The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-04

sympathy for the oppressed. who are now SUFFERING
indeseribabe expressions, that stand before YOU as
The friend OF Ireland lCheers. -
Ana what, fellow citizens, is this question of re
peal, with which Ireland is now so much aeitated
and Tor which the British Government have Kent so
angry and threatening an attitude towards her And
what has teen the conduct of the Irish people 10
call forth the very harsh language which yelling
ton and others have used in reference To This q 20
peal" movement, and which has led TO the degrade.
ton of the clergy aud the magistrates of that on
pressed land? If understand "repeal' Alright il ia
an attempt TO obtain peaceable repeal of an odous
and oppressive act OF union, act which was
passed without The formates needfu TO the occa
sion which it is represented as intended confessedly
to accomplish and passed by bribery and public and
private treachery and yet was claimed in terms
OF the most absurd paradox, that union existed be-
tween the independent States of England and Ire
land, by the Act OF Union, by virtue of which for
sooth all power, executive legislative, and iodi.
cla heretofore exercised by the constituted au-
thorities OF Ireland were to be either annhated or
merged for all time thenceforward in the omnpotent
and omnscent courts OF England, the English Par
lament, and the English Crown. And England, GER
tainly with not particle of right, claims that the
act of Union SO called in sheer mockery is irrepea
able, except at her ownwlli and pleasure. Now
iellow-citlzens, We as Americans, directly inte-
rested IN this question, far This point in concern
ed, for positively contravened the position which
was taken by the American states in the Declaration
OF their Independence. (Applause) This was pre-
ci'ely the language used by the British to
the Colonies here before the Revolutionary war and
that contest was conducted by England precisely
| the same principles on which she would now carry
on the contest with Ireland and what was the
RESULT Reason and justice and the sympathy of the
enlightened world, and the voice and act of God
proclaimed and proved their laacy (Appause.)-
In admitting that Ireland lost her sovereignty by the
act OF unon--admttng that the act of union was
hat onpp Of
has the right to bind itself to chains and oppression
and also succeeding generations but not even the
barbaric Indian or the serf Of russian despot who
reels an instinct OF an immortal hereafter will admit
that one generation of men sell the Iibert, of a
distant posterity 1t in vain to argue the question
\ GU may produce the seals TO your musy record of
such moral degradation, to show that the terms bind
ana apply to all-you may attempt 10 enforce the
contract but you Will appeal both to the and to
the law in vain, The soul of man within him, con-
scious OF his birth-fght of freedom rises up and re-
Peis the insult But contend fellow citizens, and
IN lhis position am sustained by the abest auhor-
es that sovereignty is indestuctible except by the
act of God, and that it cannot he aIienated Hom
mas tne of Ire and been DESTROYED by the
act Oh God! Has any cause which has produced The
prostI Of other nations led to her prostrat;on
No' LOT sue stronger tan ever, and her resources
though crippled by unjust laws are greater indeed
ireland appears to be like the camomlle plant. for
the more she is trodden upon the greener she has
grown. (APplause.) 1t appears that the sovereign
ty OF ireland has not been lost. Nor has it been
aenaed.
Here Mr.. Tyler gave way the heat of the room,
was SO oppressive that he could not proceed and he
observed that he feared he close his remarks :
But after short pause he continued as follows
'attel, great writer on the laws of nations-and
ms authority IS admitted in all civilized countries
CONTENDS That sovereignty cannot be alienated How
then, does happen that this question of contract
between the two independent states or Kingdoms of
England and ireland, they stood before this
act OF union, that one Ireland) should now be
compelled to occupy position towards the other of
elon endeavoring to escape from the hands of the
law, or OF slave escaping from the hand of cruel
master! How does it happen, fellow citizens. that
Ems proud banner, which once flowed in the breeze
ana haunted TO the skies, impressed with the broad
seal Oh lilsh sovereignty, is only to be recog
nlzed as an empty pageant in British islands, How
does II happen 1t strikes me as both reasonable
ana rghi mat no less power than the power of the
peops-a sovereign and supreme power-couh
naturally contract and enact that Of union for the
power which made the act must necessarily be supe
rlor to the act, the creator must of necessity he
superior TO the created. 1t could not be as The Rri
lish Government contend, for that would be an adj
mission that Ireland sovereign at the time of the
Union, ana V aitel has 1t as express and solemn
rule That sovereignty cannot be alienated; and if
sovereign then and if her sovereignty was unaIiepa
Ole, why is she not sovereign now? (CbeersA
According TO the general principles of the law Of
na'ioDs-according 10 the principles ON which the
bSN'ai auVn vi utptDQenfc based. and tho
union among the free States Of this Confederacy was
cemented, she has the right to demand repea of the
oppressive act OF union, the right of peaceable
secession from that union as sovereign power. If
however, power which contracted this act of nion
was less than sovereign, 1T clearly void ob inio
Tor nothing less than Irish sovereignty couli have am
initiated Tor ans instant much less for generations
Inc power oil The Irish legislature for sovereignty
and sovereignty alone can make and unmake IepisI,
1--WE power (APplause-) will not touch on the
Justce o repeal nor regard IT as question of expe-
diency choose rather 10 regard it as question of
right and OF principle viii not stop 10 inoure
now much right the Irish people have TO complain
as province misruled Of the system of Catholic
prescription, her poor laws, her police system, her
absenteeism, and other causes of comnlaint foo
l dious TO mention, and disgraceful to the British
Government; no, the advocate of Irish lin
cry, VIII not consent TO assume the attitude Of
the slave, and suppcate for the eniency of a cruel
master (ApplauseJ No, in the name of a people
VINO were once sovereign and who cannot be dispos-
sessed oil their sovereignty except by an act of Cd
demand as right the repeal of the legislative
union. (Applause.)
Ia The name Of nine millions Of people, who, even
il tuey 90 FORM an integral portion Of the British
government, because of their immense number and
their suierngs, they are not only entitled 10 II, bmt
10 REDRESS Tor their wrongs and IN their name claim
legislative emancipation for Ireland (Great an
Piause') demand II in the name of the enlightened
'eo ~ "u'ch we I'VE. demand IL in the name of
anu Improvement which pre-
sues over me nineteenth century. | demand il in
t4e name OF the great political truths Of the age from
whose power and light old dogmas shrink In the
name 81 our republican Institutions demand her
freedom. demand it in the mime of tie sympathy
oil mankind. l demand it on the same ground the
irresistible grrund on which Ireland demanded Catbo.
TIC emancipation. (Cheers) That act which i'm
posed Catholic disabilities, and the act of union were
dictated by spirit comparatively barbarc and the
spirit oil enlightened freedom which demanded the re-
peal oil The one now calls for the repeal of the other
the equally odIous and bsrbaric act of union Yes
u e same reason which granted The reform bill for
Ireland. '
mr yer now retired to the window Immediately
Oehlnd MN, and then tainted away but the meeting.
ignorant OF this fact, cheered bin yociferouslY
ihey then ca led loudly for Mr. Wallace and other
popular orators, but the heat Of the room which on
pressed throughout his whole speech and finally over.