The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-29
From he Philadellaia irisA Ciiiss's
SPEECH OF ROBERT TYLER, ESQ
Al a Complia e,,fary Dinner gicea HIM al
Congress Hall, Oct 8, lsi3 by the RePedF
ers nj pbiI14eiDbia

CO " fNbuuetP"se'
Mr. Robert Tyler rose aud in substance said
| am, Mr.. President equally proud and grateful
for the manner Of my reception here to-day II mas
been my fortune Of late TO have so frequently to re-
turn my thanks for the unmerted kindness and re-
speet which have received from my Irish country
men, that believe the language Of thanks has Dc
come written on my heart. The least enthusiastic
disposition cannot fail to acknowledge that the obi
CATION of this and similar striking marks Of your
friendship, has imposed on me the duty of warm
and earnest advocacy Of cause, which believe TO
be founded in Justice and Right, and which is yow
cause
Yes, my fellow citizens, believe this cause to be
founded in Justice and Right | would not dare 10
stand up in your presence-n the presence OF men,
many Of whom have the wisdom of years on their
grey hairs, and all Of whom have that resolution OF
purpose which thought and principle can alone give
to the advocates OF any cause, in the headsrong and
Maynard impulse Of boysh nature. Though young,
have a heart 10 feel injustice and wrong, even II
they be inflicted on others. Though young, since
thought first visited my mind and feeling my soul, !
have been ndoctrinated in those lofty and invunera-
BILE principles which teach the power and the rights Of
the American Revolution, in its minutest details, is
imprinted on my brain and the ardor of patriotism
the dignity Of the independence which deiied in
justce--the unyelding courage which covered our
battle fields with the bones of slaughtered Patriots
tho deieat of the Tyrantsthe triumph of the vicors
the establishment Of free government, as an exam
pie TO the whole Christian world, after eighteen CEN
turtles of human oppression and suilering-thc clcya-
ton Of the of mankind to their proper sphere
of usefulness and imporance-and above all the re-
cognition of the great principle in experiment Of
free institutions which, like law Of God, has de-
scended on the earth, never to be lost vanquished
the great principle of that supremacy Of Popular WILL
which rises above the superstructure of all govern
ments, and which reaches to the foundations on
which all laws and constitutions must rest the con-
sideraton Of such subjects, and the thoughts and
feelings which the contemplation of such subjects
must inevitably produce, have been my companions
from boyhood. On this subject, Of contest between
the British Government clothed with power, and
Ireland armed with Right, my opinions fixed and
mmoveable. An impulse of humanity, however
creditabe it may be TO profess generous feelings,
does not in the least excite me. behold great prin-
by the American Revolution between Freedom and
Tyranny, the rights of the many against the monopo
ly of the few, again to be decided. Civilization
is to advance in her provldential progress, or to
be dragged from her victorious seat, TO be incar-
cerated in dark dungeons at the will of Princes
and of Kings 10 ireland, | behold the descen-
dants of people who have toiled through long
ages of degradation and misery calling aloud for
justice. 1t is denied them Selfgovernment is
denied them in every particular, and the odous prn-
cple is asserted of right TO govern without the con-
sent, and against the interests Of the governed And
this right is maintained upon the strength of an infor-
NAL treaty, styled the act Of Union adopted at a
comparatively unenlightened period and which dis
solves into air before the fanest breath of this
regenerating age has touched it. A distinct race in
origin, manners, customs, and in language and ad
mitted TO be an integral portion Of the Empire the
Irish are yet denied the poor forms of taxing them
selves for the benefit Of others. Even the paper
guarantees OF freedom, which from time to time
through the distant Past, the People rising up with
savage and sustained yet irresistible strength have
demanded and obtained from the fears and interests
oil their oppressors, are virtually denied them The
sovereignty of Ireland is denied The right of sepa-
rate legislation is denied. And in this enlightened
age the iron form OF Power, with the same fierce and
relentless eye, with the same ferocious aspect and
threatening attitude which marked its hdeous per-
son. when centuries ago, first strobe forth from the
coverns OF the ncrth, TO preside the dark and
gloomy desines of the middle ages, claims that by
right Of conquest Ireland is no more than province
AID that lrishmen are slaves Against such doc
rines, Ireland protests against the detestabe and
pernicious influence OF such doctrines wherever they
may be proclaimed and no matter by whom it is my
right and my interest to contend And this question
cannot be decided by an appeal TO arms Power
may deny the claims of Truth, Of Right and Of Jus
lice, and with its mailed and murderous weapons
may beat them TO the earth, but by this course il only
shows its natural barbarity and increases the enor
NIFTY oil It's wees Such question as this now tina
the age oil Reason has begun to preside the des-
TIMES of the world must be submitted TO the arbra-
ton OF The enlightened public op Mon Of civilized ma
lions 1t is the only appropriate tribunal before
which to try the question, because il is the only tr-
bunal which has sufficiently firm resolution, and
sufficiently enlarged philanthropy to discuss with
equanmity, or TO decide IT with strict disinterested
ness And when here express TO you, fellow ci-
zens, my sentiments on this subject believe that
only reflect in my feeble language the public opinion
of America on the subject of Irish Repeal. am an
advocate for the advance Of liberal principles and
for the establishment of free institutions among men
because conscientiousy believe that in the course
Of the gradual evolution of Humanity the time has
now approached when God himself has declared
through the reason OF man. that the power and rights
Of the People are the great elements which should
enter into the calculation and DIES gn Of all plans Of
Government In vain tyranis and monopolisis of all
descriptions seek TO shelter themselves from the re-
suits which the powerful developments Of Reason
and Truth are constantly making on the age, by ap.
Pealng to the precedens and usages of those gloomy
and barbarc times forever gone by in the history Of
nations. In such case the argument is no, one Of
reason or of right, but of might and Of power. II is
the argument which In former days made TO JUS
y all the crimes and monstrous atrocities of the dcs-
potic Governments Of uncivilized Europe. | shall
not on this occasion enter more largely upon this
view of the subject but it is su lent for me to be-
heve that every motive and interest Of humanity
prompt all intelligent and impartial to decide
this question Of conflict between the people of Ire
land and the British Government in favor Of the rights
of Ireland.
But this subject, fellow-cltzens, considered apart
from purely Irish view Of II. has Indirectly become