21 JANUARY 1837, Page 5

Mr. O'Connell visited his constituents at Kilkenny on Monday. A

few miles from the town, he was met by a procession of the varioes trades, with banners and music, and escorted in triumph to the Cour- hems, : where at numerous hotly of the inhabitants had as=embled, with the :`.:•:yor of Kilkenny in the chair. Mr. O'Connell asked if any pers. e present was dissatisfied with his conduct, or differed from his opimons ? A person in the crowd said—" Yes, from your opinions oa the i'ooraaws." 3Ir. O'Connell said, that was exactly the kind of :sumer he invited. As, with that exception, there was no complaint against him, he should withhold the resignation he bad proposs1 to tender. He proceeded to defend bilinear from the ciairee 1:rongl: against him in England on amount of his vote on Mr. Pmmlett Thom- son's Factory Bill of last session ; explainine, that be merely voted for the second t ceding of that on the faith of strong assertions made in the House, and nut contradicted, that it would be a benefit to the chil- dren, whose health and general condition had beers greatly improved since the time when he so strongly denounced the cruelties of the old system. By voting for the second reading, he merely signified his wish that the truth or falsehoods of the assertions of the manufacturers might be tested in Committee; and if they were not proved to be tree, he should have voted against the bill. As to the Poor-laws. Mr. O'Connell merely repeated the doctrines be has recently upheld on that subject. He avowed his determination to give his strenuous sup- port to Ministers ; which declaration was received with unanimous

cheers.

Mr. John Power, son of 31rs. Sheil, will be the Liberal candidate for Dungarvatt. At the next election, it is said that Mr. Sheil will step into Dungarvan, leaving Tipperary open to Mr. Power, who has extensive possessions in that county.

Mr. W. S. O'Brien, M. P. for Limerick, has issued an address to his constituents in which he attacks Mr. O'Connell for the remarks he made in a letter, addressed to the electors of Limerick on his conduct. Mr. O'Brien accuses Mr. O'Connell of inconsistency, in now op- posing a State provision for the Catholic Clergy, when in 1825 he was a strqng advocate of such a measure. And with respect to the Ballot, Mr. O'Brien reasserts his former opinion, that in the absence of all sinister influence, an open system of voting is in all respects preferable to the secret exercise of the franchise. Mr. O'Brien says he will sieves consent to be the slave or tool of Mr. O'Connell ; and that the latter, knowing him to be independent, wishes to substitute an adherent of his own in the county of Limerick. The Dublin Evening Post says that the heads of the Roman Catho- lic Church in Ireland will most energetically oppose any arrangement for a State provision for their clergy.

The registrations continue to be in favour of the Liberals in almost every county.