learn to respect the interests of their country above the selfish considerations of party. Religion must from henceforth cease to be the watchword of political faction, and as all men are equal before their Creator, so must they be in human government. We will not believe, therefore, that such examples as that of Dungarvan can pass powerless before the Protestant mind of Ireland; furious bigots may declaim on the "horrors of Popery," but honest men will learn to distinguish between the tales of history and the lessons of experience. The love of country is a more powerful, because a more sacred sentiment than the mere desire for political ascendency of creed; yet the crime imputed to the Irish Catholic is his subserviency to the ministers of his religion, and their desire for supremacy. The man has lived a hundred years too late who can now believe this calumny on either the clergy or the people; every day affords high proof of its falsehood. It is notorious, that in Dungarvan the Catholic clergy have heretofore been the opponents of Repeal, and at the last general election they warmly supported Mr. Lamb; but on this occasion they remained neutral; they perceived that the spirit of nationality had deeply, unchangeably imbued the people, and if they did not exclaim, "Vox populi, vox Dei !" yet they bowed before the general will, and acknowledged its authority.* This was

A correspondent has supplied us with the following illustration of the power of popular feeling in Dungarvan. Me states that "previous to the last general election, on the day when Mr. O'Connell was expected into Dungarvan to render Mr. Galway, then the popular candidate, assistance, for which the conduct of the latter, on this occasion, has shewn him so deeply grateful, some twenty of the fishermen, most of them voters, were brought by the under-agents of the Whig party into a back yard—there plied with whiskey until they became almost frantic from intoxication, and then were let loose, just as Mr. O'Connell had entered the town, with instructions to fling stones into any crowd, and at any carriage they might see. Their compliance with these orders would have cost them their lives by the hands of the people, but for the personal interference of Mr. O'Connell, whose carriage, we need hardly say, was the one indicated; and they were compelled to return quietly home, having hurt some people in the crowd with various missiles. Since that period these unfortunate men had been in a manner excommunicated by their former comrades. All intercourse was with them avoided, and it was with

wise; it was consistent with their venerable character, and it demonstrates beyond dispute, the political independence of the people; what Protestant can contemplate it, and yet waver with idle fears! If the enjoyment of pomp and power did not, like a Lethe, deaden the natural sympathies of the great; if the adder of faction could hear the voice of reason, we might expect an altered policy towards Ireland, or that union of her countrymen so essential to their welfare. This election proclaims to the authorities that their power against the people is but a shadow; it removes for ever from the timid and the intolerant all pretext of estrangement from the people.

We will now advert to the proceedings which were the result of the Clare Election, to which the attention of every man in the united kingdom was at that time directed; and had it been a sufficiently lengthy process, it would have rivetted the eyes of all Europe. After a few days' polling, Mr. Fitzgerald gave up the contest. It was argued as a question of law before the Sheriff and his Assessor, that as Mr. O'Connell could not take the oaths required from all members of Parliament, he could not he returned as duly elected. The objection was ludicrous enough, and must have called an internal smile from the great lawyer against whom it was urged. Whether he should take the oaths or not was a matter between himself and his conscience. It was known very well that he would not take them; but whether he intended to do so or not, was not a matter for the consideration of the Sheriff.

The victory was now practically gained; and the events which followed, although greater in the eye of the world, derive their importance from being the formal announcement that the work was completed. In the following July, the act difficulty that they obtained permission to earn their precarious subsistence in company with the other fishermen. The anxiety to wipe off this stigma made them doubly active during the late election. The voters amongst them polled to a man for Mr. Jacob, and the entire body were unceasing in their exertions as volunteer agents. The result of the election has wiped the blot from their escutcheon, and they are now re-admitted to all the rights of free fishermen of Dungarvan.'

