Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-02-27

Iested, and well disposed III all us paris, lttpu |
Tor the impovcrishment and the degradation Of
the people, and the debasing III them Ut human
nature itself"
The after-history Of Ireland is the record OF
the frequent aud generous, but unavaing,
struggles to cast of that code, and later to re-
deem The country from its de,olating effects.
In the year l7SS, Grattcn, Burke, and Flood,
profting by the enthusiasm awakened through
out the world by the American Revolution, and
by the embarrassment which the british Cow
eminent suffered IN consequence oil it, succeed
cd IN obtaining from the British Parliament
some relaxation oi the rigors OF that penal code
IN regard to education and the rights OF pro-
perry aud in the year 1882, wien the eXigen-
ctes of the British Government had become
more alarming, they succeeded in obtaining
llom the British King aud Parliament a rcnun-
cation OF Legislative and sovereg IN power over
the kingdom of Ireland; aud it was expressed
in these solemu and memorable words
The rights ciaued 10y the people OF ireland, to
1r huuud uuIy 10y laws enacted uy hls May sly HuG
ne ilramcnt al that KIN Gdpn. are cstao lS.i"d, and
d, no tmc hereafter shall be questioned question.
ah,'.'
Ireland exalted for = iclirious moment in ma
tional Independence rcgaiucd. 1t was only for
momrut, aud it was dclirum. Ireland re.
qnircd the repeal Of tho pena code, and de-
nandcd a Constitution. The Parliament OF
the Pale, constituted by the Protestant popuIa-
ton alone, and being in the interest Of Eng
land refused both. Discomfort, wide and deep
pcrvadcd the Irish people. Emmett, Fitzgerald,
and their associates, in lbs, couspired to raise
the standard Of instruction; but they wee
betrayed, and the rebellion was crushed in the
germ. The Government IT Great Britain now
assumed that the people OF Ireland had fully
and fairly tried the experiment, ana mad proved
themselves incapable al exercising the fran.
chl.c of self government; tlcnccturth it was
assumed that the people Of Ireland were and
must be governed Ivy Great Britain. The Bii
| jsh Parliament, therefore, sent down to the Par.
lament Of the Pale the 50 called ''act OF ution,"
aud IN the year - that mockery Of lcuis.
Iaturc surrendered It's prrflouS and p'rnc Gus
existence. By the act of union, Ireland in
name was united to tie Brli>h Government.
but was, in fact, ab,oSe and became pro-
iuae IT the British empire, with only the shadow
of the representation Of the Protestant minority
of the Klrldcm. Daniel O'ConnclI a juri,t
and an tdyocac nt surprising genius eli -
qucnce, aud learning, intprriug from the fail
ure OF the rebellion vt 1898, that the time for
martial reyol alton had passed, at least for the
present, conceived the bold purpose of obtains
lag a change Of the Constitution, and res
loraon Of his country to her place among the
nations Of the earth, by scheme OF civil All
taton keeping always within The restraints OF
the law, aud looking 10 the end through tie nj,
innate consent Of the King aud Parliament, of
England. In the year 1929 he obtained a sir.
nal triumph in the passage of The act of sea
rholic emancipation" There remained but on,
step more from that memorable achievement Il
1 the restoration Of the independence ana free.
dom Of Ireland. That step was the repeal o
4 'thc act Of union" But he rum which Burk,
= had prcdicaled as the baietu fruit of the pena
y code had come on, and pressed too harI upor
a the feet Of the ag'ators. Ireland could no
G wait the slow ana doubtful result of civil api
,a,ior. The nation dl ded between the par,le
of sod lrcland,' iolI""lng The brave DAME
iO'Counel and his peaceful standard, an
u Young lroIand,' under the guidance Ct Wi
l. liam Smith o iiren and advocating tie ,turl
to the strategy OF arms.
Now, SIT, IN point of fact, It Is possible tina
even it the Irish people had remained united
neither Of hose systems could hay" been sue
eos 'ul. But It IS certain that when they dl
: yided and broke. both system; signlly fIlcf
DANIEL O'Conncl died vt broken hrlrt. a
Genoa, on pilgrimage to Rome : and William
= smith q BrCn, the lcndcr vt the rlslI rcbc
t on. being lonud without attendants, anus. O
=, .roops. was arrested, convicted Of blgl treason
! sentenced to- he executed, md, his sentence
T being couur'cI by the Crown, he rs now
prisoner IN Van Dlemln'5 Land Smultan
- couSiy starvation and p"Stll'ucc >tp,kcd turoun
70 the land Dc1opululon acquired trjgi tn
= momentum, and, continuing ever since, ma
furnished tic last proof that even the mos
! skcptlc, could require, that never on cart