The Sun. — 1831-11-19 (London, England)

DANIEL O'CONNELL.  TO TIIE PEOPLE OF IRELAND. Merrion-square, Nov. 13. Fellow Countrymen,—Yon have above the prospectus of a plan for a Nation Political Union. I submit it to your deliberate consideration and judgment. It raises two separate and distinct questions for your deli heration : First,—ls it necessary or advisable to form a Political Union ? And if it be— Secondly,—Whether the plan I propose be the best suited for the occasion ? The second question involves every species of modification in the details. No person can be more ready than I am to attend to every suggestion which may tend to increase the utility, or to facilitate the working of any plan for the advantage of the people of Ireland. The important consideration is, whether such a political body would afford a reasonable prospect of doing good to  Ireland. Upon this subject, I acknowledge I entertain no kind o doubt that it is not only advisable, but absolutely necessary, to constitute, without delay, some such combination—a combination which may include within it every man, no matter what may be his station in life, or his creed, who may be desirous to prevent domestic strife and confusion, and to procure political amelioration, by a constitutional and legal course, and without commotion, bloodshed, or the violation of any human law, or the commission of any crime before God. Every man of that description—every man who is desirous to put an end to our religious feuds—every man convinced of the impolicy of continuing division and dissension in Ireland--every friend to rational liberty—every lover of the peace, prosperity, and freedom of Ireland— should combine together to put down faction—to annihilate corrupt influence and monopoly—and to obtain constitutional rights and perfect protection for all men. Such a combination is essentially necessary, and the present period is precisely the most fit for its formation. I ground this assertion on the following reasons : First,—The great, the paramount; the giant evil of Ireland, has been religious dissension. We were politically and morally divided, in order that we might become weak by that division, whilst it gave strength to the enemies of our country. Divison was not only the cause, as is inevitable, of nations! weakness, but was also the prolific parent of monstrous crime, unchristian hatred, violent strife, bloodshed, and murder. Religious controversy was amongst us, excited, I fear, by the spirit of party, rather than by charitable zeal, or the desire to enlighten ignorance or extend the truth. To triumph over sectarian hostility was, perhaps, a more inciting propensity than to maintain the faith of God, er to glorify his power and holy name. The curse of religious dissension has been upon ue—it has blasted the energies of our country, like a poisoning blight or destrt:ctive pestilence. Ireland, with more natural, physical, and mental resources than 5-6ths of the independent nations of Europe,—lreland, the best situated for, and the most capable of, natural prosperity of all the countries in the western world,—with all these advantag, a Ireland is a miserable province—a pitiful pelting farm of the absentee and the stranger—with a declining trade—a fading population—industry palsied—manufactures extinguishing—poverty accumulating—and hope disappearing from the political horizon. But hope shall not—must not—disappear. We know the cause—the source of our political evils. We all know that it is to be found in religious dissension. What, then, is the duty of every honest Irishman ? To take away that cause—to bury it in eternal oblivion. To bear every thing,—to forbear, ro exhort, to counsel, to set the example of perfect charity and of genuine reconciliation. But the efforts of individuals, if isolated, may be easily defeated. The struggles of each, by himself, may be resisted or counteracted. Let us then combine; let the good men of every sect and party combine in a great National Union, capable of extending its influence over al I Ireland, and of every where, and on all occasions, discountenancing dissension, party spirit, and religious aui