Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-06
DANIEL O'CONNELL.

DANIEL O'CONNELL.
saw him on the morning he received his
sentence. He came alone into the little robng
room where | used to keep my wig and gown,
and donned his professional habiments, his
sken robes of Queen counsel, and his bar Wig.
AS he exchanged for this the curly, nutty-
brown 'iassey" he usually wore, observed his
head was entirely devoid of hair. He Was as
bald as the first Cesar
When the Chief Justice, Pennefather, pro-
nounced seu,ence-he had been the agitator' S
personal enemy and professional rival through
his whole career-I Doticed bitter smile hit
over the old man's face. O'Connell then re-
tired through side door where Col. browte
the Chief Commissioner of Police, was walt
lug to receive him. Browne, who is still live,
told me that be had his owu carriage drawn
close up to the outer door, into which he hand
ed the State prisoner, taxing seat by his side
and drawing up the blinds Crowds of trieze-
clad peasants lined the quays; an aogry scowl
was upon every face and an ufuriated multi
tude surged the streets of the metropolis. The
morning was' gloomy; thick fakes Of sDow
were beginning to fall; deep execrations filed
the air as the popular favorite was borne
slowly away, for the coachman was unable to
move bis horses faster than at toot'pace.
Observing this state Of affairs, and that the
aogry mob was pressing close upon the car
riage, Coeuel Browne, who in his time had
led more than one foriorn hope, told me that
he felt the emergency of the situation. He
took ou, a case Of loaded pistols, cooked and
laid them upon his knee When O'Conuel
saw this he smiled. "a wise precaution,' be
said, but useless" If were only to raise my
hand you would be 10 eternity and these
words which he uttered were full of significant
meaning. When its passions arc aroused
Dublin mob is very terrible. 1t took Chief
Justice out of his carriage once and tore him
to pieces on the spot.
Oue word from O. Coupell on that morning
would have caused a revolution. Formidable
military precautions had been taken-the
troops were under arms, cannon were so placed
as to command the thoroughfares-bu | do
believe that if the signal had been given the
whole country would have arisen. and to ami
hiate au entire nation Gy grape-shot would not
have been an easy matter. The prisoner was
conveyed in safety to Kimanham, but for
maUy days afterward the prison was surround.
ed by au infurated throug. There never, | be-
lieve, lived in the history Of any country man
who had the same extraordinary hold over The
affections OF an entire patton as O'Conuell had
over the Irish. He was the greatest popular
leader ever known. No one who reads these
pages eau, apprehend, form any adequate
idea OF what those monster meetings we're
which this mau called together aud inhamed
with his fiery, vigorous eluqueDce.
From the summit of some hill, where the
tribune took up commanding position, you
could have seen-thousapds deep-the serried
and compact raDks Of vigorous men (the sta.
ture of the Irish peasants usually averages six
r.. VIII tad rpifh
every emotion called forth by the impassioned
orator. These we're the manner Of men this
tribune led They believed every word which
fell from his lips, and they would have follow
ed him 50 the cannon S mouth, or to the gates
of a place which is uumentioDable. Aud when
| think of his unbounded influence, the iormi
dable organization he had erected, with the
priesthood at his back, and though them the
entire popuace,< and remember huw he failed
10 obtainiug the object Of his ambition, and
contrast with that organization the pupy move
meot 10 favor of Home Rule, which is but
the repeal of the Union 10 another form, led
by an unstable Queens counsel, then all can
say upon the subject to my countrymen is
don they wish they may get it
Notwithstanding Grattan's assertion to the
contrary, believe 0 Connell's patriotism was
geuuiue sentiment. He incurred much OBJ
loquy by collecting rent in pence from the peo-
pie, which amounted often to many thousands
year; but then it must be remembered that
he gave up large professional income in Or
ges to the redress of what he thought their
grievances He was admitted on all hands
to be the ablest lawyer Of his day. He could
drive, as he boasted, coach and four though
any act of Parliament. No jury could withstand
his influence he played upon their passions,
their synpathies and their prejudices as if they
wcr the chords of some musical instrument. tie
was the greatest verdict-getter at the Irish bar,
and his subtlety 10 40 argument would bafti. the
ingenuity of the subtlest judicial intellect. This
man had within his grasp the very highest
distinctions open to honorable professional am
bitiou (he might have been Lord Chancellor,
with peerage,) but he threw them all away
to follow u chimera, and the lesson his career
teaches should be laid to heart by any profess
slonal agitator who tries to follow his foot
steps.
The end OF all was that he died at last brok-
en-hearted and worn out, in foreign country.
But who shall say he was not sincere Not
withstandlng the enormous sums which passed
through his hauds io the entire patronage of
Ireland, which the government placed at bis
disposal, he died not worth one shilling, and
meut during the after part of his life. | know
upon yet good autbyrity, that having occasion
ouce for the sum OF $500, he was obliged to
borrow it on mortgage of his law library
The leuder afterward called in the money.
U OConnell could not command it; he was obg-
ed to apply to another lender; and this mort
gage was transferred time after time, aud It
was 10 existence up to the very last day Of bis
life. te.-Belgroria.
NJ OTICE-The Sixth Annual Meeting of the
~ FAIRFAX INDEPENDENT MUTU-
AL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY will be