Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-05

| Don Pedro's troops at Coimbra, and prevent his
passing the river. Also, great fears were enter.
tanned that an insurrection would take place IN
the q ptry. Important events from that quar-
ter IN be daily expected.
IRELAND.
National Political Uiaion-Poor La'os-Sin,ui-
famous Meetings..
DUBLIN. July 2o.-This Union met yesterday
at the Corn Exchange. Mr.. Thomas Reynolds in
the chair. The following letter was read from
Mr.. O'Connel:
LONDON. July l6.
! "My dear Friend-It will not be possible for
me to remove INV family or to leave this town IN
all this week. But trust that the Kilkenny as.
sizes will be postponed have reason to enter
| tain this hope, as have pressed the point in
quarter likely to be successful. At events, it
is utterly out of my power to leave town this
week. / cannot do it without subjecting myself
to the reproach of deserving interests here which
am pledged to support, although have as deep
an interest in the Kilkenny trials any man
can have. II | were there | would remain to
do that duty; but being here, must remain to
do the duty have undertaken here. Besides, the
uncertainty as to the trials going on.
s. am sorry TO perceive 50 much talk about
poor laws, for Ireland. 1t would be imposs-
bic to briog them into Parliament, if we were all
agreed upon item, before next session. 1t is
therefore, only foolish to be merely talking Of
them at the present moment-I say merely talk
| ing, because it never could be an lmproper time
to suggest plan of poor laws. That is what |
want-a plan. The principle is captivating
that is-to make the rich support the pror.-
Christianity holds ont its richest rewards to the
rich who are bountiful TO the poor. Ifyou could
by law enforce the obligation, there would be an
end, to be sure to the merit of voluntary duna-
ton, but there would be in the first instance di-
rect good done. But the question, remains be-
hind, whether the good thus done be not fraucht
with still greater evils than those that arise from
the present state of things. In other words, can
you make by law provision for the poor with
out iniuring, all classes OF society, and in part-
cuIar the poor themselves?
"You will recOllect do not speak of the sick,
manned, hurt, wounded or INSANE poor speak
of the laboring poor, including all ages.
Nov, my firm opinion is. that the ntroduc.
tim of poor laws would increase and not dimi-
nlsh the miseries of the poor. That the poor are
miserable under the poor laws in England. is
admitted even 10y Goblet, who often and justly
complains of their being harnessed, like beasts
! of burden, to orayel-cars and other loaded wdg-
IONS. Indeed, every body admits that the Eng
lish system is not to be introduced into Ireland.
WHY thea, do not Mr.. Carew O'Dwyer. and
other intelligent gentlemen, who advocate poor
Laws draw her pIar? Every thing turns up
on the pa mot the English plan--that is IN
defensible-6ut the improved plan.
IL intend 10 devote some of my Darrynane
! Abbey leisure to this important subject, unless
it should interfere with the still important one Of
{. the repeal After all. the repeal Of the union
is certainly the best. and should be the first poor
law for ireland. But subject 10 my devotion to
the extinction Of tithes and to the repeal, will
develope, please God, my plan Of charities to
| the poor, IN lien of poor laws The extinction
of tihes, will leave US fund, easily borne. for
religion and charity. Charity gives voluntarily,
! and selects i,s own objects Puta fund. for ex
ample, in The hands of the Brothers of Mercy,
or of the Sisters of Charity Let them be
accountable to a public tribunal for the fact Of
having expended to the last shilling the fund
committed to their care; but let the selection OF
objects be quite discretionary.
The perfection of this plan applies to the Ca.
tholc church particularly, but in Ireland 1t could
be so modelled as to arrange Protestant Chart
table Suciety, with their full share of the public
fund allotted to them l should hope that all
sects and persuasions would soon amalgamate for
these charitable purposes. Yet my plan involves
arrangements to secure to the Protestant part OF
the Irish population its full share of public fund
for charities and that quite independent OF
the control or interference of any Catholic.
II thus sketch an outline OF an enlarged
scheme Of Irish relief, which would give right
TO the sick, the iniirm, the hurt, the wounded,
the insane. and leave subject to discretion the
claims of all others in distress. This plan would
not interfere with labor or with wages. 1t would
not make the laborer. as he is in England, at
one and the same time burden and slave,
hopeless slave. You may show this to our poor
law friends. They well know, at least, that my
mind works on this subject anxiously and ear
n.stlv | wish them also to know that my most
sincere conviction is, that more heavy curse
never was inflicted on any country than The Eng
lish pour-aws: they are ab"minable, and think
rremediabr, because. if they could be amended.
why does not somebody point ont the remedy
Every attempt al remedy has hitherto made
them worse.
"My plans for Ireland involve these things:
"1st Extinction of tithes In every shape and
under every name.
I'D Formation of a charity fund out of the
ren,nant-thp enormous remnant-Gt church pro-