'Thus the wife was encouraged and empower

herent love of principle,-a principle of honorable, but, in this instance, most mistaken loyalty—ed successfully to rebel against her husband. that when this royal plunderer was afterwards driven from the throne by his British subjects, he took refuge in Ireland, and the Irish Catholic nobility, gentry, and universal people, rallied round him, and shed their blood for him with a courage and a constancy worthy of a better cause.

เ

'If the eldest son of a Catholic father at any 'age however young, declared himself a Protes'tant, he thereby made his father strict tenant for life, deprived the father of all power to sell, or dis'pose of his estate, and such Protestant son became entitled to the absolute dominion and own

§ 4. This section should be devoted to the trea-ership of the estate. ty of Limerick. The Irish were not conquered,

'ther.

"If any other child beside the eldest son de'clared itself, at any age, a Protestant, such child at once escaped the controul of its father, and was entitled to a maintenance out of the father's "property.

Thus the law encouraged every child to rebel

'Thus the eldest son was encouraged and, inLady, in the war. They had in the year preced-deed, bribed by the law to rebel against his fa. ing the treaty, driven William the Third with defeat and disgrace from Limerick. In this Irish victory the women participated. It is no romance. In the great defeat of William, the women of Limerick fought and bled and conquered. On the third of October, 1691, the treaty of Limerick was signed. The Irish army, 30,000 strong -the Irish nobility and gentry, and people, capit-against its father. ulated with the army and Crown of Great Britain. They restored the allegiance of the Irish nation to that Crown. Never was there a more useful treaty to England than this was under the circumstances. It was a most deliberate and solemn treaty-deliberately confirmed by letterspatent from the Crown. It extinguished a sanguinary civil war. It restored the Irish nation to the dominion of England, and secured that If any Catholic got an estate in land by mardominion in perpetuity over one of the fairest por-riage, by the gift, or by the will of a relation, or tions of the globe. Such was the value given by the Irish people.

§ 5. By that treaty, on the other hand, the Irish Catholic people stipulated for and obtained the pledge of "the faith and honor" of the English Crown, for the equal protection by law of their properties and their liberties with all other subjects and in particular for the FREE AND UN

FETTERED EXERCISE OF THEIR RELIGION.

CHAPTER V.

YEARS 1692-1778.

If any Catholic purchased for money any estate in land, and Protestant was empowered by 'law to take away that estate from the Catholic, ' and to enjoy it without paying one shilling of 'the purchase money.

"This was Law.-The Catholic paid the mo'ney, whereupon the Protestant took the estate. "The Catholic lost both money and estate.

or friend, any Protestant could by Law take 'the estate from the Catholic and enjoy it him'self.

'If any Catholic took a lease of a farm of land as tenant at a rent for a life, or lives, or for any longer term than thirty-one years, any Protestant could by Law take the farm from the Cath'olic and enjoy the benefit of the lease.

'If any, Catholic took a farm by lease for a term, not exceeding thirty-one years, as he might 'still by Law have done, and by his labor and industry raised the value of the land so as to yield a profit equal to one-third of the rent, any Properformedtestant might THEN by Law evict the Catholic, and enjoy for the residue of the term the fruit of the labor and industry of the Catholic.

SEC. 1. THE Irish in every respect with scrupulous accuracy the stipulations on their part of the Treaty of Limerick.

§ 2. That treaty was totally violated by the British government, the moment it was perfectly safe to violate it.

§3. That violation was perpetrated by the

enactment of a code, of the most dexterous but atrocious iniquity that ever stained the annals of legislation.

If any Catholic had a horse, worth more than five pounds, any Protestant tendering £5 to the 'Catholic owner, was by law entitled to take the horse, though worth £50, or £100, or more,

' and to keep it as his own.

'If any Catholic being the owner of a horse 'worth more than five pounds, concealed his 4. Let me select a few instances of the bar-horse from any Protestant, the Catholic for the barity with which the treaty of Limerick was violated, under these heads:

6

crime of concealing in his own horse, was liable to 'be punished by an imprisonment of three months, ' and a fine of three times the value of the horse, whatever that might be.

'So much for the Laws regulating by Act of Parliament, the property-or rather plundering 'by due course of Law, the property-of the Catholic.