against the Association expired; and that body was, of course, immediately remodelled in its previous form. Care was taken, however, not to overlook the advantage which had been derived from spreading the Association over the country. Liberal.clubs were established in the counties, under the authority of the Association; and, under these, were parish clubs on the same principle. These were to keep in view, as their principal object, "the keeping every man in constant readiness for future elections, maintaining the registries, inquiring into and giving information of any persecution of freeholders, &c., and promoting good order, perfect subordination to the laws, political knowledge," &c. At the same time, a set of pledges, to be taken by all candidates for Parliament who should hope to be elected by the Catholics, was prepared by the Association, and circulated among the clubs. The Ascendency party, in the meantime, acknowledged the justice of the measures of the Association by imitating them. They established their Brunswick clubs, with branches resembling the county and parish clubs of the Catholics. The Orange lodges were opened on the revival of the Association in its old form; and they even went so far in mimicry as to establish a Rent-a fund to provide the means of keeping down the Catholics. Under this system, a considerable portion of the north of Ireland was banded and organized, to oppose the Catholic claims. It was the purpose of some zealous members of the opposite party to shew its superior power, and popular influence, and to organize the Catholics of the north, by a peaceful crusade into the enemy's country. It was for this purpose that Mr. Lawless-" honest Jack Lawless"-a man of greater zeal than prudence-made a progress towards the north, at the head of an organized multitude from the Catholic districts. The intention was harmless but highly imprudent; and most people saw the danger of bringing in contact with each other, elements so highly combustible. The training of the Catholics to good order had been admirably accomplished. A multitude, said

to have amounted to 140,000, preserved perfect order within its ranks, and avoided all aggression and outrage. But this temper, so happily established, should not have been so severely tried. In the enthusiasm of the moment, Mr. Lawless seems to have overlooked the awful risk encountered; but when he looked over the great army of organized followers at his back, consisting of men who had been all wronged and insulted, just passing the bounds of an enemy's country, the fearful consequences which might ensue, seemed to have rushed on his mind at once. He suddenly mounted his horse, dashed through the crowd, and fled.

order still more firm.

In this and other instances, the Association saw more ur. gently than ever, the necessity of making the bonds of good After the Clare election, induced by the example of their Orange opponents, the inhabitants of Tipperary re-organized many of those secret societies and hostile public assemblies, which had been so often ground of anxiety to the Association.

Whatever the fury of party spirit, and religious animosity, may have been induced to urge against Mr. O'Connell, it still can not be questioned, that to him was Ireland indebted for its pacification. He appeared to hold in his possession a spell, by which, like some great magician, he could control the actions of the people, reducing the turbulent to quietude, and the disaffected to a due obedience to the laws. In no instance was this power more successfully put forth than in the manner in which he suppressed the riotous proceedings in the county of Tipperary, which had arisen to that alarming height, as to threaten the peace of the whole county. In this pressing emergency, Mr. O'Connell was called upon by the Catholic Association to issue an Address to the people of Tipperary, cautioning them against holding large assemblies; and the following is his answer to the request, which was made to him in the name of the Catholic population of Ireland.

1

Darrinane Abbey, Oct. 1, 1828.

MY DEAR O'GORMAN-I had the pleasure of receiving your etter by the last post, containing the Resolution of the Catholic Association of Ireland, expressive of the wish of that body, that I should draw up an Address to the people of the county of Tipperary, in order to induce them to desist from holding large meetings.

I beg you will be so good as to communicate to the Association, that I feel greatly honoured by that patriotic and illustrious body making any demand on my time, or exertions. I consider their request as a demand, and am ready to devote the best energies of my frame, and all the faculties of my mind, to the performance of any duty, with which they may honour me. I have accordingly prepared the draft of an Address to the people of Tipperary, and transmit it along with this letter. I have been anxious to fulfil the intentions of the Association; if I should succeed, the merit of my attempt will rest with that body; if I fail, the fault will be only mine; nor will the Association be involved in the guilt of any oppressions of mine. I am solely responsible for the sentiments contained in the Address. I am quite convinced, however, that the people of Tipperary will desist from holding large meetings, the moment they learn that such meetings do not any longer obtain the approbation of the Catholic Association. The people of Tipperary must be too well acquainted with the patriotism and intelligence of the Catholic Association of Ireland not to place the most implicit confidence in that body; they certainly will comply with our request. We will thus protect and preserve the people from going further, than they would themselves wish, and from uselessly risking the public peace, and putting in danger the approaching success and triumph of the public cause. I am, I repeat it, quite convinced, that there will be no more of those meetings; but, if there should, we must then denounce to all honest men, and to the condemnation of the patriotic and intelligent portion of the Irish people, the guilt and folly of despising our advice,