IRELAND.
The cause of Repeal has gone through odd phases this week : its present position is more uncertain than at any former time. In our last number were indicated the preliminary steps—the overtures by each party—made towards a union of the Repealers and the Confederates in a single Irish League. The negotiations went on, and were understood to be within the last touch of completion. The Nation and Freeman's Journal emulated each other in joyful announcement of the terms of union, and anticipation of glorious results for Repeal. The Freeman's Journal stated, that " the inestimable labours " of the conference of leaders had issued in a plan to be entitled the "Irish League for the attainment of the Legislative Inde- pendence of Ireland" through the "union of all Irishmen and the concen- tration of' public opinion." The management of the new body would be a committee formed of the present committees of the Repeal Association and the Confederation: this body to have power to prevent any discussion not previously sanctioned from being brought before the League. No member to be bound by another's expressed opinions; and no sectarian topics to be introduced. The Freeman's Journal concluded its sketch with this re- mark— " Such is the outline of the constitution of the Irish League; which is destined to embrace within it the whole population of this island, to combine the scattered elements of strength, and sway the destinies of this people, until the time shall have arrived when it will honourably abdicate its great and glorious functions in favour of its legitimate successor—the Queen, Lords, and Commons of Ireland." The Nation added these particulars- " The vital strength of the new organization will spring from the Clubs. They will at once reduce disorder and uncertainty to clearness and system. They will give us the real working strength of the Repeal party, and give it in the meet manageable and effective way. They will increase the facilities of communica- tion, like a system of railways and telegraphs." " Ideas, to be preached with suc- cess to the people at this hour, must be expressed in action. It is the only lan- guage of which they are tolerant. They ask to have the vehement oratory of the tribune translated into the significant hieroglyphics of Repeal Clubs. One month's labour in knitting together the force of the country, and concentrating its ener- gies in this manner, will give it greater heart than all other conceivable opera- tions."
The two existing associations looked forward to their next as to their last days of meeting in separate existence: notices of motions for adjournment sine die were on the books against the day in this week on which the new League should be born. In this position were affairs on Saturday morn- ing. On that day,however, Mr. John O'Connell wrote to his "dear Gray," fearing that he had been much too premature in the anticipations of union in his leading article of that day's Morning Journal. In the Evening Jour- nal appeared a note from Mr. John O'Connell, explicitly stating his regret that " the desired coalition of Repealers was not so immediately practicable as had been predicted" in that morning's paper; and that he had received, from a most important quarter, a remonstrance couched in the very strong- est terms, against giving up the Repeal Association, founded by Daniel O'Connell. His note hinted also at difficulties of detail, upon points of great importance. Ho ended by praying Repeaters to understand that nothing was yet settled. The perplexity and indignation into which the newspapers and most of their readers were thrown by this communication was not re- moved till the Repeal Association met, on Monday. A very large audi- ence assembled then, to hear Mr. O'Connell's explanations. Mr. Galway presided; and opened the business with a speech implying that the union of the two bodies was an open question.
He himself desired to stick to the institution Daniel O'Connell had given them; but to modify it so as to snit the exigencies of the country and the times. The idea of union was started by the eloquent and patriotic Dr. Miley; and the con- stitution of the projected body had been confided to Sir Colman O'Loghlen, and been sanctioned by the chosen son of their departed leader. Mr. John O'Connell, before a ratification of the terms of concession, had insisted that they should be printed and transmitted for the judgment of the Roman Catholic clergy of Ire- land. It was designed to concentrate public opinion on the subject; and not to appeal to arms, as some might suppose. He thought be beard a suggestion to take up arms. (Cries of " Yes, yes!" "To be sure.") He proposed no such thing. (Loud interruptions.) But if any honest father seriously asked to know his legitimate rights, he said at once, "Take arms, carry them, and use them— for your defence; they are a right inalienable, and must not be denied !" • • * "The English law and constitution recognized three weapons,—the tongue, the pen,Anil the sword. The two first were the weapons of reason. The use of the sword Who described by Blackstone; who said, `that it was the right of every subject to awry arms for his self-defence.' All weapons were liable to abuse; and it was the abuse, not the use of arms, that the law forbade. But. no power of language could form a more sublime spectacle than an entire.people' rising in ems— tolefeld those rights and privileges which reason approved of, but which a tyrant would destroy. This was, however, a subject which ought not to be made a frequent topic of discussion in popular assemblies. He was persuaded that if he came there every Monday morning, and preached the doctrine that every man had a right to arm, they would soon have a pair of police sergeants at the door of the hall; the building would be closed up altogether; secret societies would spring up amongst the people, and he himself would soon find himself in the dock at Green Street.'
It is stated that during the end of Mr. Galway's speech Mr. O'Connell fidgeted much, and at last hastily retreated—to return only when the Chairman had quite finished. Mr. Ray, the Secretary, then read a num- ber of letters received from persons objecting to the amalgamation of the two bodies of Repealers. The Reverend P. Dawson, Catholic Vicar-Gene- ral of the diocese, wrote in the name of the absent Dr. O'Higgins, now at Rome, to protest against the dissolution of the Repeal Association. He admitted the necessity of union, but not the necessity of dissolution to bring about that union. He wrote frankly his opinion, that " all sections of Repealers can best cooperate by continuing that Association, founded by the Liberator, and so fearfully tested, in which the pre- lacy and priesthood can commune with the peace-loving portion of the laity, and leave the hotter bloods to give vent to their feelings in the Confederation or through the press. The same persons may be members of both associations if they choose; but in Conciliation Hall their war ardour should be cooled down to the standard of the standing rules." Dr. Cantwell, Catholic Bishop of Meath, in a private communication to Mr. John O'Connell, had used these warning words—" Do not lay parri- cidal hands on the Association founded by your lamented father." Mr. John O'Connell spoke; and as flatly condemned the formation of a new body as if he had never proposed to agree to it. In his opinion, the best thing would be, that the Association, founded by one in whose counsels the people of Ireland had reason to confide, should be maintained, and their friends who parted from them should come back to them. He was ready, however, to accept this new body; but he should declare also that he had his doubts and fears respecting it. If he saw anything objectionable in its pro- ceedings, he would mark his sense of the danger of it to the people, by leaving the Association. (Cries of " Union, unionr) He called upon them not to judge him wrongly. The whole plan would be before the country, and he would bow to its decision.
He had one word of advice to them—there yet was hope in peaceful legal agitation. (Cries of " No no!" " Yes, yes!") Let them not listen to the coun- sels of those who were telling them: to arm. (" No, no!" " Yee, yes!" Great confusion, and shouts of "Smith O'Brien 1") By calling on the people to arm, they were only distracting them from that agitation which would succeed without the loss of a single life. (Hootings.) Let them hoot him for that opinion : he held it still, and repeated it again. (Uproar.) The manner in which his ob- servations were received might be shared in by the majority of the country out- side; but even if it were so, he should bear them no resentment. He should weep, perhaps; but the tears that were wrung from his soul should be for the sake of that people who would then be rushing into danger from which his father would have saved them if he lived, but from which his son, through natural feebleness, was unable to rescue them, though he withstood their mistaken fervour to the last. (General cheering.) In conclusion, Mr. John O'Connell moved the adjournment of the Aso-
Previous page
