The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-17

LONDON, Dec. 4, l843

| The great legal point which mooted In oppo-
stion TO the indictment against O'Connell, and his
co-defendants, namely, The plea Of abatement, has
been ruled against the accused though III direct OPP
position TO received law in England. In consequence
of this adverse judgment the pleaded not
guilty and applied to the Court to postpone the trials
until February, on the grounds that there Was not
sufficient time to prepare testimony in reply to the
charges made IN the monster Indictment and that
the present jury list not framed IN accordance
with law. The Attorney General opposed the post
ponement, but subsequently yielded, receiving
ntimation from the Judges and the day of trial
fixed for the fifteenth OF January. The Crown is to
have special jury, and the trial will be at bar that
Is the whole Court will try the parties, and it will be
composed of Chief Justice Pennefather, and the
puisne Judges Burton, Champion, and Perrin.
Owing TO this arrangement there is now COM
paratiye calm in Ireland and the great agatOr pro-
ceets to the repose Of his seat at Derrynane Abbey
until the beginning Of the year. Previously to his
retirement, however, it is his intention to be present
at banquet which will be given this day to Mr.. W.
S O'Brien, by the Trades of Limerick, in honor
# that gentleman having Joined the Repeal Associa-
| ton.
the rel callers The language of all the parties,
ed in the indictment, has been quite bold and tri-
umphant as ever, whilst the Repeal Rent last week
amounted to 1882 and this week to 3624, notwith
| standing it having been tribute time for Mr.. O'COn
nels Compensation Fund. 1t is generally expected
that the national gift to lrelands favore will this
year, reach from k35 900 10 100000.
| Mr.. OBrien, wealthy merchant, and staunch re-
peaier, has been elected Lord Mayor of Dublin, a
| fact, says Mr. OConnell, which gives guarantee
for the peaceful disposition Of the Repeal Associa-
ton, of which the Lord Mayor is an active member.
| There have been rumOrs of outbreaks, reports Of
secret drilling, and charges Of having illegal posses
sion Of arms but after the most minute inquiry and
vigorous proceedings, the part of the government,
no substantially could be given to the statement, or
| solitary reasonable act traced. So severe is Mr.
| O'Conne in his demands for implicit obs dience
to the laws, that he has prohibited all triumphant de-
| mOnstratious, ordered the lighting of bonhres to
cease, and declared that if there should be any dis
orders whatever he will instantly plead guilty to the
indictment.
The government in England are evidently in a
difficulty relative to Ireland, and last week several
cabinet councils held, having this momentous
subject for deiberation. The result of their coga-
lions is considered anything but t,perii, for
all well informed perso talking of the state
cret. 1t seems that if the prosecutions should fail,
Sir Robert Peel will ask Parliament for coercion
bill, and that his proposition will be accompanied by
concatory measure as to land tenures and another
embracing large system of pubic works. The
scheme for pensoning The Catholic priests has been
abandoned the Rom.n hierarchy having formally
met and solemnly protested against any state pro-
vision for either themselves or their clergy.
The Notifications throughout Ireland being
red on with undated vigor, extra troops have been
drafted of to augment the army there, vessels Of
war have been placed upon the coast, and large gun
boats now glide over tie Shannon. The principal
occupation OF the military, at present. to collect poor
rates, which appear to be heavily overdue, and not to
be procured, from either Conservative Repealers,
except by armed disrant. The la gathering is now
DONE therefore, by 40 600 troops arned consabulary
and veteran pensioners, melancholy occupation for
vast and brlapt force The soldiers are getting
sadly harassed, and feeling of degradation is creep
ing rapidly upon them. When will this laneniable
state of things terminate Only when the reign OF
actious tyranny shall be over and that Of right and
justice shall commence
The subscriptions of the merchants and manutac-
tuIers towards the An'i-Corn-Law League Fund, for
the present year, have already amounted upwards
Of flS,000. This is immense sum of money to be
voluntarily given by men in trade, and that, too, So
soon after Period of dreadful commercial CONFUSION
and distress
In the list also, will be found the names of gentle
men of large property and the principals of extensive
establishments conservative in politics, who had not
previously joined, subscribed to- the League. This
Is what The Times may well call "A great Fact,
and one which those no make la Tvs mus, consult
Rochdae has supplied nearly E3000
On the 9th inst the League will assemble in Liv
| erpocl, for the purpose Of holding meeting among
the merchants and collecting subscriptions towards
the great fund The result Of this gathering will be
looked forward to by the Government with much an1-
iety, as an indication of the real sentiments OF the
heads Of the mercantile community at that the fl
port of the empire. On The l7lh, a, Wakefield the
League VIII convene, a meeting OF the est Riding
of Yorkshre-a bold dashing proceeding. The elec.
ton for Salisbury has been lost to the League as
anticipated it would be- Mr.. Campbell, tie Tory can
didale having been returned TO Parliament by a
jorly of AZ his reetrade opponent, the Honora-
bic Mr.. Bouverie, of the Earl of Radnor. The
elite of the League threw all their energies into the
contest, but they had struggle against the Bishop,
his clergy, the cathedral officials, the surrounding
aristocracy, the benigtcd farmers niimdated trades
men, and venal voters. The latter, | understand,
amount TO about thirty, and they stated to have
ceived pounds each for supporting the mopcpoiss
MIR. Golden has pledged himself to expend ten thou
sand pounds for the protection of those electors who
voted for Mr.. Bouvere and for T. punishment of all
parties engaged in bribery and corruption The Anne
rican flag and the British ensign were entwiDed by
the BouveIle party, and carried in procession.
The Government affect to b.lieve that the result
of this is great victory for them, elves their
adherence to the sliding scale and the present Corn
law as il stands. The utra-moDopolist press insist
upon following up the triumph, and endeavoring
to the stocracy to subscribe largely for the
purpose of putting down and crushing the League
Now never, is their cry, but family, very family,
Is it echoed by the Squrearchy. There has been,
however, some talk of sitting the League, 10y a
kind of indirect pressure upon IT, the original measure
being intended 10 operate against the agtator of the
repeal que sion in Ireland The rumor is that Minis
ters disposed TO bring bill into Parliament which
shall render IT penal to collect subscriptions for the
peal of any &C, of Parliament IT can scarcely well
he credited that the cdbnrt have any such foolish
idea, but, should they be serious in the proposed
scheme, they must prepare for badgenng in the
Houseof Commons, the like of which has never been
witnessed within the walls of ST. Stephens.
The monthly meeting of the League took place on
the 29th ultimo, in Covent Garden Theatre and was
Of enthusiastic and triumphant character than
ever. Some eight or ten thousand persons were I'M
able to get into the house. which was filled within
seven minutes after the opening of the doors. Mr.
Golden and Mr.. Bright were the chief speakers and
never they effective and powerful
Throughout the evening the whole proceedings eyin
ccd the terrible earnest of the orators and the intense
zeal of the vast audience. The former felt them
selves 10 be rmer ground than they had ever been
before. They spoke with stern confidence as TO GER
tain and not distant success; and proud did they