'I notice

Secondly.-EDUCATION.

If a Catholic kept school, or taught any per 'son, Protestant or Catholic, any species of litera'ture, or science, such teacher was for the crime ' of teaching punishable by Law by banishmentand, if he returned from banishment, he was 'subject to be hanged as a felon.

The Law rendered every Catholic incapable 'of holding any office whatsoever of honor or ' emolument in the State. The exclusion was 'universal.

A Catholic had no legal protection for life or || liberty. He could not be a Judge, Grand Juror, Sheriff, Sub-Sheriff, Master in Chancery, Six Clerk, Barrister, Attorney, Agent or Solicitor, or Seneschal of any manor, or even gamekeeper to|| a private gentleman.

A Catholic could not be a member of any Cor'poration, and Catholics were precluded by law 'from residence in some corporate towns.

Catholics were deprived of all right of voting ' for members of the Commons House of Parlia-ant, seeks to retain the remnants of their abused

power, by keeping in activity the spirit which created and continued the infamous penal perseeign of which I have thus faintly traced an outline.

It would be worse than seditious, nay actually un-treasonable, to suppose that such a faction can ever obtain countenance from you, Illustrious Lady, destined, as I trust you are, at length to grant justice, by an equalization of rights with your other subjects, to your faithful, brave, long oppressed, but magnanimous, people of Ireland.

of England and Scotland-not a tongue could utter in public one word against it, or if it so uttered even one word, it was stopped for evernot a pen could write one word in opposition. Yet, with all these tremendous advantages, what was the success of the experiment?

exceeding British bravery, rendered the 'meteor flag of England' once more victorious-crushed the naval power of the enemy-saved not only the West Indian colonies, but also the honor of the British crown, and strewed laurels over a peace which would otherwise have been ignomiAnious as well as disastrous.

Illustrious Lady-it failed-it totally failed. just estimate would state that the Catholics went § 6. The relaxation of the year 1782 was a seinto the persecution about two millions in num- cond instalment of the debt of Justice to Ireber; the Protestant persecutors-for, at that day,||land.' It was a noble instalment. It enabled the they were all persecutors-were about one mill- Catholics to acquire freehold property for lives, or ion. The Catholics have increased to nearly of inheritance. But it did more ;-for the first seven millions-the Protestants still scarcely ex- time after ninety years of persecuted learning, it ceed the original million. The comparative in-enabled the Catholics to open schools and to educrease of the one under persecution is enormous cate their youth in literature and religion. The -the comparative decrease of the other whilst | Catholics wisely accepted that instalment, which persecuting is astounding; in the first instance restored in full their rights of property, and gave the Catholics were at the utmost only two to one them the inestimable right of education. They -in the second they are near seven to one: gratefully accepted the instalment, and wisely and with increased power, commenced a new struggle for the rest.

"Thus captive Israel multiplied in chains." Blessed be God! So may persecution fail in every country until it shall universally be admitted § 7. The admission of the Catholics to the teto be as useless for conversion, as its exercise is nancy of lands in 1778, increased considerably the debasing and degrading in those who employ it. rents of the Protestant landlords in Ireland. The § 2. The time for a relaxation of the "Penal permission to the Catholics in 1782 to purchase Code"-that was the technical name given to the estates, enhanced enormously the value of the propersecuting code-had at length arrived. In perty of all the Protestants of Ireland. Concilia. 1775 the obstinate refusal of the British Govern- tion and prosperity went hand in hand, and that ment to do "justice to America" was checked by which benevolence alone would have suggested, blood. In 1777 a British army, in its "pride of was proved by experience to be the best means to place," surrendered at Saratoga to the once des- increase the value of their property, which the pised, insulted, and calumniated "Provincials." most rigid and the most selfish prudence would It was in 1778 too late to conciliate America. have dictated to the Protestant proprietors of She proclaimed her independence, and America Ireland. was forever lost to the British crown.

