The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-09-05
IRISH ORATORY.

N'S o9th Utto vi
their wit. poetry and oratory, from the days of
Ossiap. and each generation has furnished their
quota 10 raise high the national character. In all
we have read. and heard, and seen of this re-
markabie people. we do not recollect that we ever
came across a purer specimen of genuine elo-
quence than is contained in The following speech
OF Mr.. Meagher, reported currente calamo, ut.
tered just previous to the division of the Repeal
Society of Dublin. We do not claim to be a pro.
phet, nor the son Of a prophet. but it is some
years since we seen through the deceptive veil
which enveloped the movements of O'ConnelI.
and then denounced him as a cold blooded selfish
demagogue, whose whole action was directed by
personal ambition. " Young Ireland,' is now
thoroughly awake, and having burst the mental
chains that have so long bound his gigantic ener-
gies. we hope to hear, by the next steamer, that
an organization of patriots has been effected. by
which the enfranchisement of Ireland, as a nation.
may be assured to us. We long for the period
to arrive, when the epitaph of Emmett NAV be
written.
"Mr. MEAGHER rose and said he cordially
concurred in the sentiments of Mr.. Mitchell. that
the most comprehensive measure that a Whir adj
ministration could bestow upon the country. wopld
tail to elevate 1t TO that position which il had \
right to occupy. and the power TO maintain. The
Wing Ministry could improve the province. bnt
could not restore the nation-franchises liberal
appointments, tenant compensation, bills. and
equal justice, as it was called, might ameliorate
but would not exalt. They might meet the me-
c~essities, but would not call forth the abilities of
the country. A few weeks since stood in the
Queens Bench an old and venerable man. 10
teach the country lessons he had learned beneath
the portico of the Irish Senate house, and which
he treasured up in his heart as the costliest legacy
which any citizen could bequeath TO the land that
gave him birth. Cheers. CA voice" He
voted against O'Connell.") He cared not if Mr..
Holmes had given a conservative vote. he had
national sentiments and aspirations. TCheers.1
The speaker then quoted passages from the speech
of Mr.. Holmes TO which he referred--and %continu-
ed-a new Government might redress grievances.
but it was a strong people alone that could raise
up a great nation. Cheers.
" He drew attention to the vagueness of Lord
John Russell's promise to ameliorate the condition
of the people, in which he said that the Ministry
considered the social grievances of Ireland TO be
the most prominent, and they would afford some
remedy, some kind of improvement, some kind of
hope, that in ten or twelve years hence. this
country would be IN a better state than at present.
After that consolatory declaration, let those who
had the patience of Job and the poverty of Laza-
rus, wait upon Providence and the wings Tcheers1
but let those whose hearts and minds have not
been unparalleled, continue to undo that work
which 40 years ago Knocked down the indepen-
dence of the country, dishonored the peerape of
] Ireland, and reduce the country to servitude.
lCheers. He confessed that in The present cir
cumstances OF the country, an appeal to arms
would be not only senseless, but wicked. To
talk OF repeating the Union by force, was to poe
TIE 'lhoFp mint ha q riot - l. -. -.
no revolution in the country. Moral means were,
therefore, the only means that could or should he
adopted. He did conceive that their deputy
secretary. Mr.. Cream. would do more for repeal in
registering votes in Green street, than arms in
the head police office ; that Cancellation Hall ON
Burgh-qnay was more impregnable than a rebel
camp on Vinegar-hill ; and that the bustings at
Dundaik could be more successfully stormed than
the magazine in The Phenix Park. Therefore,
my Lord, continued Mr.. Meagher, I do advocate
the peaceful policy of the association. TCheers.1
II is the only policy we can and should advise.
Situated. disposed and disciplined as the country
IS at present, it is the only policy which the peo-
pie can and should adopt. If that policy be pur-
sued with truth. with courage, and stern determi-
nation of purpose, | do firmly believe that it will
succeed. Loud cheering.l But my Lord, |
dissented from the resolutions in question for 9TH
er reasons. Hear, hear. / stated the frst-I
now come to the second. Hear I dissented
from these resolutions. for, | felt that by assent.
ing 70 them | should have pledged myself to the
unqualified reputation Of physical force in all
countries, and at all times, and in every circum-
stance. This could not do, for my Lord, | do
not abhor the use of arms in the yindication of
national rights. Cheers. There are times
when arms alone will suffice, and when political
ameiloratIons call for a drop of blood-Tcheers1-
and many thousand drops Of blood. Loud cheer
ing, and cries of "Oh, OH" Opinion, I admit,
VIII operate against opinion. But, as The hon.
gentleman from Kilkenny observed, force must be
used against force. Cheers and some confusion
The soldier is proof against an argument but he
IS not proof against a bullet. The man that will
listen TO reason, let him be reasoned with. But
" is inc weaponed arm OF the patriot that can
alone avail against battalioned despotism. TLoud
cheers.I Then, my lord, / do not disclaim the
use OF arms as immoral. nor do I believe it is the
truth to say, that the God of Heaven wilhholds
MS sanction from the use Of farms. From the day
on which, IN the valley Of Betbulia, he nerved
the arm OF the Jewish girl to smiie The drunken
tyTant IN his tent, down to the hour in which he
blessed the l%nsOreent chiyalry of the Belgian
priests, his Almighty hand hath ever been stretch
60 ioTth from his throne Of light, to consecTate the
nag OF freedom, to bless the patriots sword
Loud and enthusiastic cheering Be it for The
oeiehce' or De 1t Tor the assertion of a nations lib.
eTty, look upon the sword as a sacred weapon.
No, no." from the Rev. Mr.. Hopkins. And
u, my Lord, 1t has sometimes redeemed the shroud
OF the oppressor, like the aoDolnIed rod Of the
high priest it has, at other times, blassomed into
flowers to deck the freemaD's brow. loud cries
OF 'hear, hear" and vehement applause. Abhor
the sword and siigmatize the sword No. nv
Lord, for in the dragged passes Of the Tyrol, Il
cot In pieces the banner Of the Bavarian, and won
an immortality for tho peasant Of Iunspruck.-