The New York herald., 1844-11-24
round to my opinion, and such temporary disagree
ment has only tended to augment the public con-

sent moment there is no plan of Federalism before
the public. The Federallsis have been invited 10
declare themselves IN precise and specific terms
they have not as yet done so. When they shall
have eclared- themselves, it will bea the duty -ot
every pubic man, whether at the press or as con-
nected with the Association, TO declare fully and
freely his sentiments upon that plan. 1rt7
AT present those who assal Federalism, assail
the creature OF their own Imagination; without,
however. IN general going so far as you faceously
have done by converting Federal Lord Lleuten-
ant or Speaker into an auction bell-man trans
formation that may easily account Tor your hos
tllIty TO Federalism in the abstract.
My object at present is to set you right as to
some matters of pre-existIng fact; in order that
you may understand me, | subjoin the following
passage from your artice-I take up the paragraph
with. the following words,-" We have been rob-
its restoration in all its pre-existing amplitude"
X Then to show your notion oil the "pre-cxsting
amplitude" OF our former parliament, you add
these words ~ ~.-A7
"A parliament sitting in Ireland, to govern only the
ars Of Ireland and not daring to think matters Of
great borough. and constituting our r.sa~on. mnnci:
pal corporation large scalethat il not the sort Of
parliament secured TO us in l7sa."
Now see how you mistake, how totally you mis-
take the fact-that was precisely the parliament Sc
cured to LIS in 1852. .g. ....
Ii was III your words, "a parliament sitting in
Ireland to govern only the affairs OF Irelandas to
its not daring to think matters OF imperial policy,
thought is free-but 1t certainly could not, and
therefore did not dare to act on matters OF imperial
policy. II had no kind OF power, or control over,
or interference with the colonies, or with the
treaties between Great Britain and foreign powers;
or with the. appointment OF the British ministry,
that is in point ot fact, with the nomination of the
executive power IN the country.
Do not imagine that in describing the powers OF
the Irish parliament as they really were (and as
you say !ney were not J II that deny its efficiency,
the prosnerity of Ireland. say. directly the re-
verse. From the moment at which it shook off the
trammels of the British Legislature, it showed its
efficacy, and demonstrated its utility in the protec
ton Of all Irish interests-ot Irish agriculture,
commerce, and manufactures.
Having thus set you right upon an important
fact, you will, am sure, not think do SO in any
spirit Of hoslihty-my sentiments towards you are
quite different. l know that you have toiled for,
and sutfered-severey suffered-ln the public
cause and do not hesitate to say, that the popn.
lar party in Kerry have not treated you with sutfi-
however think it would be well if you as we'll
as others postponed the discussion Of Federalism
until it had assumed form, shape, and pressure"
it really isat present every antiFederalist makes
his own giant before ne kills.him o.rs
Federalism may be much worse than simple Re-
peal; that is than the restoration Of the parliament
affect to take away any cf the powers which the
Irish parliament formerly had, It is not in that case
at all likely TO make way among the Irish people.
But Federalism may also be much better than
may restore the Irish parliament with all its former
powers, and it may superinduce right to Ireland
and mode OF asserting that rlghl, 10 Interfere di
rectly IN imperial concerns-in foreign trt aties-
and In Colonial affairs. The modes oil that inter
ference would require much confederation, but ii
would have the advantage OF making the connec-
tion with the British crown more strict, permanent
and inviolabe.
The Federal plan will, in all probability, appear
very shortly before the public Whatever it shall
prove TO be, there is one thing certain, that lis sup
porters should be treated with the utmost courtesy
and difference that their plans should be can
vassed Iii manner the most respectful, argument
tative, and conciliatory and that every mode Of
inducing rational and patriotic men to join the p
sent Association should be resortedto. There is
nothing derogaory III the most strenuous and al
most suppcatory efforts 10 combine the Irish gen.
try Of every persuasion with the Irish people in the
cause of their common country. ~ a. fI ,s
Whatever shall be the result, you may easily
venture to believe that |, for one, will never con.
sent TO receive less for Ireland than she had before.
am ready TO accept as much more for her as can
- have the honor to be, M.
ts.. RS Your Obedlent servant, ,.t .4..~ y.
DANIEL O'CoNNELI.
~ W. ~ France. .u Nj w.
Tue Paris papers announce that Francois taking
steps tD abolish negro slavery In iis colonies. The
governor Of the Island Of Bourbon, in opening the
Colonial Council on the 10th Of May last, made a
similar etaement Into that Island free leborers
from China and the East Indies will Be imported.
Violent storrns ravage the South of France In
Marselles the inundatons have been go great that
the wate rose above the carriage wheels in the
streets. = A terrific storm visited Toulouse on the
2i,h October. AT Avgnon and other towns, the
Rhone, the Durance and the Saone, have over
flowed and committed much injury. e
A very destructive storm nnd wflrwind ravaged
Cete, near Montpelier, on the 22d OF last month.
Many buildings were destroyed, and two hundred
more or less injured; and number of persons
were injured by the falling houses, while two are
known TO be killed, aud several are missing.
WOOD AND WATER.-The Pressc states, that for
more than ten years past there has been remarked
a successive dminution OF the waters in the north
OF Russia. The Investigations made on this subject
| by scientific men having demonstrated that this
phenomenon has no other cause than the devasta-
tons made in the forests, the Minister OF the I'M
perlal domains Is at this moment occupied In regu-
lating the annual consumption of the woods. W
ENGLISH AGaRRssIoNs IN AFRrcA.-The Nation
al de pOuest has the following article--"We have
by our well beloved ally. The English have taken
possession Of the north point OF Prince Island. on
the western coast of Africa, belonging to the Por-
tugncse, under pretence OF establishing there de-
pot of coal for their transatlantic steam packets.
Authorization for this establishment had been re-
fused them by the late Governor, whom they con-
trved to get removed. His successor also protest.
ed against this usurpatior, but he has been COM
PEELED to yield TO the law OF the strongest, although
he at the same time has made most energetic repre-
sentatIons on the subject to his government The
following is the real object Of England in taking
forcible possession OF this important point, for the
making itonly depotf for coal may very well be
believed to be mere pretence. France has just
established factory on the Gaboon point essen-
TALLY military, for hcrnavy in time Of war, Prince 3
Island being at the mouth cf the Gaboon, and the
English have evidently determined to secure to
themselves point from which they could block
ade the river against ships in the event of col.
lison. Thus, besides the violation Of a friendly
territory, an excess whic1 the English have the
shameful habit of committing, their attempt on
Princes Island s directed against US. II must be
conesscd after so many instances, that 1t the en-
tente cordiate produces any fruits, they bitter
to u.s." tNe 81 - '''' r. r
Spain.
We have received by Extraordinary Expresses
from BsyoDne and Perpignan, the following im-
portant inie lgence from Madrid and Barcelona j.,
"MADRID, Oct. N.--A fresh conspiracy has been
discovered General Narvaez wes to have been
assassinated at the entrance OF the French embas-
sy, where he dned.
.tiencral Prm was arrested this MOI ming Other