The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-11
MEETING OF THE FRIENDS on IRELAND


Carusi's Building TO sympahise with the patriot, or
Ireland in their endeavor to obtain restoration of
their legislative power
Behind the chair was hung with flags belonging to
The iri'h Benevolent Society Of Washington, which
body marched TO the meeting, and a flag of Hiber.
MA leaning on her harp sent by Mr. Pagan, OF Phis
deiphia.
The meeting was graeed by many ladies' who took
evident and marked interest in the proceedi,es
and, on the platform, noticed Mr. Robert TYLER
eldest Of excellent President; the Hon Mr.
Watierson, the Hon J. McKeon, the Hon. w w
Irwin, and Mr. Jones
The Chairman Of the meeting, JAMES HoBAs Esq
called the meeting TO order, and the following ar.
rangements took place, viz;
| Vice Presidenis.-- Messrs. John Mcleod Jobo
Boyle, John Ward, Gregory Ennis, Charles MURRAY,
Francis McNerhany.
| The Chairman Mr.. HoBAs, then rose
GENTLEMEN This meeting being now organised
by the appointment Of officers according to preyiou,
usage ob'eryed on such occasions, it deyol,es upon
me to give you an outline of the business for which
we are assembled.
| We are assembled to exercise the undoubted right
which is ours-the right of expressing our opinion,
on every wrong inflicted country that is dear to
freedom and dear to us. We are here assembled a,
free ctizens-as men having at heart the perpetuity
OF reedom-the expansion of the great principles oil
liberty the enjoyment of which alone conduce to
the true happiness Of mani say freemen enjoy.
ing the full right Of expressing sentiments,
the friends OF unhappy and oppressed Iseland it is
our duty and our resolve 10 express opinion on
the abject condition to which the tyranny of Enp
land has reduced her. and by the full force of our in
dividual opinion give efficacy and power to that great
public opinion which the corruption and tyranny Of
England cannot long resist. We are met, finally ,o
warm into activity those who in the eve of dan
germ foreign land-in green Erin are struggling
for their brthright liberty, are struggling and con-
tending for the inalienable rights of man [Cheers
There is nothing unconstitutional in tbis-nothng II,
challenge criticism in our assembling as we now a.
,emble-and, | tell the American who is over fasd;
Gus this question, that the subjects of England
have such squeamshness in reference to American
insttuons-l tell him that the subjects of England
fearlessy act and fearessy meet and discuss every
| topic on earth which they have a mind TO- The,
meet and talk, and think and act on every possible
SUBJECT for they regard this liberty as their greatest
privilege. and in their exercise of this right they
act like ireemen than many Of those Americans
here, who shrink from exercising their updoubted
right of speaking their sentiments against oppression
| Cheers III know the American character | say
1t is favorable to the consideration of the oppressed
| il has been our habiiual custom TO sympathse with
the oppressed; and this has been the custom of all
the republican nations that we have read Of. Shall
il be said that to be scared from the exercise
| Of that great privilege which the freeman so much
| prizes Shall II be said moreover-and | address,
this question to those who have here from that
gifted and warm-hearted land-shall il be said thai
they have forgotten the Island of beauty which CAV.
them birth--from which they derive beauty and vi
gor Can We suppose they forget the land in which
the pastimes and images of infancy have been en-
grayed their hearts Can we suppose that in
passing from the land OF hospitality, religion and ir-
tue they blot from their memory all trace of IFS beau
teous features-extinguish the feelings of nature in
its behalf Can they be supposed to forget the land
where the bones Of their foreathers lie smouldering
That land which covers iathers--a brothers, or
relation s bones
Shall it be said that this people, proverbally brave
hospitable, talented, yrtuous and religious should
forget their kinsman, their native country and refuse
to rally around the land of their birth and contend to
the last for its Independence, (Cheers.) am proud
indeed upon so unpropitous night at the splendid
demonstration you have made. feel that there are
here around hearts that feel and tongues that
can speak for liberty and Ireland. Loud cheering
But, my friends, is there any thing that leaves us
open {, criticism in this action Of ours
1t has been the nyariable custom of the American
people, TO speak their sentiments out right bodly-to
mingle signs with those Of the oppressed and op
our tears with Them over their misfortunes We act
opposition to our meeting | heard the eloquence
of the friends Of Greece ascend the dome Of he Ca
| pitol | heard the dome re-echo with the brilliant
| panegyrcs on fallen Greece-on her ancient libcr
ties-on her classic "reminiscences. have heard the
burning eloquence of her advocates denounce the "
ranny Of her MISUNDERSTANDING the spirits of The
| great dead TO blast the tyrant living
| have seen the brave and prosecuted Po'es re.
ceved kindly felt for and broad lands appropriate
to their use In the north and in the south we have
Tho. t.ft.. .nffI a
sfac,ion Of the free and TO the animation of the on
| pressed. Every thing in short was admitted 10 be-
said and done in behalf Of those nations who then
ST uggled for libery-but what did Greece do for u
| What claims had she other than the splendor
Of her eraturc-the glory Of her name the nobility
of ancient sages and patriots
! What had Poland done for US Nothing beyond
contributing to our struggles few brave Leaders
Yet, because they were a heroic race because We
know they loved freedom, and pered all for its ac-
complishment-we few TO their assistance and help.
ed the m, because brave and free (Cheers y
When did this all approved and none condemned
Ye, what was Hecuba to US, or we To Hecuba that
we should weep for her" Did Greece did Poland
con,r butte TO the wealth, TO the numbers 10 the de-
fence and te the industry Of America equal TO that
which she derived from lrelaDd' Cheers Ireland
| stood by our side from the beginnng-Ireand stood
| by our side in the day Of Enthusiastically
| Greece, she was unknown except through the page
| of remote history-practicaly we knew her not-in
our hour Of struggle she awaited US not-but lar
LAND did she not speak in our behalf Did she not
send US clothing for troops under the very eyes Of
the British gunsi Did not her children stand faith
fully by our side in the day OF battle from the
| heights Of Abraham till the last Bri,on was driven
| from our shores on the confines Of Orleans And
are we to be told that burst not stand by ireland
now, in her peaceful struggle FOR nations rights p
Forbid il, Heaven forbid IL, Earth loud cheer
| ing) As there are number Of gentlemen now ~
address this meeting will not longer prevent your
enjoyment of the pleasure Of hearing them. loud
cheers
! Letters were then read from G.. w 7. Gusts E,q
Hon C.. j. IngersoD, Rev. J. 7. Donean, Hon. b. A.
Bidlack Hon. Levi Woodbury., and the Hon. John
Hastings acknowledging the receipt Of letters Of IN
Of the hncn and abiding InInrrsI