American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-12-30


feudal institutions Of the Old World, and one
which never could have come in collision with
the opinions of free people, had not the bar
riers Of their rights been Iudely broken down by
the inroads of foreign cabals Observe the
peculiar traits ofthis outrage. The citizens Of
district in Kensington, in which they were
born, call public meeting in their own ward.
1t is broken up by an armed band the follow
ers anG disciples Of the demagogue to whom
have alluded, OH the assumed ground that it
was an Irish quarter, within whose limits no
American dare to tread, except at the peril OF
his life. Here, then, you behold an "lrish
quarter" in Ameuca-govCrned by Irish laws,
Irish passions, and Irish prejudices-all mimi
cal to freedom OF speeCh--all combining to
strangle freedom of thought 1t is the same
thing, if you eXpunge the word "lrish" and
substitute that Of French Spanish, or Italian.
speak to the principle involved IN the argu-
ment, without appealing to the prcludices coil
cd up within name. But that outrage is now
a part of our history; it was an outrage OF that
foreign population, known as the followers OF
"Daniel O'Connell," who had claimed the dis
trct for series of years as an "lrlsh quarter,
sacred from the intrusion Of American laws,
American sheiiffs, and American institutions,
Here, sir, repeat, we come to history--the his
tory oithose collisions naturally incident to the
unbridled passions ofthose foreigners who, haV-
ing been accustomed in the Old World to pbysi-
cal force, are strangers to constitutional rights,
and ignorant of the moral power ofopinion that
gives sanctity to law without an appeal to the
rifle, the musket, or the bayonet. Had an out
rage OF similar character been committed on
the deck of an American ship, by any Of the
powers of Europe, who could have braeed them
selves to the damnng act of treading under
foot that flag that now floats in triumph over
the dome Of this Capitol, and of assassinatng
in cold blood ten American citizens, martyrs
to freedom, would it not Justly have provoked
us into war; AS surely as that there throbs
one pulsation of honor in an American heart!
What, sir, would be just cause for war with
foreiga power, repeat, is ample cause for in
qury into the character and tendency of TO-
reign cabals, natured in the very heart Of our
country, to wage an exterminating war against
American citizens for the purpose of perpetual
ting in this country passions and feelings that
have no natural affinity to our institutions.
| will not attempt to portray the burst of in
dignation that would have swept over this land
of freedom, if the outrage perpetrated in the
'Irish quarter had been committed OH the
deck of an American ship, by any of the sub
lects of her Britannia Ma osty. No language
could convey an adequate idea of the popular
fury that would have ragged in the hearts ofthc
American people; the fire of vengeace would
have shot from every eye; every bosom would
have heaved with indIgnation; every tongue
would have evoked curses, loud and deep on the
wrong doors, till the whole land, shaken by one
wild cry, would have pierced the very skies
with the flames Of war Way was all SO calm
content? 1t happened to be on the eve of u
presidential election, when both parties were
equally anxious TO seize upon this marketable
commodity, which is now boosted of as the con-
trolling vote of the republic-the "balance
power" between the conflicting wings and de-
mOcrats.
In their cagerness to secure that banded for
cgn vote, they emulated each other in their
efforts TO misIeEresent and digtort the facts, in
order that they might disease and poison tie
popular mind. The democrats succeeded, it is
true, in securing that vote, but it is still mar
ketable article; and, like the elephants Of Pyr-
rhus Of Epirus, that scattered deSolation, not
through the army Of Gurus Dentatus, but
through his own, so may this stupendous army
OF foreign voters, so sedulously guarded, and
so proudly confided i'll, prove ultimately not
the shield of their strength, but the very instru
Inent OK lnelr destruction.
1t is not for me to give name to that awful
apa by which pervades the two old parties OF
the country in reference to this brand Of shame
on the brows Of the nation. What outrage did
Great Britain commit anterior to the revolu-
ton of l776 equal to this' mean any outrage
OIL principles or on persons? Examine well in
to all her offences-contrast them with this
outrage-and then say whether the hue OF the
milk-whitu dove is not the color that contrasts
with this black and bloody tinge of the tragedy
in this "Irsh quarter?" This aggression is not
personal one. 1t was not party aggression,
though committed upon natives. 1t was not a
native, but national degradation. The con-
stitution conferred sanctty on that meeting -
The flag of the Union gave protection to the
exercise of legal right. The insult is, then,
on the republic and the republic must vindi-
cate its independence, or rest under the re-
| proach of the ignominious wrong.
adduce these facts, not with view of en-
bedying them into report, but as Just cause
tor inquiry. am aware, sir, that various ell
forts have been made by our opponents to throw
incidents into our cause which never were in
tended to form part of our political creed,
and which do not now. We have been de-
nounced as sectarans-as fanatics and bigots.
Can such charge lie against us2 If the blaC-
kened walls of ST. Augustine and St. Michaels
remain to tell of the outrages committed by a
mob, there stands the church Of st. Philip de
Neri, monument of the protective power OF
native-born Americans. Who defended that
church at the peril of their lives but native born
Americans of Southwark, with Thomas d.
Grover at their head who determined to save
the church or perish in the ruins? No, sir; we
wage no war against the freedom ofconscence.
1t requires no demonstration to assure us of the
importance of religion to all the secular inter-
ests and sensual passions of life To the king
on his throne, or the peasant at his plough
the miser on his money-bags, or the beggar
gnawng his crust-the privilege to worship
God after the dictate of our own heart, is the
most precious gift that humanity can enjoy If
the pages of history were not crowded With l.
Illustrations of the fact, the tlrobs o.. every I'M
| oorfa al cpirif that atfc In IN hprp ter