Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-27
Irish m

heretofore adopted. Tor tho purpose Of efeeting q dissolu-
ton OF the existing union, for legislative purposes. between
England and Ireland and the other. headed By Smith
o'Brcn, affirming, that. IL tho resignation of the Irish
Parliament, cannot be effected by pesceable means, i, is no,
wrong to resort to " physical force" We have read the
animated discussion between the leading members Of the
two parties at Cancellation Hal. " with great interest.
and regret that i is not in our power 10 insert the whole
Of it. The speech Of Mr.. Mcsgher, howsver,-which he
was not permitted to conclude,-is at once so bold and so
singularly eloquent. that we are sure our readers will thank
us for laying il before them.
After n tumultuous discussion, in which the speakers.
John O'ConnelL, Mitchell. Steele, Broderick and o,ber1
were frequently interrupted by the mingled shouts and
Kisses OF an immense crowd
"Mr. MEAeHER rose and said he cordially concurred 4,
the sentiments OF Mr.. Mitchell, that the most comprehensive
measures that n Wing administration could bestow upon
the country, would fail TO elevate il to that position which
II had a right To occupy, and the power TO maintain. The
Wing Ministry could improve the province, but could no,
restore the naton-franchises, liberal appointments. ten
ant compensation. bills and equal justice. as il was called.
might amehorate but would not exalt. They might meet
the necessities, but would not call forth the abilities of The
country. A few weeks since stood in the Queens Bench
an old and venerable man, to teach the country the les.
sons he had learned beneath the portico Of tho Irish Sc.
natc-house, and which he treasured up in his heart as the
costiest legacy which any citizen could bcqueath 10 tho
land that gave him birth. [Chcers.l "a voicc-.He yo
ted sgains, OConnel.'D He cared not if MI. Holmes had
given a Conservative vote. he had national sentiments and
aspirations. lChees) The speaker then quoted passages
from the speech Of Mr.. Holmes to which he referred. and
conunued-a new Government might redress grievance
but It MAS a strong people alone that could raise up a great
nation. lCheers.l
"He drew attention to the vugueness of Lord John
Russell's promise to ameliorate the condition of the people.
in which be said that the Ministry considered the social
grievances OF Ireland to be the most prominent, and thew
would afford some remedy, some kind OF Improvement.
some kind OF hope that in ten or twelve years hence. this
country would be IN n better state than at present. After
that eonsolatory declaration, let those who had the patience
OF Job and the poverty OF Lazarus. wait upon Providence
and the wings lchecrl-but let those whose hearts and
mind n ana N "a ,z.-,.I
work which Is years ago knocked down the independ.nco
of the country, dishonored the ancient peersre of Ireland
and reduced the country, TO sevitude. [Cheers.l He con-
iessed that in the present circumstances of The country an
appeal TO arms would be not only senseless, but wicked: 10
talk OF repeating the union by force was to poeuze. There
might be a riot Ia the street, but no revolution in the coun.
Try; moral means were, therefore, the only means that coulJ
or should be adopted. He did conceive that their depu,v-
secretary, Mr.. Cream, would do more for repeal in register.
ing votes in Green street than arms in the head police
office; that the Cancellation Hall on Burgh-quay was
more impregnable than a rebel camp on Vinegsrhiu:
and that the husungs at Dundalk could be more sue
cessfully stormed than the magazine in the Phenix Park.
Therefore, my Lord lcontinued Mr.. MeagheTl | do ad-
vocate the peaceful policy Of the assOciauop-l
(Cheer) Its the only policy we can and should ad.
wise. Situated, disposed, and disciplined as the country is
at present, lin the only policy which the people eau and
should adopt Ii that policy be pursued with truth, with
courage, and stern determination Of pHrposc, | do firmly
believe that ii will succeed. Loud cheering But, INV
lord, Idissentvd from the resolutions in question for other |
reasons. Hear, hearl lststed the frs Il now come 10
the second. tHesr) 1 dissen;ed from these resolutions,
for. 1 felt that by asserting TO them / should have pledged
myself 10 the unqualified repudlauono OF physical force in sl
countries, and at all times, ana IN every circums,ance
This | could not DO. for, my lord, | DO not abhsr the Use of
arms in the yindicsuon OF national rights. Cheers There
are times when arms will alone suffice, and when political
amelioratinns cal for a crop Of blood-.cheep)-and ma
ny thousand drops Of blood. Loud cheering. and cries OF
Oh, oh.") Opinion, admit, will operate agains opin.