| § 8. There were other events in 1782, which § 3. The ancient enemies of England in Eu- merit more than the passing glance I can now berope armed, and assailed her. The English Gov- stow upon them-events of the deepest, the most ernment in their adversity learned one lesson from soul-stirring interest. For the present, suffice it fatal experience; they for the first time tried con- to say, that the Irish Parliament which asserted ciliation to Ireland. The Penal Code was re- the legislative independence of Ireland was not laxed in 1778. Conciliation succeeded as it al-only the most advantageous to its constituents, but ways will with the Irish people. America, it is true, was lost by refusing to conciliate-but Ireland was preserved to the British crown by conciliation.

was at the same time the most loyal to the British crown, and the most useful to the British power. It was that Parliament which voted and paid the twenty thousand Irish Catholics who rushed to man the British fleets, and contributed to Rodney's victory. Ireland never had a Parliament more attached to British connexion than the Irish Parliament which asserted Irish legislative independence.

§ 4. The relaxation of the "Penal Code" in 1778 was, in its own nature, a large instalment of the debt of "Justice to the Catholic people of Ireland." It restored to the Catholics the same power and dominion over the property they then held as the Protestants always enjoyed; and § 9. Ten years followed of great and increasit enabled the Catholics to acquire as tenants, or ing prosperity in Ireland-but they were years of as purchasers, any interest in lands for any terms peace and power in England, and there was no or years, though they may be as long as one thou-occasion to conciliate or court the Catholics of sand years. But still they could not acquire by purchase, or as tenants, any freehold interests. The Catholics wisely accepted the instalment, and went on with increased security and power to look for the rest of the debt of justice.

Ireland. Accordingly no further advance was made in their emancipation. The Catholics however shared in the universal prosperity of Ireland. § 10. The year 1792 found matters in this condition. The prosperity which the Catholics en§ 5. In 1782, England stood alone in a contest joyed in common with their other countrymenwith the greatest power in the world-the com- the property which they were daily acquiring, bined fleets of her enemies, as one of the rare in- made them impatient for political rights. They stances in her naval annals, rode triumphant and therefore petitioned the Irish House of Commons unopposed in the British channel. Accordingly that the profession of the law might be opened to the Penal Code' was once again relaxed-con- them, and for the elective franchise. It was with ciliated Ireland poured twenty thousand seamen difficulty one member could be procured to move and active landsmen into the British navy-ena-that the petition should be laid upon the table, and bled Rodney to pursue the French fleet to the another to second it. The motion was opposed West Indies; where, in his action with De Grasse, by the member for Kildare, Mr. Latouche; he Irish valour, emulating, and, if that were possible," moved that the petition should be rejected—there

§ 6. But this was not all-the expenditure of patronage was still more open, avowed, and profligate; Peerages were a familiar staple of traffic§ 15. One word upon the legislative indepen- the command of ships of the line and of regidence of Ireland-that which is now called a ments the offices of Chief and Puisne Judges, Repeal of the Union." It is said to be a sever- the stations of Archbishops and Bishops, Commis ance of the empire-a separation of the two coun- sionerships of the Revenue, and all species of tries. Illustrious Lady, these statements are Collectorships-in short, all grades of offices— made by men who know them to be unfounded. the sanctuary of the law and the temples of reliAn Irish legislative independence would, on thegion, were trafficked upon as bribes, and given in contrary, be the strongest and most durable con- exchange for votes in parliament in favor of the nexion between your Majesty's Irish and your Union.

§ 7. But this was not all. Notwithstanding all the resources of intimidation and terror-of martial law and military torture-of the most gigantic bribery ever exhibited-the Union could not be carried until several of the nomination boroughs were purchased, to return a number of Scotchmen and Englishmen, all of whom held rank in|| the army or navy, or other offices under Government, removeable at pleasure. The number of such "Aliens" was almost as great as the majority by which the Union was carried.

§ 8. The Union was not a treaty or compact, Illustrious Lady. It was not a bargain, or agreement. It had its origin in, and was carried by force, fraud, terror, torture, and corruption. It has to this hour no binding power but what it derives from force. It is still a mere name. The countries are not united. The Irish are still treated as " Aliens in blood and in religion."

§ 9. Thus was the legislative independence of Ireland extinguished. Thus was the greatest crime ever perpetrated by the English Government upon Ireland consummated.

§ 10. The atrocity of the manner of carrying the Union was equalled only by the injustice of the terms to which Ireland was subjected.

