The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-26
TIE DAILY DIsPATCH


i On Mordss - EkIH FROM MEA(3HER
/ a. ,se s,sssS evening, 1t six o'clock. P- 4
m.u Ssc.s.. Yesterdays Herald the rh.s..
Club, met for the purpose nf = ,..ae sae 1.eagher
inomas Francis meagher, Their ,l;.s;,a.s 20:
counIryman, with an nddress. and d ulsned
resolutions passed at q late mee,;.. sopy q
body; also with beautiful edith. 81 ~ Y. ,ner as
| tory Of George Washington, and R.ns.raa..s,I ras
History OF the United States. The booI ..a..
splendidly bound, and inscribed with ,he !. c,s
Of Mr.. MeagheF. - a'''s
| After thanking them for their beautiful ana
useful present, Mr.. N. continued--
As he had already said, the feelings and
convictions which brought him to the prison
had undergone no change. Fart from beips
so, they had been confirmed aud improved.---
He was not republican in 1S48-he adhered
then to the charter Of Dungannon. A monu.
ment OF the hnest incident in their history, be
looked upon il with pride and reverence; and
believing II was generous 10 its provisions, be
would have accepted il as sufficient guaran.
tee for the growth Of their fortune and the sta.
bility Of their freedom. But the prison was q
| dangerous school for Tevolted subjects 10 be
sent to. In the solitude which sanctiiied il
| nothing interposed between the awakened
mind and the opening hsavens-ihe space be-
tween il aud the light was free-nolhing inter.
convinced that republcanism was the pures,
and loftiest system OF government; but, being
so, II required from the people amongst whom
IL was established, the greatest amount oil
public virtue and intelligence. From the esti.
mate ne had formed OF il. in the event of her
present condition being altered, and her char
acter being chastened and exalted, he should
vote Tor the Inauguration of republicanism in
Ireland. Besides, il was fatal to leave reyolu.
tons incomplete. A compromise between
adverse principles was productive, in the end,
OF the most disastrous recriminations. Ii con-
ceaied, lostered, and iermented the ennities
winch should have been utterly destroyed.-
1t gave time and space for wounded passions
70 revive, and, under the disguise OF the fairest
virtues, to conspire for the resuscila,ion of the
mos mos, malignant errors. he constitution oil
lo2 would be a compromise.
ror season, as heretofore, 1t might imparf
statelier attitude and aspect to the island;
butit would neither cleanse nor eradicate the
cancer which had preyed upon her vitality
within. Thus far, mad his opinions UNDER
gone change. ln no other respect had they
oeeh altered. Now, as heretofore, he disclaim
ed the English rule IN Ireland. Now, as here
totore, he respected, honored, and loved his
country. Now, as heretofore, he chung 10 the
nope and project of her freedom. But OF that
ior him TO speak. Her name sounded like a
funeral hymn. 1t told OF land, the Joy of
whose heart had ceased-whose Inheritance
was turned to strangers, and whose houses to
aiiens-wh0se young men we're gone into CAP
tivIty-whose cities were solitary that were
tull OF people, and whose gates we're desolaie,
Of that land they had heard him speak, when
the light OF a new destiny-beautiful as the
hight which shOne over the face Of the prophet
revealed her in defiant attitude to the world.
he did not then pause for words. He should not
pause now, were he TO behold the same trans
hguratiJn. ltwas painful for them to be there,
and have to own that they belonged TO coun.
try which along the great highway of nations,
moved on uncharlerd and unrecognized. II
was Calling thought. II flooded the heart
with bitterness. and flushed the honest cheek
with shame. The glory OF free country des-
cended upon each one of her children--ihe
poorest overland they walked the world re-
ssected. They bore credentials which emit.
lied them TO the hospitality, and, il might be,
to the homage Of the stranger. II was painful
for them, as he had said, to be there, aud feel
they had 10 such country. IL was still more
painful TO reflect that the last effort for her free.
dom had eventuated in SO ignoble discomfi-
ture. But not for her glories only, but for her
sorrows also, should nation be remembered
by her sons. 1t was beautiful and holy love
which clung to the fallen, and smiled above the
sick. 1t was one OF the beautiludes. Hymns
accompanied ii upon earth-tbere was crown
for it in heaven. This il was which filed the
soul Of her noblest son when there fell from
hintht y words ofso,rwful sublimity Here
shall remainanchored faithful tothe fortun.
es Of my country-faithful 10 her Geedom-
faithful to her fall"
From generation to generation, the sacred
G Ri lo~ IoI ~x,1
cave, from castle and cathedral, from the SEN
ate and the scaffold, through song and legend.
through tears and joyousness, through the
lighfnngs OF the hattie storm and rhe red hnZe
OF martyrdom, il had been faithfully transmit
ted. That generation should not be the FIRST
10 which il should be sacriligiousIy exfin-
guished. Ii was true that the tone and atfi-
tude OF Ireland, at that moment, is little calcu-
lated 10 excite hopefulness or joy. Bat the
humber that altitude, the more sabdued that
tone, the more forcibIy did il become the duty
OF all who loved her TO speak the language of
encouragement. Ii was grieyous error to
inspire false hopes-it was yet more criminal
to inculcate despair. He would keep alive
the feelings, keep alive the hopes, which down
even TO our day, have borne her with uncon-
querable endurance through the agony ofages.
So long as these feelings throbbed these hopes
burned, there was an Irish nation in existence.
One, indeed, without the arms and insignia,
but with the soul and susceptibiliiies Of a ma
fion. The honor of nafion--her wealth.
her greatness-what were these They were
the emanations of the soul that dwelt within
her, and the freedom OF q nation ID but that
soul in its highest slate OF action. For one he
could not give up the hope of seeing the land
of his nativity invested with the high degrees
and honors of nation. 10 every yicissiludc
that hope had been 60 him y higher life. Be-
fore cloud had crossed il, il filled his heart
with rapture. II was The strength and impulse
of his boyhood. In the light il threw around
was disclosed TO him nobler world than the
school books spoke OF. Whatever intellect
was in him, il ievDked-vhatevef goodness was
implanted in his nature. il warmed into gem
erous activity. To see il verified, was ihs
prayer, anxiety. and labor Of his early man-
hood. In that season, Il wrought upon him q
redeeming influence.
From thai faiihless and s0rdid word ID
which many pure affection withersd and de
rayed, il bore him upwards with the power Of
Z holy vision, and thus preserved from per
lions coniagion-- preserved them ffesh and ID
coruplible-she good thoughisand aspirations
n his smith n fk.e dawu af ksa axSia A. sf..s