ION. But, as the hon. member for Kilkenny observed. !
force must be used against force. tChee rs and some con.
iusi-n) The soldier is proof against an argument, but he
is not proof sgains, q bullet. The man that will listen 10
uga Ia ha, - 80 -.k D.. 1
arm OF the patriot that can alone avail against bataionsd
%despohsm. Loud cheers Then, my lord | DO not disclaim
the use Of arms IS immoral, nor DO l believe it is the
truth TO say, that the God OF Heaven withholds his sane
ton from the use OF arms. From the day on which. in
the valley OF Bethulia, he nerved the ann Of the Jewish
girl 10 smite the drunken tyrant in his tent, town TO the
hour in which he blessed the insurgent chivalry of the Bel
gian priests, his Almighty hand hath ever been stretched
forth from His throne Of light, 10 consecrato the flag of
freedom, TO bless the patriots sword. Loud and enthu-
sastc cheeringl Be II for the defence, or be il for the as.
sertion Of a nations liberty, | look upon the sword a. a
sacred weapon. l"No, no." from the Rev. Mr.. Hopkins
And II, my Lord, II has sometimes Redeemed the shroud
Of the oppressor, like the anointed rod Of the high priest.
It has at other times bossomed into flowers to deck the
freeman's brow. Loud cries Of "hear, hear" and yehe-
ment applause Abhor the sword and stgmauze the
sword! No, my Lord, for in the cragged passes of the
Tyrol, II tout IN pieces the banner OF the Bava!ian, and won
an Immortality fer the peasant Of lnnspruck. TCheery.l-
Abhor the sword and ~stigmatze the sword! No, my
Lord, for at Its blow 4 giant nation sprang up from the
waters OF the far Atlantic. and by its redeoming magic the
fettered colony became a daring, free republic. lCeeers.l
Abhor the sword, and sugmauZe tho sword! No. nv
Lord, for IT scourged the Dutch marauders out of the fine
old towns Of Belgium, back into their own phlegmotir
swamps (cheers), and knocked their flag and laws. and
scePre and bayOneis, into the sluggish waters Of the
Scheldt Enthusiastic cheering) NJ Lord, | learned
that II was the night of a nation to govern itself, not in this
hall, but upon the ramParts Of Antwerp. (Cheers1 |
learned the hrst article OF a nations creed upon those ram
parts, where freedom was Justly estimated, and where The
possession Of the precious gift was purchased by the efFu.
sion Of generous blood. loud checrs.) NV Lord. | ad.
mire the Begians, | honor the Belgians for their courage
and their daring and / will not stigmatize the means by
which they obtained a CITIZEN King, a Chamber Of De-
putes-
Al this point, Mr.. John o'Connell interrupted Mr.. Meag-
her, declaring that, however disinclined to interrupt the eo
quent speaker, he could no longer sit sull and hear such sem
nments. at was no, safe, he said, for the Association to
allow Mr.. NJ. 10 proceed" His doctrines were dangerous,
but they were rendered still more dangerous coming in such
language, and from go gifted a speaker. He declared that
Mr.. Meaghers sentiments were directly aud diameuieslly
opposed TO those Of the founder Of the Association and
that the Association must cease to exist, or Mr.. Meagher
must cease to be q member Of it!
MIR. Smith OBnen,-ihe acknowledgement of"Young
Ireland" and the rival Of Mr.. OConnelL,-warmly defend
ed Mr.. Mengher' reiterated his sentiments, and protested
against the manner IN which he had been slenced.
Mr.. John O'Connell again took the floor, and called upon
the meeting TO decide al once between the contending par.
ties. If they concuued with the founder Of the As
ISOLATION, let them so say-ift they did not, they must adopt
another leader. Loud cries of "OConnell, O'ConnelLr fol.
lowed this remark whereuPon Mr.. O'Bnen and his friends
abruptly Withdrew from the Hall. Mr.. John OrConneIl eI.
pressed his deep regret at the loss OF these distinguished
men. Tie said, It was a time to weep, and not a time 10
speak. "Let US then retire from this Hall, to mourn over
tho loss We have sustained. Let Us not think OF meeting
until Monday next, when hope Mr.. O'Connell This faiherl
will be here, to try to repair the breach that has occurred"
The meeting soon afterwards adjourned.
This meeting, we imagine, has given the death. blow TO
the Repeal movement, and may perhaps aid the Russell
Ministry in the settlement Of the Irish question.
The WING Party.
We entirely concur in opinion with a country cores
pendent, who writes a. follows "Taking al things into
consideration, there was never more necessity for the o.
ssnizstion and perseverance, Of the Wing party; and If We