The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-09
IRELAND.
BY THE HIBERNIA. |

The grand banquet given to O'Connell by the
inhabitants OF Cork took place on the 7lh instant,
Mr.. Smith OBren, M p, from Limerick, pre-
siding. Upwards of 800 persons participated.
The chief feature of the evening was the speech
OF O'Connell, delivered at the table, Speaking
OF the splendor OF the demonstration, he said
"No man who ever stood upon the threshold
| of prison received such compliment. Hear.
hear, and cheers.l No man who ever stood on
the steps of throne was honored as have been
honored, though on the threshold of prison; but
| would not change that prison, with the compli-
ment, for the throne of any monarch in the uni
| versal world. What crime have
committedl Loud cries of None'l declare
to Heaven | do not know believe Chief JUS
tice Penneather does not know, nor am aware
that the sagacous Jury knew what crime thew
convicted me on. | repeat am not aware Of the
crime, but am sure of this that if it was to be
| committed over again, | am the boy for it
Great cheering. | have done nothing of which
am ashamed before man, or tremble for before
my God"
| Another reference to his sentence elected tre-
mendous applause:
g am advanced in life-the prison may termi-
| nate my existence. [Sensaton, and cries of
God forbid'] am not shrinking from the dun
geon. Cheers | do not speak in a whining
or pitifu manner; but do trust that my last
moments will be enlivened by the reflection that
| | should have lived longer had not loved Ire
land SO intensely" Loud cheers.
| A portion of the speech was devoted to an ex-
hortation to the people of Ireland to perseveEe in
demanding repeal, peaceaby and lawfully, but
without waverng or compromise. The follow
ing were his concluding remarks:
II am speaking to you as if voice were issu-
ing from the tomb of Jail, but not in in the
mournful accents of danger. Loud cheers =
| lrishmen the time is come; preserve the peace
| observe order-do not run a risk. conjure
you, as you love Ireland, and hate the mal-admin-
| istration Of justce--as you esteem the Chief Ba-
short if you love Ireland-if you want to confer
on me comfort when in my dungeon, you will
rally for Old Ireland and Repeal"
1t seems to be generally expected that the
Ministry will take the decisive step of imprison-
ing O'Connell, but no accurate information upon
the subject appears in any Of the papers. 1t is
evident that O'Connell himself anticipates this
course, and is laboring to prepare the minds of
the people to submit to quietly, but at the same
time not to forego the prosecution of Ireland's
only hope-a repeal of the Union. From the adj
mrable control he exercises over the public mind
in Ireland, it is probable that his expressed will
upon the subject of quiet submission on the
part of the repeaers, to his incarceration, will be
efectual in preserving the peace. 1t is, however,
to be apprehended, that his health will be impair
ed by confinement as his active habits of life will
thus be restrained the consequences may be Sc
rious, and perhaps result in his death. In that
case it would be hard for the wishes of any NOR
tai man to control the exasperated feelings of the
Irish people, at the sacrifice of the best friend and
patriot their country ever had, and general out
break may be the consequence. To such de-
porable ISSUE it is possible that the outrageous
prosecutions of O'Connell by the British Minis
try, will bring the state of affairs in Ireland, and
if so, woe be upon their guilty heads!
FLooD.-The st. Louis Reporter of Friday
week says that the Upper Mississippi is reported
to have risen to an alarming height. At Galena