New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-12

~ Sess.o
on the banks Of the Boyne, Ireland capstulaied to
the Government OF the Pale stlpulating, neverthe
less, for liberty OF conscience, which was solemnly
guaranteed by the treaty Of Limerick, aud con-
hrmed by William and Mary, the common Sover-
eiens Of united realms, but England perssvered
in her policy, and changed the only means EN-.
poy ed, perfoiousy breaking the covenant OF peace
she substituted csfraEchislng penal code for her
armies, and the sword was Withdrawn 10 DO re-
placed by the schafiod. Burke describes the afro
cities Of that system In the following prophetic Ian
euage:
II is a system well diges,ed and we'll disposed in
all Its parts machine of wise and elaborate con-
trlvsnce, we'll fitted for the impOverishmen, and
degradation Of the people, and tae ceoasement OF
human nature Itself" The after history OF ireland
is record OF the frequent but uaayailIpg struggles
to cast of that code and redeem the coul,ry from
its Circulating effects. In rs. Grai.an Burke and
Flood catching inspiration from the Aneric an Rev
olutoD, and availing themselves OF the emb inass-
ment OF England resulting ftom II, obtained some
relaxation OF the severity OF that religious despoi.
ISM and IN 50, when the exigencieS OF the Enoire
were alarming, the British Parliament, in the most
solemn manner, renounced Its usurped supremacy,
and declared with the consent OF the King that the
rights claimed by the people OF Ireland 20 be bound
only by laws enacted by his Majesty and the Parlia-
ment OF Ireland, shall be, and are established and
shall at no time hereafter be questioned or question
able.
Ireland exulted for one delicious moment, In Ma
tonai independence gained, but she Nation needed
and therefore demanded ao. ogatlon OF the penal
code and new Constitution. The Parliament OF the
Pale, in the interest OF England refused both. Dscon-
tent spread deeply and widely. Emmett, Fitzgerald.
and their associates in '9s conspired to raise the
standard OF rebellion, but were beuaved and reyolu-
ton was crushed in the germ The British Govern
men! assumed that the lTish people had tried the
experiment OF seltgoyernment, ana proved them
selves incompetent. They sent down to the Parlia-
ment of the Pale, the so-called act OF the Union.
That mock Legislature, In $500, confirmed the acs
and gave up It's depraved and pernic,ous existence,
and Ireland, ID name united was then In fact alb
sorbed by the British Empire, with mssger repre-
entation Of only
The Telegraph, which works quite unntelligibly
to-day here omiis paragraph
The Protestant ministry in the Imperial Psrla.
ment inferred from the sad failure OF the OF U.s.
that the possibility of martial revolution had passed
away. at least for a time
O'Connell. jurist and advocate of surprising
sagacity and eloQueDce, conceived and put IN exc
cution scheme of agitation, within the restraints
OF the law, TO effect, by Parliamentary consent,
change of the Constitution. He achieved a signal
triumph, in 1929, in the fact Of Catholic Emsncpa-
ton. There remained one step more--the repeal Of
the Act OF Union. But the rum Of the Irish people
pressed too fearfully on to wait the slow and doubt.
full success OF civic agitation, encounterng ne and
more stringent laws. The nation divided itself be-
tween the party OF Old Ireland, under OConnells
lead and that which. under the banner OF Young
Ireland aud under the guidance Of William Smith
OBrien, demanded resort to the strategy OF arms.
Perhaps neither system would have proved efec-
tive even had union and harmony continued. Ger
tain 1t is that when the people divided both systems
signally failed. O'Connel died OF a broken heart at
Gtn9a, on pilgrimage 10 Rome, ana " btien is
prisoner in Van Dieman's Land. simultaneously
with their failure poverty and pestlence went forth
throughout Ireland-depopulation advanced with
frrehful rapldity, and thus established Beyond de-
NAL or doubt that never on earth was revolution
more necessary or just than 1t would have been
in that most unhappy land. II is not my purpose by
this review to kndle resentments against England,
or against the Protestants OF Great Britain. dis
clam aid dlsdaln the parusanshp IN regard 10 mis-.
