At a recent meeting of the National Association, Mr. O'Connell
spoke of Mr. Harvey as a Tory. Radical—" a dishonest polif who "wanted public principle." At the same time, estimating his talents very highly, and wishing to fix him on the Liberal side, Mr.
O'Connell said that he had solicited a place for him under the present Government, but unsuccessfully. This attack has provoked a letter from Mr. Harvey, published in the True Sun of Thursday ; in which the Member for Southwark details.his public services, and persecutions, and estimates his pecuniary losses at 100,0001. He challenges Mr. O'Connell to make good his accusations ; and quotes some correspon- dence with Mr. O'Connell, to show how that gentleman not long ago sympathized with his sufferings, lauded his virtues, and railed at the Whigs. He reminds Mr. O'Connell that he supported the Melbourne Ministry till they disgusted him by their feeble and temporary mea- sures; and he concludes with the following advice to the Agitator, and the Liberal party generally-
" Instead of wasting your time and strength in local contests, in denouncing; your friends, and criticizing pamphlets, step forth, and summon an early meet- ing of at least fifty' or sixty Members of Parliament, the known and steady friends of an enlightened system of progres,ive reform, entirely unconnected with office, and let the subjects of their consideration be, the measures which, 'n th,ir deliberate judgment, ought to be adopted, as the condition of their conti- nued adhesion to the Government. At present the Ministers appear to be as ignorant of the just expectations of the people, as the people are of the inten- tions of the Ministers. It is due to both that this mysterious wayward- ness should be removed. The people, rightly appreciated, are not extra- vagant in their demands, nor unmindful of the difficulties which beset the path of national regeneration ; but they claim to be treated as parties deeply, in truth, as exclusively interested. Take all, or any of the popular topics which engage the public mind, and test them by the standard of practical utility, and if they break down, and vanish as illusions before the steady beams of intelligence and calm reflection, away with them. But, on the other hand, if after listening patiently, and with respect, to the representations of persons who fill the stations of statesmen, such an association of Members, as I-have suggested, remain unchanged— if they shall be satisfied that to the accomplish- ment of the ends and designs of good government, Parliaments ought to be less precarious, and shorter in duration ; that the elective franchise ought to he simplified and extended ; that the private citizen ought to be protected from ruin by the secresy of the ballot ; and that taxation, to be just, ought to bear equitably upon property, yet that to the accomplishment of either or all of these important measures, formidable barriers are interposed, then I insist that the nation ought to be apprized of their source and character. There is nothing to dread either from cowardice or convulsion in treating the people as rational beings. Traitors may fall, as they deserve, beneath the stroke of popular hatred ; but all that is valuable in our constitution will survive and be im- proved by the struggle. By pursuing the course I have ventured to suggest,. we shall escape a consequence which otherwise appears not improbable, that the public, to avoid the artifices of one faction, will fall into the snares of another."
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