The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-01-31


psndence, can deny TO ireland, sustained by this
powerful fact, in addition to every other claim ID
principle thai the American colonists urged Tor ndc-
pendence, when she asks nothing except their ap
proving smiles, and that encouragement and aid IN
the shape OF private charity 10 which England does
not pretend that she has right to object!
This Association, in the second place, desires to
present the claim which Ireland urges for her legsla
tive Independence, on the ground Of her wrongs
Admitting, for the sake OF argument that Ireland, in
former umes has surrendered her national existence
to the British Government still believe her claim
TO be just and good because Of the fragrant and un-
natural wrongs which have been and at this time
inflicted upon her If nation can be supposed TO
bind itself nvountary IN chains, or II It be actually
coerced into SUBMISSION and it be commended that it
thus loses at any time its right to liberty the conduct
of the Government which presides over It's deslinies
may be OF such monstrous cruelty as TO eDtle H. ~
the force OF nature, to return TO its original coDd-
ton of independence We consider that If any indi-
vdual slave had ever barbarous master-1 any
nation could set up the plea of unnatural treatment
to ente il TO dissolve the bands that have connected
1t with any Government that Ireland has right to
take this ground towards the British Government -
Her history throughout has been one OF blood and
torture, inflicted by the sword the parliamentary
rule OF that Government. Her rivers and lakes have
drank blood; her mountains have drank blood; her
wide fields have been saturated with blood. Nor has
life alone fallen sacrifice at HE altar of uDap-
peasabie MOOch; but horrd tortures, thousand
times worse than the destruction of life and proper
ty, affecting mind, honor, and conscience, have made
ner history one universal tragedy of the darkest ter
ror. Why should this Association dwell on ndivid-
al instances of wrong and cruelty in the past, when
thousand cases, each more direful than the rest,
start up before our eyes' What is the situation
even now, in the middle Of the nineteenth century,
OF this unhappy country? When It is borne in mind
that Ireland contains at this moment nearly nine mil.
lions OF inhabants Of its being separated from 9th
er States by the waters Of the sea of its being pos
sessed by race Of men distinct from that OF any
other people on the face Of the earth, Christian
race of men having it's own peculiar manners, CHS
toms, and language of its being larger and more
populous territory than many of the sovereign States
of Europe; of its being fully capable, physically,
morally, and intellectually, Of maintaining altogether
an independent governmental seems to us that the
principles announced in the Declaration of American
Independence, to which all so heartily sub crbe,
would emphatcally justify Ireland, not only in the
claim which she urges for repeal of the act of
Union, but for that of entire independence.
Pursuing this subject this Association begs to direct
the attention of their fellow-cltizens in America to
the present actual condition of iceland? stranger,
when he nears her green shores, and first puts his
foot upon her SOIL Is struck with the fertility and
beauty of The country. He will discover lands groan-
ing with every species of vegetation, well cultivated
and Well stocked with very'hing useful 10 the agr-
culturallst Ii he visit her principal Cities his eye
will be delighted with their beauty, sze and activity
If he inquire at her custom houses he will find her
revenues to be large and her commerce far from in
considerable During his dence this land, cell
ebrated for being the first country in the west OF Eu
rope which gave birth to great religious philanhro-
ps, he will be struck with the fact that Ireland is free
from all noxious insects and reptiles and with the de-
llghttui and healthy climate it enj ,ys. Yet in the
midst OF all lhis apparent prosperity, and these many
and noble advantages, he will discover much 10 per-
pick his thoughts. He will observe with wonder and
Inn alarm 20 do taaA in
the midst of the most unusual signs of national pros
perty. he will observe the most wretched condition
OF ignorance embracing whole classes of society, and
degrading the to the situation nearly of the beasts of
The field, among people WHO have gwen more wit and
eoquence, and as much learning, Statesman ship and
military glory to the world any other nation Of
equal Size He will find the docks of the criminal
courts compile ely filled with criminals of every age
SEX and scarcely day will pass that he does
hear of persons actually dying of Starvation. And
upon close inspection he will learn 10 read upon the
faces OF the population in despite of heir welknow
national characteristics of cheerfuness and wit, a
deep shade of dissatisfaction and gloom. The Asso
citation has presented this and uneubelshed pic
tufe, IN order that natural and unmistakable con-
cusion may be drawn from it, I he riddle of this
| seeming paradox may be read in the influences of a
bad and sehsh rule on the part Of the Brush COVE
ment. Ireland, with that uncaculatng spirit of dis
inlerestedness which chsracterises her people, has
been ever ready, forgetting her previous wrongs, to
embrace England with feeling OF amy, forbearance
and mutual Respect. Ireland has in truth contributed
all IN her power to the honor, Strength and glory of
the British throne. How has she been repaid with
wrongs and insults heaped upon wrongs and insults
mountains high. This statement cannot be denied
with ally deg ee of truth. For patriotic services for
large revenues In times Of peace and money men and
arms IN lime Of war, she has been repaid with re
gous disabilities, coercive acts and penal codes
Everything bad Tor England has been deemed good
for Ireland; everything good in Ireland, which should
have existed for her peculiar benefit, has been
ierred by English parliamentary legerdemsin into
England. Is THIS just2 Is it not horribly unjust
We pass over the system Of absenteeism so much
complained OF, system entirely occasIoned by nfa-
nous legislation for which no redress be had );
we pass over Catholic disabilities yet powerfully felt
under the British constitution in Ireland we pass
over the injuries inflicted by the want of proper
poor law system, proper system of education and
proper basis of representation, and refer to
instance OF recent occurrence to show the evils visit
ed upon the people by the English government in Ire
land. We refer 10 all the circumstances attendant
upon the recent trial and imprisonment OF Mr.. o.
Connell. This Association is aware that the name
OF Mr.. OConnel is not well received by very large
portion OF The American Republic, but we now speak
OF facts which cannot be affected by such c,rcpm
stance. The policy Of Mr.. OConDell, to he course
OF which through It's fundamental action, we cordial
y subscribe, seeks 10 effect the independence of his
country by moral means Ii has been his strenuous
object TO cultivate regard for peace, and TO console
date public sentiment at home, and TO awaken into
existence wstchiul tribunal of public sentiment
abroad, in accordance with the spirit of the age, well
knowing that if Ireland be once united in purpose
with the additional help Of the sympathy and support
Of France and the United States, one, both that
her success in the Repeal movement was certain
And events are now rapidly tending to prove the wis
dom OF hls views. 1t was the policy of the British
government to prevent this result Did that govern
ment contest this question fairly Did it meet public
sentiment with public sentiment, argument with ar
gumen appealing thus to the hearts and minds Of the
peoPlel AT first the Repeal movement was treated
with rdIcule snd scorn and when finally it had grown
into formidable power, the government adopted a
coure intended to provoke to a collision of arms -
1t had not forgotten the successful stratagem in the
Revolution (ol 1909, page of English history STAIN
ed with the murder Of Robe Emmett. The govern
ment confidently expected the commencement of an
lnsurrectlon as prelence for Irish butchery, in a