Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-12-22
Vo. ~.

cession sprung from motive of rear, and not from
any sense fjustlce.
To give to this clause Of the Act of Union its full
and salutary effect, and thus enable the people to
obtain an equal and fair representation in that bo-
dy whose laws they were required to obey, and with
whose pecuniary exactions they were commanded
to comply, became subject for serious reflection to
every patriotln this absorbing feeling all party dis
tinctions among the good and the intelligent we're
lost Catholic and Protestant Obeyed that imPerious
necessity which prescribed measures Of prompt feiief
to the mlseries OF distracted and oppressed peas
antry-prevented from exercising that elective iran
chse by the harassins measures of their unfeelins
landlords.
The plan which was deemed the most efficient
was to raise by voluntary contribution fund for the
purpose of defrayng the charges attendant upon dis
semlnating the principles of an useful education
among the children of the poor, and to supply such
Deficiencies as might occur In the pecunary affairs
of the ireeh0dcrs-so as to enable them not only TO
pay their rapacious landlords but to appear at tire
polls with the required qualification. !.
The majority Of the people, for whose benefit 1t
was to be raised, being Catholics, the fund was de-
nominated, . the Catholic Rent" The adoption
and successful progress of this plan may be hailed
by every friend to the cause of civil and religious
liberty, as preliminary to the complete elnanclpa-
ton Of meritorious people. Its good effects have
already appeared in the triumphant election to Par
1
forty shilling (reehoIders of the county Of Clare.
This gratifying occurrence is conclusive as to the
result. 1t is Ireland's first step towards freedom.
The second will be the repeal Of all laws creating
civil disabilities on account Of religious belief
When this great object is achieved every motive
for dssention will cease distinctive appellatons 10
politics or religion will be discarded peace and har
! mony will return to a country which has been the
abode of anarchy and internal warfare for nearly se-
ven centuries. When the entire population become
possessed of an equality of rights, and those rights
are guaranteed bya direct epresentation--when ia
lent, although born and nurtured out Of the pale OF
an established Church, shall meet with just reward,
the people will become sensible that virtue, like sum
light is confined to no sect or cline. Those animos-
tiles which have been osered by the insldious poll
cy of mercenary placemen, shall disappear before
that true knowledge Of character which is derived
from close association. The people will become as
hamed OF pre- udlce, and conscious that human be-
nss, speaking the same langu, and breathing the
same air. may combine IN measures Tor the common
good--nay maintain friendly intercourse. and yet
adhere to different creeds. xAl this shall occur,
aud then. Ireland, no lonsGn qssc1iring sympathy
for her understandable suffering aidto edress her
unmerted wrongs, shaiN command by her greatness
and prosperity the admiration and applause of the
world And those wlo shall have contributed their
means or their cxertons TO produce this sautary
suit, may transmit the fame they shall acquire, the
richest OF their IegaCle5 10 pOsterlty.
! Americans! People of the United States! we call
upon you by all those endearing ties which bind man
to his brother by those obligations which are es
teemed the most sacred among the most enlightened
nations; in the name Of that divine charity which d.
reefs the scnsibitcs Of the heart beyond the limits
ofhune: we call upon you in the spirit Of true Chris
tianity which extends its benevoence to all men
by that enlarged sense of gratitude which delights
to acknowledge sacrifices and benefits we cali up
I,nu I'm nyfpud DeC aid IN fhe nf
civil and religious liberty in Ireland. Her People
ask your aid-not as favor, but as right. They
are your brothers, and cannot justly be denied: they
have claims upon your gratitude they are entitled
to your assistance they are oppressed by harsh
and bera laws. & they appeal to you to people
who. by the peculiar felicity of your fortunes, are
constituted the arbters between the 0ppressur and
the oppressed--are placed conspicuous among ma
tons as the preservers and dispensers of free pn.
ciples. Their fathers have fought and b'ed side by
j side with your athers-haye died with them to oh.
d tain for YOU that liberty which you now enjoy. MAY
the debt which you owed to the fathers. be now paid
: to the children!
y The services Of Irishmen have been pre.eminent
, whcresoever the standard of freedom has been uu-
urled to the breeze Alas! their exetions have on.
I y been unsuccessful in emancip ating their own
n land! On the plains of revolutionary France on
the wild pampas of Peru: and on the dark de6es Of
: the snow. clad Andes upon the Island shores Of
classic Greece. they have proved their devotion 10
the rights Of man-hey have seated with their blood
their covenant with freedom. Thus. far from their
own green isle. they have died for strangers, and
their bones now whiten in the sun on fields where
the glory of dying in The cause "funversal emanci-
patton, was their incentive to exertion where the
hope that their sacrifices would be remembered by
the world in favor of their native land when her cali
for assistance should go forth, was at once their
ward and consolation.
nu<o liv hauo vrych Loi in bf Univ
and preserving the liberties of that country whose
cheerful reception and generous protection have al
most repaid them iur the loss of their own In that
memorable revolution which conferred upon these