§ 11. I hate to dwell on this detestable subject. I will put forward only two of the features of the injustice done to Ireland. The one relates to

finance the other to representation.

§ 12. The epitome of the financial fraud perpetrated against the Irish is just this. At the time of the Union Ireland owed twenty millions of funded debt. England owed four hundred and forty-six millions. If the Union were a fair and reasonable treaty, the debts of the two countries should continue to bear the same proportions. Perhaps even that arrangement would, under all the circumstances, be harsh towards Ireland.

right of Ireland to 176 members would be demonstrated.

§ 14. If the Union had been a fair treaty, no chicanery could have deprived Ireland of at the least 150 members. Yet one-third were struck off at the despotic will and pleasure of the English Government. This is indeed a grievous injustice, and much of the insecurity of the Union rests upon it. Substantial justice in this respect has ever been withheld. Thus we are degraded and insulted by the Union.

CHAPTER VIII.

YEARS 1800-1829.

SEC. 1. THE alleged object of the Union was to consolidate the inhabitants of both islands into one nation-one people. The most flattering hopes were held out, the most solemn pledges were vowed-Ireland was no longer to be an alien and a stranger to British liberty. The religion of the inhabitants was no longer to be a badge for persecution-the nations were to be identified-the same privileges-the same laws-the same liberties.

They trumpeted, until the ear was tired and all good taste nauseated, the hackneyed quotation, the "Paribus se legibus"—the "Invieta gentes"

the "Eterna in federa."

§ 2. These were words-Latin or English, they were mere words-Ireland lost everything and got nothing by the Union. Pitt behaved with some dignity when he resigned the office of Prime Minister, on finding that George the Third refused to allow him to redeem the Union pledge of granting Catholic Emancipation. But that dignity was dragged into the kennel, when he afterwards consented to be Minister with his pledge broken and his faith violated. Yet there are still "Pitt Clubs”—are there not ?-in England!!!

But what is the consequence to Ireland of the Union? It is this, that all the land, houses, and § 3. Ireland lost everything and gained noother property, real and personal, of Ireland, are thing by the Union. There is one great evil in now pledged to the repayment equally with Eng- the political economy of Ireland. There is one land of eight hundred and forty millions of pounds incurable plague-spot in the state of Ireland. It sterling!!! At the utmost the Irish ought to is, that nine-tenths of the soil belong to absentees. owe a sum not exceeding forty millions. By the This evil was felt as a curse pregnant with every Union we are made to owe eight hundred and possible woe even before the Union. It has enorforty millions. But for the Union, the entire Irish mously increased since--the Union must inevitadebt would have been long since paid off, and Ire-bly have increased, and must continue to increase land, like Norway, would have no national debt. Never was there a people so unjustly treated as the Irish!

absenteeism. Even all the establishments necessary to carry on the Government save one-that of the Lord Lieutenant-have become absentees.

relief.

§ 13. The gross injustice done to Ireland in § 4. Ireland lost all and gained nothing by the the matter of representation in the united Parlia- Union. Every promise was broken, every pledge ment was this: The ingredients to entitle either was violated. Ireland struggled, and prayed, and country to representation were said by the fabri-eried out to friends for aid, and to Parliament for cators of the Union to be--population and property. The only evidences of property that Lord Castlereagh would allow, were exports, imports, and revenue. He totally omitted rental-yet, upon his own data, Ireland was entitled to 108out of a total of 658 representatives.

He took off eight, of his own will and pleasure, and left Ireland but 100 members.

But in truth he ought to have taken into calculation the relative rental of each county, and then the right of Ireland to 169 members would appear. Still more, had the ingredients of a relative representation consisted as they ought to have consisted, solely of population and revenue, the!!

§ 5. At length a change came over the spirit of our proceedings. The people of Ireland ceased to court patronage, or to hope for relief from their friends. They became "friends to themselves," and after twenty-six years of agitation, they forced the concession of Emancipation. They compelled the most powerful as well as the most tricky, the most daring as well as the most dexterous, of their enemies, to concede Emancipation.

§ 6. WELLINGTON and PEEL-blessed be heaven--we defeated you. Our peaceable combination, bloodless, unstained, crimeless, was too strong for the military glory-bah! of the one, and for