The ruin of Ireland has Justly filed England with
rot only sadness but a fearful apprehension OF the
decline Of the British Empire itself OConnetwas
a Catholic. O'Brien is Protestant. Rage OF sects
has long since died away IN the agony OF a catasno-
phe which has brought on all alike promscuous and
discriminating distress.
The policy Of England was the error Of the age,
and the fault OF systems. rnls is ner suiiciens
apology but on an occasion like this Ireland Is
entitled to dlspassonate vindicaton, is entitled 70
our respect and our sympathy. That sympathy de-
rives intenseness from the conceded genius and the
proverbal virtues OF Irish people.
The plains of Waterloo and nights OF Quebec bear
wiine SIS that they are brave and skilnl in war like
the Greek, they have In their political decline, en-
chanted the world with Wit and song and eloquence
confdns and generous 70 a fault while In thelr
whole history does not OCCUR one instance OF the In.
diligence OF unlawful ambition.
Is not then the tribute proposed by this resolution
due from the United States on such an occasion to
such people shall be answered, that question OF
clemency is not for US but for Great Britain. This
IS true, but men and nations are swayed
by persuasion. II may be said that
MBlle as Int lvluudlS We may lawfully bymptbnlLo
cannot express these sympathies as nation
this seems to DO equivd 70 saying tnat We may
indulge in unavailinR sentiment but shall NOT eref.
else active benev0lence. There is only one code or
morality for mankind, in all crcums, ances, condi.
lions and relations, and Its direct and cOmprehen-
sive obligations jbind them equally as subjects,
citizens and individuals, and but 10 Is said that
we may not lawfully intervene in the affairs Of
another sovereign State.
So indeed We may net, for injudicious purposes,
or even for benehcent ones by force, but under
law of nations as perfected on Christian principles,
the several civilized States are regarded consa
tutlDg one great Commonwealth. While no one can
nghtfully encToach the absolute rights Of another,
interfere with tho conduct OF its domestic affairs,
there is still allowed and eDOned the practice OF
national coutesies, hospitaliIes and agreeable and
chaTitab. e Offices.
Montesqueu tells us that the la ws OF nations arc
founded on the principle that nations in peace ought
TO do for each other the mos. good and in wars the
least hahn possible without iDJurng their own real
interest
Again, it is said that this will become precedent
for mischievous Intervention against US hereafter.
Certainly, we do not distrust our own wisdom In
the future. Let US believe, then as we ought that
our successors, In their days and generations, VIII
be as vie, at least, as we now are. II a foreign
power shall claim to exercise privilege which we
are now assuming and conhne itself within the same
limits, We shall have nothing to complain OF II u
shall claim greater privilege, We shall be a! h'eHy
tO'Tefuse 1t altogether.
But Mr.. President, this question involves the pc.
stioDs and relations of the respective parties con-
ceTLed. The people OF Ireland are affiliated 10 US
by consequently, as We are to the people OF Greh
Bliain. Surely, the younger may, without ohease,
offer It's mediation between the elder branches ola
common family.
And what II Great Britain should take ofensei
We no longer stand IN awe OF her power, and she
knows that rig ut well. II she should repuse be-
nevoeLt and lawful suggestion, why, then, she
would BE In the wrong, and we should be justified
But Great Britain will not take ofense her dignity
and glory are TOO well assured to need to be sat
taiLed by any afectati0n of wounded senslbiligy.
Nor will Great Britain refuse the boon propose 10
ask. She knows that all needless law is as uawle
as Il is unjust.
She knows that Ireland's section profoundly
sleefs If 1t be not, as the Senator from Illinois sup
uO,ed, dead. She knows shat clemency will pro.
iorg lis siumbers. she knows the virtue Of mag.
ranmity and the benefits that its practice brings
She will thank us for the suggestion TO act In such
q case ON he own meflf0riOns nrincinla. % Pzrc1E