The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-30

stances. will, therefore, conclude by proposing you
sentiment Ill IS, The marty OF lsIS, who, although
denied The privilege OF enjoying their native air, have
this one consoalonhat they have suffered in the cause
oi Old Ireland And am confident that, far their
own senlmsnts are concerned, they enjoy this day
with infinitely satisfaction than their tyrant-
since the period OF their banishment
| The health OF the Hon. +. W. BowpoN member Of
Congress IRON Alabama, having been offered by Mr,
Francis McNerhany, the honorable gentleman said
Mr. President and gentlemen, had received an earlier
notice OF your intention 10 celebrate this time honored
festival, would have been most happy 10 have parc
pated with you from the beginning IN those pleasures
which characterize your celebration.
How admirably suited TO the occasion has been the
eloquent and impressive address OF my venerable friend
the president Mr.. George Washington Parke Gusts
justly indeed has he invested Irish yaor with active
agency IN the consummaon Of tins coun'ry's liberty
for who forget how strongly have the services OF the
Irish been identified with the glorious and successful
struggles OF our people
The renown which her military genius and capacity
eleyang the character Of that despolc nation under
whose tyranny she suffers, not remarkable
features in the character of her sons than the towering
An lrishman Who was the celebrated Edmund Burke l
An rishman Who Is me Duke OF WsiGustgn' A. Iriah.
man, and the hero OF Waterloo. Who is Tom Moore
An Irishman. Graltan, Emmei, Flood, Curran, and
Ftzgerad-iher lofty genius, SURPRISING eoqucnce and
noble deeds still thrill the heart. The remarkable asso
you; doubtless you perfectly with their
history In short, cannot Ireland boast OF parenage
nnrlvalIed in the history Of nalions' Who wa, was
Quebec to New Odeans the glorious battle fields OF
America have been enriched by Irish blood and illus
traied by Irish yalo Montgomery and Jackson, Quebec
and New Orleans imperishable monuments OF their
glory. And may not, in no unworthy spirit, allude to
the idol of South Carolina-,he late lamened Calhoun
whose genius and virtues reflect discIedit on the
Emerald Isle-he land of his foreiathers' In such
connexion does the chain oil her offspring proceed ex-
hibtng at every stage OF her history associations OF
ds,ing guished character
Ii is my prde even at this late stage of your festvy,
to engage in its celebration, more because
neced with Irish lineage than from desire TO cooperate
with you in TeveenciDg every noble prestige OF her ma
tionay, of which that which you have assembled this
evening 10 celebrate is not the least important.
And Mr. President, in view, ALSO OF the spirit OF mutual
attachment, and the tendency 10 effective organization
among Irish citizens here which assemblies OF this char
acier would be calculated to create, repea, II ismy
pride engage in this celebration, concevlng and all
other meetings OF similar character to have very i'm
portan bearings upon the strength and greatness OF this
great confederation beg 10 offer you sentiment:
The Memory of Robert Emmett. His genius, eloquence,
patriotism, and courage have made his name Immortal In
the annals OF Iceland.
In response 10 complimentary sentiment
MIR F. McNERHASY said: Mr.. President and gentlemen,
feel highly honored by the call You have made upon
me- and regret that. not having anticipated II, am not
preparation TO make speech day like thls-a day
sancted by religion, consecraed by patriotism, lmnor-
azed in song and story and cherished wherever throbs
an Irish heart with the proioundest love and veneraon
day frightened by thousand glorious memories,
linked with many of the most pleasing ecolIeclions of
the past and associated with all that is beautiful and
captivating the brilliant picture OF Erins glory Upon
her ancient brow she wreath more lovely than
that en,wined by her llustrions Patron Saint lmpov
eIshed 4esponang amshns she may Fl s
afiicoEs, all her sorrows, all her snherlngs she has
cung TO that pure and spoess legacy, and venerated
with an abiding devotion, the name, the virtues, the
memory of ST Patrick. The history of nations will be
searched in vain for such example OF heroic virtue
constantly pactised in the midst OF the demoEazing IN,
and trrap And
though last under The weight OF oppression, her spirit
should be broken crushed though Hope the only star
that glmmers the horizon OF her future, should be
extinguished foreverthough all aspirations for liberty,
for nationality, should die within the hearts OF her peo-
peyet would her glorious deeds rise above the malice oi
her enemies, and shed abroad their eiiugent light; or
Like the vase in which hnve been distilled
You may break, you may ruin the vase 4 you wi,
But the scent oi the roses wil hang round II sIil''
But my friends, the spirit of Ireland is not broken!
Oh, no! She is like giant pnioned, motonless. She
will vet snap the cords that bind her; and when she
does, then will she stand eecpeerless IN beauty ma.
lestc in dignity. Then, ST. Patrick banshed from her
soil the unseemy reptiles that crawed amid lis verdure
so will she bansh the human reptiles that have battened
upon the very ifes blood OF her people and decmated
their numbers Then, indeed, will Enn rise like star
above the gloom Of ages. Then, indeed will her green
hills be greener siher valleys tnged with heavens
brightest hues will smile into new life and beauy-her
skies will glow with more genial, more cheering beam
her people will be prosperous, contented happy-ana her
dear old harp, auned TO sadness, Will thrill the
world with lis exulant strains Then indeed. will her
OConnells and her O'Brens be avenged. The exalted
sprt of the one will hover above the isle he loved
WELL and contemplate with rapiurous delight; while
the other no longer an exed elon" Will breathe once
more his native air, and dwell again upon land which
his noble heart ardeny yeaned TO see liberated rom
degrading bondage.
Yes Ireland will ye, be free. God has written IT. as
with sunbeam, on the dark skies that now o'erhang
that sorrowing land. IL is physically impossible, II Is
morally impossible, II is contrary 10 the providence oi
God, that eight mlioHs Of people, gifted with eminent
virtues with great intellectual facutes with lndomabe
energies with heroic courage, with productive SOIL
with genial cmae-singed out, as II were, by the
favor of Heaven and blessed with all the elements not
only of individual happiness, but OF true, solid, lasting
national renown--t is impossible, | say, that such a
people can remain much longer their present degraded,
destitute impoverished condition. II IS utterly lmpos-
sble What then, wanted TO redeem Ireland, and TO
lift her 10 the very pinnacle OF national greatness
union of hearts and Of hands-ihat union which knit in
holy brotherhood the men OF our own glorons evou-
lioh-and one firm resolve-that resolve which fired
their soulshe resolve 10 be Free Ireland has the pow
er--shc only needs the pRf TO be free.
ooh, ir the men OF Erin knew
Their own inherent power
II to themselves they were but true,
They'd not be slaves this hour!
Ifoue great truth they would but learn
ftho tcomd be free nna 'cW IL
With strong resolve each heart would burn.
No coward fear would chin IT."
Yes the rH TO be free-tbe resope to be free-would
prove the precursor OF a glorious achievement lhe
Duke of Wellington once boasted that with regiment OF
Irshmen he would not fear 10 meet the deyll ana an
his imps-whon, then, should Ireland in arms fear
Oh ,hcy'd drive the foe before them waves sweep
the pebbles from the strand
The necessity Of thp union OF sentiment and acnon l
am clad TO perceive, is becoming apparent to the
people OF Ireland Fewer dssensl lons prevail The ma