The North-Carolina standard., 1846-02-25

best they may (hcar, hcar). My object is l con-
fess, to protect my own counlrymen (cheers)'
Under these circumstances. as regards the people
of England, the possession Of Oregon is matter
of entire indifference, except as it affects the ma
tonaI honor. leave England to settle that qnes-
ton as she plrascs (cheers). But my object IN al
luding TO the question here is, as an Irish member,
to protest against any effort being made 10 waste
the lives Of my fellow countrymen, or to tax their
properties in an attempt 10 maintain possession oil
theterritory Of Oregon [hear hearl Ii, indeed,
were disposed 10 question England's right to
call upon my countrymen to fight her battles and
pay her taxes should not want topics, which
might, perhaps bring blush upon Britannia s
check [chcersl and make her confess that she has
no claim to sympathies upon such an occasion
[cheers.] l might remind her of the treachery
and fraud in which the miscalled union between
Eng land and Ireland was generated [checrs.l !
might remind her of the means, the violence and
corruption by which that mscaled union was ac-
complished [hcar]-I might remind her of her
broken faith [cheersl-I might remind her OF the
promises made at the time when she sought to et-
feet that union, which have since been shameluily
violated ch=ersl-the promises Of equal rights for
the Irish people [hear, hear, hear.l might re,
mind her also Of the nefnrious arts that were loved
and trusted by the Irish nation [cheers] might
point TO the manifestations ofnationa hatred which
reach US through the medium of the English
press every day-that press which professcs-and
in my opinion not untruly-to present the opln-
ions of the people Of England [cries of hear, hear]
| might show her that in every page of those or
gans Of public opinion that the Irish nation are
misrcprcsented and maigned [hear, hearl-tha: III
they hold most DEAR and hallowed, and veneratcd
is reviled by those who speak on behalf Of the
English people [hear, hcarl-from the calumnies
of the Quarterly down to the last falsehoods Of
the pseudo commissioner of the Times [cheers
But forbear from dwelling upon these topics
upon the present occasion, and l place my argu-
ment, with reference to an approaching war with
America, upon the genera grounds Of humanity,
and expedIency, and, above all, upon the Interests
of my own countrymcn [chcers] tell her that
we have no imaginable interest which could lead
us 10 prosecute this war. l have no objection If
she plcascs that she should send her troops to be
beaten in America, provided she does not send
Irish soldiers there [cheersl | have no objection
that she should expend millions, as she will ex.
pend them in Intellectual efforts, to obtain barren
possession Of this Improbable territory, provided
she does not call on my countrymen TO contribute
to such efforts; but l tell her this, that we will
be prepared 20 protect our own land against every
foe [loud cheerS.l l tell her-may | say it in
your namcs-[crics of yesl-I tell her that we do
not want to give Ireland to Franco tell her
that we do not want 10 give Ireland to America
but that we Want to obtain Ireland for the Irish !
loud cheersl And, with the blessing Of God,
hc present generation will not depart from this
earth before they shall obtain Ireland for the Irish
cheers.l l know not how far 1 may have been
he eXposltor of your sentiments. When | rose
was uncertain whether what had to say would
,cceve your approval, or your condemnation
But, with respect to coming events, as regards our
'wn country, disastrous scarcity is much to be !
Pprchcnded AS regards the general interests Of
humanity scarcely less dsastro is would be the ap-
'roval Of with America. have endcav-
'red 10 discharge my duty by laying before the
government and before my country my opinions
one SO, trust | have absolved myself at least :
rom the responsibility of such events as may oc
ur through the neglect or through the crime of
nose to whom the government of this empire has
cen confided loud chcersl 1