Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-02-28

berty in the city Of Baltimore, held according
to public invitation, at Barnum's- Hall, on Wed
nesday, 22d February 1926
LUKE TIERNAN, Esq. was called to the CHAR
and SAMUEL MOORE appointed Secretary to the
meeting.
Mr.. CRUISE, from the committee selected TO
draft suitable address to the people OF Ireland,
rose, and after some very appropriate Prefato'
~ remarks, read the following, which was una
nimously adopted
TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND.
The friends ofIreland, residing III Baltimore,
IN the United States Of America, protesting va
rious religious creeds, but entertaining in COM
mon, either as natives Of the Irish soil, as de-
scendants of Irishmen, or as friends OF religious
freedom, the deepest sympathy IN her concerns,
are DESTROYS TO express TO the good people OF
your island, their hopes and wishes IN their be-
half 1t has pleased heaven to cast US into the
bosom of a free and happy nation, under the
government of equal and salutary laws, and in
the endowment of unrestricted religious opinion;
and our sense of the kindly result ofsuch be-
nign condition Of things in our own land, begets
in US the more earnest desire to behold 1t dit
fusing like happiness in yours. 1t is true, that
our good wishes are all that we, on this remote
shore, and in your present circumstances, have
in our mower 10 bestow-unless II be to animate
YOUR ardor for civil freedom by thus express
ing our practical conviction Of its beneficial re-
suits TO social order, and to exhort you to per-
severe in that magnanimous zeal which already
inspires the best spirits of Ireland for her civil
and religious emancipation. We would urge
these topics. however, with that decorum which
is owed by the citizens of one country 10 the
government of another, whatever be their CPL
MON of the prudence or Justice Of its policy
Both as to the friends OF rational freedom, and
as the citizens Of country whose government
is in amity with yours, we regard your efforts
and your struggles, with so much the more APP
probation, as they consist with established law,
and are regulated by temperate zeal; the more
especially as we are persuaded that the BRUSH
constitution, if It's spirit be consulted, It's be-
ne6ts he but impartially extended to all VINO
live under it, contains every necessary prlucl-
pie for securing yourhapoiness and civil rights.
In the like temper, We forbear to dwell on
the peculiar incidents in your history and Con-
dition, which give you reason OF complaint, or
to point out the remedies which may be found
for them These lie within your own know
ledge, and will be applied according TO your
best discretion. But profoundly impressed with
the value of social order, sensible that all great
reforms are best, nay solely efectuated by APP
peal to the understandings, rather than to the
passions Of men, and are the work, not oil DAY,
but of slow time, and Of effort cautiously re-
newed; bearing yet in our recollechons the nor
rors of civil anarchy and bloodshed, and seeing
that the generous but hasty struggles OF the
wronged, have in so many cases only rivetted
faster their bonds-permit us to repeat that' III
proportion to our sympathy in their fate, we
earnestly hope from the good people OF Ireland
our kinsmen, our countrymen, < our friends
vindcation Of their claims before the constr
tuted legislative tribunal of their country, as
temperate as it is firm, as peaceable as 1t is un-
wearieG, and as prudent as 1t is righttui.
On the great point, however, Of your religious
emancipation, as it finds advocates among the
best and wisest Of Britain, we may be permit
ted to declare our honest sentiments, and to for
,ify these by the results Of our own experience
That experience has now been acquiring
tbority during half century, and has implant-
ed in eyery citizen of this coniederacy the con-
soIa,orv conviction of the subservience OF libe.
raj principles of every form and mode, to The
Quiet and the happiness OF political commune
ties
Universal civil freedom exists without an
arcby. and universal tolerance without irIeil-
pion or superstition. The temples OF the Most
High neither moulder in neglect, nor are pro-
famed bythe rites of mistaken fanatlclsm,
because we are left to worship Him in the mode
which is chosen for conscience sake. linus
unfettered by civil disabilities, the various sects
of the christian world dwell in peace and CHAR
ity together, and concur in promoting the har-
monious movement of that political system
which bestows its benefits and its honors on
all alike. We are indebted for these civil and
social facilities to no peculiar happiness OF ge-
MUS or temperament. 1t is our institutions
which have made US what we are; and it is on
that account that we invoke for the people Of
Ireland-a people Of native spirit, genius and
generosity unsurpassed-the reforms which
will give TO these their natural scope, and ex-
alt them from wretchedness, and civil and mo-
raj degradation; arising TO so large portion Of
them, from the unhapp, conjunetars Of their
circumstances.
Happily, for the cause of humanity, the pc
Rod is indeed past when religious persecution
was resorted to as the means OF conSlcuon'-
BUT the friends of freedom, in spite oil many
disappointments, do not despair OF the coming