North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-09-25
100
Miscellaneous.

OHteI~At DEeLanATgos or THK CSt-
rHp Istsuxrs LA the present great ara
q reform, when unjust governments are
failing ia every quarter II Earope; when
religious persecution is compelled TO abjBfe
her tyranny over conscience, when The
tishts Of nan are ssceftained 10 theory, ard
that theory subs,auua,eI by practice; when
Antiquity can no longer defend absurd ana
oppressive forms against the common sense
and common Interests OF mankind, and 10
be- so far only obligatory rs il protects their
rights and promotes their welfare, we think
II our duty, Is lfishmen, 10 come forward
aud state what we Ieei 10 be OUT heavy
grievance, and what we know To be IFS
ehecsusI remedy.
H'r haze no National Gocernmeai, we
afr ruled by Englishmen, and The scrpanf'
Of EnxiisAH,en, whose object is the interest
0f another country, whose instrument "a
CORRUPTION, and whose strength IS the
weakness Of Ireland; and these men have
the whole Of the power aud patronage 81
the country a. means 10 seduce aud to SUBJ
due the honesty and the spirit Of her repre-
sentatives In the legislature. Such an ex>
,rnsie power, acting with uniform force.
IN direction too frequently opposite to The
une line Of our obvious interests, can be
resisted with effect solely by unGnin'ity,
deetaion. and spirit IN The people y-quaIl-
ties which may be exer,ed most legally,
eonstitutionslly, and effcscously, by that
gteat measure essential 10 the prosperity
and freedom Of ireland, An equal repre-
,entation Of all the people in Parliament.
We do not here mention as grievances the
rejection oC place-bill, Of a pension bill, OF
responsibility bill, The sale ol peeraees in
one house, the corruption publicly avowed
10 the other, nor the notorious infamy OF
borough traffic between both; not that we
are nsensible 10 their enormity blu. that we
consider them as but symptoms Of that NOR
tai disease which corrodes the vitals OF our
constitution, and leaves to the people, in
their own government, bot the shadow OF
a name. impressed with these sentiments,
we have
First, Resolved, That the weight oil
English influence in the government Of this |
is so great as 10 require cordial
union among all the people Of Ireland, to
maintain that balance which is essential TO
the preservation 0! our liberties, and the
OF orr commerce. Second
That the sole constitutional mode by which
Ibis influence can be opposed is by COM
plele and radical reform OF the representa-
ton of The people in parliament. Third
That no reform is practicable, efiicacious,
or just, which shall not include Irishmen
Of erery religious persuasion,
Satisfied, as we are, that the intestine
divisions among lrishmen have too often
given encouragement and impnnity TO pro-
'igate, audacious and corrupt administra-
ions in measures which, but for these d.
'isions, they burst not have attempted, we
Iubmit our resolutions TO the nation as the
,ssis of our political faith.
The people, when thus collected, will
eel their own weight, and secure tina, pow
u which theory has already admitted to be
heir portion, and TO which, if they be not
reused by their present provocations to
indicate it. they deserve TO forfeit their
,retensions for ereri