enactment ofthat measure, the propor-
ton should have been AS two seven.
And your petitioners cannot but conceive this
statement the more irresistibiy conclusive in IA
vor OF q repeal OF the union, inasmuch as the
warmest advocates of that measure even main.
tanned the xvowed and notorious corruption ofthe
Irish Parliament as the strongest argument a.
gainst its enactment. Your petitioners therefore
submit to the good sense of this ionorabi house.
whether a still more economical management of
Irish resources, and still more enlarged under
standing OF Irish interests are not 60 be expected
from q reformed Legislature, suci as must exist
III ireland on repeal of the union, all the Irish
objectionable boroushs being now extinct by pur.
chase.
Because the Imperial Parliament is confused
OF members, iive-sixihs of whom have never vi
OF the genius and character of it's inhabitan,sI
Other wants & grievances, because one sixth or
even the Irish Representatives are neither na,iyes
OF that country, nor have ever set foot on Irish
ground and because, by consequence, the affairs
OF ireland are neglected aud mismansged, or her
interests disregarded.
Because the promises officially announced TO
this country by the British minister, as the
grounds upon which he ventured to propose the
Union, and which, though not inserted among i,s
articles, were considered by the Irish people as
equally binding, were forgotten by hirn, disowned
oy ms successors, and disregarded by the Impe.
rial Parliament.
Because the dangers and distresses of Ireland
have ever taken their chief rise from the follow
ing among other evils .from the iuattention of its
landlords to the welfare and comforts of their te
nsntry from the foreign expenditure of the
country caused by Its sbsentees, and its foreign
national debt; from its consequent want of can,
tai, OF trade and quility-because all these
sources OF poverty and discomfort have been
ana ever must be increased and multiplied
by legislative Union, between the two conn.
tres----and because upon removal or an al
ieVsuon OF those evils, and upon fulfilment of
the promises made to the nation depend the safe
ty OF lreiand-Its future attachment to the crown
OF Great Britain, and tbs ultimate security of the
empire. ~
Thatyour petitioners, in conclusion, beg leave IN
State to this honorable house, that having from,
i1Sx To lSou, experienced the beneficial effects
resulting from resident and independent, Parl;a
ment, and having now for ten wears felt the one
rauve influence of British legislation, are impel
lea, hom the recollection of the past and sad ex
perience OF the present, to express their copvic
t,ohto TINS honorable house, that the very serious
us'resses OF the irish people, and the dangers
to which the country is consequently exposed are
Principally to be attributed TO the want of res;
Gent legislature, as your petitioners in expressing
tnis CONVICTION, are confident, that if admitted to
the bar OF the House of Commons, thew shall he
aoie to prove, to its full satisfaction that such is
the reai source OF the national distress, and that
to the repeal of the Legislative Union can the
people OF this country look as the only eeHc;ep,
means OF obtaining it present relief of procuring
IL future prosperity, and securing its permanent
connection with G
Mr. OConneH seconded the motion What. he
asked. had been the consequence of the Union !.
Since that act passed, which carried from irish
men their liberty, we have had two special com
missions and one rebellion. That is one part of
the history OF that measure, which was to have
produced all possible blessings. The consenuen
Ces vi the Union had been foreseen thev had
been stated. He would take it from the state
ment OF John Foster himself, who had forotold
those consequences, who had lived to see those
consequences realized, and who had him.
sell been instrumental in the realization of them.
What right had the Parliament of Ireland. Mr.
Sheriff, to transmit us to foreign legislature for.
ever lAey were only our delegated represent
tatIyes-delegated for the preservation of the Ii.
berry OF Ireland. 1t was their duty TO do our blu.
sihess-they had no power earth to vote us a.
way they were to look to the interest of the
country, they had no authority, they had no right
TO vote us and our children to perpetual seryi.
tude (APblduse Do not rely on what saw
90 not wish you TO take the description of the
effects OF The union from me. / have a higher
authority for you Iappeal to what his maiesty's
present attorney general. Mr.. Saurin, said on the
SUBJECT, and what ne felt, when, in that very
House OF Commons, that made donation of us
ana our liberty to another country, he hesitated
whether the measure should not be resisted by
force. applause will appeal to the LAM
guaBe OF the late Lord Chancellor Ponsonbv--
10 the present solicitor general, Mr. Bushe, and
70 that excellent patriot, Mr.. Plunkett Where
Is the man that the sacred name of Ireland does
not strike 10 the heart Shew the man TO whom
the name of Ireland is not dear To YOU. sir 7
Rlddsil, need not apply. You have exhibited
10 your fellow citizens what an IIishnan can feel
{ LOUD GfpIduSes.J How was the Union obtained
How was the Parliament stolen from us 1t was
mol IN any" disastrous battle that her liberty was
cloven down. 1t was not crushed by the force of
inc rebellIon,that was fomented, av6wedly fomen.
ted, for the purpose of carrying the Union the
feomen & the Militia put down that rebellion
they eyinced their loyalty & their attachment TO
their king. The despoiler came like the thief in
the night,& stole the precious gem. 1t was by so W.
ing dssentions between the Irishmen, by diyi-
ding lrishmen from each other il was b. sepa.
rating the Protestant from the Roman Catholic
Ii was by setting the Presbyterian against his fel.