The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-11-25


nell was at their head they looked with little fear
of what the people at Westminster might do
Never was there snch terrible fellow for driving
coaches and six through Acts ofParliament as this
same Daniel O'ConnelI.
His election for Clare, and the great scene
which ensucd, when he stood the chief figure in
the grand historical picture, battling against the
whole House of Commons, laundering 1t its port
ais, and carrying the war even within lis walIsthis
scene is not for me 10 paint. allude to it only to
show The giant growth of his power. This, which
short sighted men censnred as useless and ex'rava-
giant, was great stroke of policy, and effected
more than couId have been done by fifty public
meetings, or a thousands petitions. The Com
mons saw the enemy among them. The roar no
longer came upon them in echoes rantened by 4
distance of 400 ni.eS--it was there present in
their own chamber, The leader Of the movement
stared them in the citadel of their power Their
came the c0nsummalcn--lhn breaking down OF
their barTies-l'le triumph of the great cause which
O'Conne had singy taken mp when it appeared
hopeless aud wilhou. udreiGnts, The Protestant
Ascendcncy Notifications fell in moment, like the
fall Of scenic rarnpars at the finale Of II nelo drn-
ma; and O'COnncll marched in, as the Ecyl usu-
ally does on such occasions, equipped with most
porenoUs tail.
"a Here might leave him. When the son Of the
huckster walked into the House of Commons rs
the member for Waterford after beating the Bercs
fords upon their own ground, lac might have felt
that the business of life was accomplished and
that he could hope for no new acccs,ions Of glory
The llberaor of his country and the emperor o
jail llSh hearts, could hope to arrive at no higher
altitude. He hnd done enough lur Il single life
Such Git have been some meas feelings
such were Earl G;cy's, under somewhat similar
circuns tanccS--but O'Conne's practical mind
entertained no such idea. To him, what he had
already glineh offended only the advantage of Il
higher ground, where he might star. alre,h with
greater prospects of practical advantage His line
Of action WAS now changed, and we have here a
beautiful specimen of the versatility aud eXleu, OF
his powers.
have before remarked that the fact Of his hcing
able 10 change his policy, in order 10 render HIM
SCI effective in the House Of Commons, and still
to retain his Influence oul Of doors, is a proof OF
practical powers for man gng democracy He
Is now Us great flvoli,o with the House Of Com
mons as he was with his clients upon circuit, or
with n crowd at the Corn Exchange.
That the man who has done all this must be n
master spirit in his aga cannot admit Of doubt
that he required his power fairly and II rerously,
will hardly admit Of discussion Whatever, how
ever, he has used it to the best possible purpose
will he much disputed, That personal ambition
first started him upon his course, have no doph,
nor is this any thing 10 his discredit. ! wou'd not
give an atom Of c!mff for tho assistance of public
man who is inaccessible to personal ambition; but
question whether that personal ambition has not
beer nude by O'Connc the sole object, instead
of only one object of his acts Ireland has yet To
as'; why he sacrificed the iOs. Gecholdrrs--and
OConncll, let him abuse the catechst as he may ,
can render 10 sufficient reply.
In private life, O'Connell is very magnificent
fellow, and keeps mp the old Irish hospitality al
Derrynanc, in glorious style, No Engshman
whether Wing, Tory, Radical or Charlis,, need
hesitate to knock at his door. KIM Dan is The
representative of his country, and he docs the hOa-
ors Of hospitality for her.