O'CONNELL AND THE PEERS.
THE O'CoNsmt-phobia was strong on the Tory Peers on Mon- day night. Aceording to Lords WINCHILSEA, RODEN, and WICKLOW, the object of Government in remodelling the Irish Police is to place it entirely under the control of O'CONNELL. They could not deny the necessity of such a measure as the Con- stabultuy Bill; but then, it empowered the Lord-Lieutenant to ap- point Police Inspectors. and them was no clause of exclusion against Mr. MAuRICE or Mr. MORGAN O'CONNELL by name ; so that the anticipated enoimity of either of these gentlemen, superseding Colonel SHAWKIENNEDV, might actually occur. Lord WICKLOW as- sured the House that O'CONNELL was Lord MELBOURNE'S " Mas- ter ;" aod Loid RonsN said that the bill was introduced in compli- ance with the dictates and to promote the purposes of the Agitator. Let us suppose that these noble louts spoke what they believed to be true: let us give them credit for being actuated as legisla- tors by that contempt:hie. &wish dread of O'CONNELL. with which they profess to be haunted day and night. They do not fear O'CONNELL metely because he is a Liberal, a foe to the system of irresponsible legislation, and to a State Church : there are millions who think with him on those points, whose opinions are totted) distegaided by the Peers. They fear O'CONNELL be- cause he is sow erful ; but they never seem to trouble themselves with inquiring whence he derives his all-commanding, influence. He is unconnected with the wealthy and high-born; a private gentleman of moderate fortune, brought up to the bar. That he is a person of superior talent, especrally oratorical talent, nobody disputes; and his energy, physical and mental, is extraordinary. Still, these oualifications would . -ser have thised C CoNNELL to his present eminence had been exerted on the anti- popular side. As a Tory, the Agitator would have been a com- paratively insignificant person. It is because be tepresents the opinions of the bish nation, and of a very large propottion of Englishmen and Seutehmete that he is enabled to him Tory Dukes out if (ace, and virtually dictate to the Monaleh who shall or shall not be Minister. Let hitn run counter to public opinion, and O'CONNELL will become little mere than an el( queet declaimer. Ile must be sensible that he holds his infloence on this tenure: for we have seen repeatedly that he has modified his opinions, and changed his course of action, in compliance with the ascertained bearing of the public mind.
It follows, in the first place. horn these undeniable truths, that Mont:is:Lis influence can never berome dangerous to the liberties or wellbeing of the community. When his policy ceases t ) be national. he will lose the ability to wield a nation's power, and the authority to sl eak in a nation's voice. If his efforts to obtain justice for his country should be successful, his irregular influ- ence will be in a gavot measure destroy( tl, because there u ill be no moth e fie- investing any individual with such extramdinaty authority. It is the nece.sity of giving concentrated expression to the popular will, which induces his compatriots to give way on all occasions to O'CONNELL, and elect him as their chief. Good governmr fit iii Ireland will do away with that necessity. if the Peers would reflect upon the source of OCONNELL's in- fluence, they would peiceive that their railing against it is a con- fession of their unavailing opposition to the force of public opinion. O'CONNELL is not a bereughmonger, who purchases uncon-titu- tional out boriry in the House of Commons by means of his enor- mous wealth: he is no Caostwsts.. with an army at his command to overawe the King and the Legislature. Ile is simpl■ the representative, as we have said, of the Irish nation, w ho has learned to steer his course in compliance with the constitutional views of the Blitish Relianters. Those, therefore, who continu- ally Oily him, only insult that public Whose organ be is: and they may take this for comfint, that as bug as it seems to their wisdom to be worth their while to abuse him. so long will their attacks lecoil rpon themselves. and augment O'CONNELL's popu- larity and intim nee. The Peers are contending with a power " mightier far than they --against the current of public opinion —while they blindly imagine that their foe is simply DANIEL O'CONNELL.
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