The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-11-22

meetng,
among these allies for Federal Parliament while
the will continue demand independent
one. This is undoubtedly momentous measure FOR
ourselves reader of The Nation need be told that we
abhor all dependence upon England and that we look win
hope the rising of tomorow's sun to the re-
generation of this But fear too deeply the
deadly bane of Observation-Disclosures resist the movement
becaus would not propose IL. The only man whom
the country trusts believes has for 1t
and IL could draw any popular opinion from his views
II is only too obvious that to that extent we would
weaken the national strength The post of commander
his-he Is accrediedhe Is responsible and we dare
not peril the in which labor by that Celtic VIII
fness (Which lost many fields to lreland) OF resisting
the trial Of every plan but We needs must io
low the only general who can muster an effective army
though his plan battle does not tally with ours
The companies of Artillery and the First Royal
Dragons have arrived in Dublin.
The Limerick papers OF Friday mention mat on
the previous night between six and seven O'Clock,
the surrounding country blaZed with fires, lighted
simultane ously, with surprising exactness. II ap,
peared that these fires spread to the counties OF
several instances the fires were burning IN the pub
lie roads, and torches were seen to be porn along
by the people in all directions. The meaning OF
the confagration is mystery.
Subsequently it is stated by the Cork Reporter
that the fires in honor OF Smith O'Brlens re-
turn from the Continent, and his accession to ne
peal, which was already understood throughout the
country!
The State prosecutions against O'Conne and the
eight other traversers will be accelerated by every
means within the power of the Crown and, u at
all possible, the trials will be fixed for the sttlngs
after the November term Those sittings com
mence the 9th November
Term opens on Thursday next. On that day the
bills OF Indictment are to be sent up 10 the Wy
Grand Jury, who have been summoned on penal
ty of ElOO; the usual penalty is only half that sum
If the Grand Jury find true bills, the traversers VIII
be called upon to plead on Friday morning. Four
days are usually allowed; but in this case the IN
judges, in all probability, will allow the traverse.s a
week or two. Under all the circumstances, It Is
not all likely that the trials can take place before
the beginning of December. Possibly; they may
on the 18th of January.
A very curious and a serious question arises re-
garding the Special Jury Panel. The jury law re-
qures that this panel should be made up annually
tanning the names of all qualified persons furnished
by the collectors. From that Jurors book the
sheriff is directed to select sufficient number OF
names for standing special panel, IN order !hat
special juries might be struck by ballot, from time
to time during his year of office II ls stated very
confdently-and believe the fact Is so|that the
Jury law has not been complied with, and that, IN
fact, there is no Jurors book tor the CITY OF Duolih
A question thence arises, the existing special
jury panel be used at all If this question should
be decided in the negative, the trials could not
take place until next year, when Jury BOOK ana
special jury panel might be framed IN accordance
with the law.
1t appears quite certain that OConnell has deter
mined to defend himself, and that his decision on
this point communicated to the counsel for the
defendants, who held consultation at the resi-
dence of O'Connell, in Merton Square, on Thurs
day last The honorable and learned gentleman, It
is stated, intends to enter into general review OF
the British policy in Ireland, especially IN regard TO
the Legislative Union, in order to exhibit the
causes of the Repeal movement, out OF which
those State prosecutions have arisen. Mr.; OCon-
nells address to the jury alone will, probably, occu-
py two days; and from this you may torn some
idea of the length of time to which the trials may
extend. r
Chief Justice Pennefather is to preside but if,
as some persons assert, it is to be trial at bar, the
four Judges of the Queens bench will be IN at
tendance. :,
| As the charge is generally one Of Conspiracy
all the traversers, it is likely, will be tired together
As the jury is TO be special one, there WIN, OF
course be challenging, either on the part OF the
Crown or traversers.
Steele also defends himself; and il is stated that
he has made arrangements to avail himself OF the
evidence of the following witnesses, the presence
of some of whom in court, if they should attend
would produce small sensation Lord Plunkett,
late Lord Chancellor of Ireland; Frederick Bond
Hughes, the Government reporter: Sir Robert
Peel, Lord Lyndhurst Sir James Graham and the
Duke of Wellington. Steele proposes to examine
them in the order set forth.
Respecting some Of the witnesses to be examined
by the Crown, and whose names have not yet been
mentioned publicly, there are very strange rumors
But IL would be premature at present TO enter into
particulars.
On Thursday morning, November End, the Court
of Queens Bench was crowded to excess at an
early hour to witness the commencement OF the
State trials. The proceedings did not commence
till one O'Clock The audience in the galleries was
very numerous, and consisted to large degree OF
ladies'.
The Hon. Judge Burton entered the court about
one O'Clock, and the clerk of the crown proceeded
TO call over the grand pannel The Attorney and
Solicitor Generals, Sergeant Warren, and Mr.
Brewster, @. c., took their seats shortly after the
arrival Of his lordship
Judge Burton proceeded to charge the jurles. AT
ter calling their attention to the duties which, ar
grand jurors they had to perform, he entered upon
the nature of the charge preferred against the ac
cused-
Gentlemen I am now to tell you that. as understand
the bill likely and intended to be submitted to yo bill
with certain number of persons specified in IT, the whole
being charge Of conspiracy that is Of conspirng the
which s agreeing amongst themselves altogether
together with others and concrring with each other
in design to efectuae certain unlawful purposes at
least to eectuate certain In themseve
unlawful or not, by unlawful means Gentlemen, De-
ieve may that the great ostensbe and as would
collect from the nformaons sworn before me- the owed
object of the persons being in this case the abolition OF
the Legislative Union of Great Britain and Ireland as a.
present subssting Gentlemen, appears TO me to b.
right with reference the term Legislative Union. and
the form in which have described 2. az Presem, SUD
Of the information which the indictments is or VIII be
framed and which think material to state TO you ap
pears then that one OF the persons charged nave OF
has asserted Of certain public meetings re
rred TO in the information that this Legislative Union
is in itself unlawful that is absolutely void the
sequences of which might be tha every statue made
since the Union and importing TO bind Ireland would TO
that extent be void and Of no legal effect Whether this
imputed language be correctly stated whether any Ian
guage to that effect was actually used IL used used
in that sense you shall have necessary for you, to
examine and satisfy yourselves Of But think the state
men in the sworn Information have collected II, au-
thorzes and makes incumbent to say for you In
this place that such proposition has legal foundation
and that the Legislative Union is not only practically
lawfully in force in Ireland and that you in exerc
sing your Judgment upon that indicment-upon the in
dicnent that will be preferred TO youare bound so to
consider IT, His lordship after referring to the charge
alleged against the parties in the MISUNDERSTANDING
by demonstrations Of physical force 10 procure change
in the laws stated that this did necessarily presup
any infracton of the public peace. He continued
The exhibition Of immense bodies of men, being persons
pettoning for Repeal Of the Union, and at the same
time asserting in their presence that in part at least by
their intervention II must and should take place. seems to
afford ground for charging in the indictment as
purpose of intimidation. Gentlemen whether il really
had the purpose must be in the first instance for
to Judge ofhat is to judge whether IT is or is not
matter Of charge t and proper to be tried by jury
nlca of not nutx Centemen have further to tell YOU