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TRUTH IS POWERFUL,
AND WILL PREVAIL. |.
VOR. NE,
MHWe LOR
2 SANUBDAY, APBUS Bt, 18a.
WO. WSs —
TRBBAMD.
CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.—PROSECUTION OF
SHIEL. ,
Mr. Suter said, as an individual, [ may not weigh a grain in
the balance in which the fortunes of my country are suspend-
ed. . Bat iathe prosecution instituted by Mr. Plunkett, the
feelings, the passions, and the interests of six millions of my
fellow countrymen are involved; and {am not guilty of exag-
geration when J say, that the eyes of all Ireland are directed to
the recent measures of the Attorney-General, of which Lam not
less the object than the means. I do not speak in the spirit of
an overweening egotism in stating that all parties, no matter
how compounded, have fixed their attention to this new adven-
ture of the Attorney-General, by which he has succeeded in ef-
fecting the utter alienation of the Irish Catholies, without the
least chance of conciliating the men whom his committal of a
> band of a brawlers in a theatre for high treason has arrayed in
jrreconcileable hostility against him. In rising to address you
upon a subject by which the national sympathy has been awa-
MR.
anyself with a vindictive virvlence in regard to Mr. Plunkett. I
contemplate this proceeding with more sorrow than resentment.
» [regret that, with bis characteriatic precipitation, he has again
afforded bis enemies ‘an occasion of contrasting bis cenduct
with his opinions when be prosecutes me for language. not half
so intemperate as he has himself repeatedly employed (cheers.)
1 do not presume ta blame him for bringing me before a Grand
Jury of my fellow-citizens, and trying another experiment on
their complaisance. I rather admire the intrepidity with which,
after having been so frequently baffled, he calls again for a ver-
dict against a man who has committed no other crime than
that of insisting on the same topics which he had himself em-
ployed. I will give him the credit of acting under a mistaken
sense of public duty, Yet Teannot avoid expressing a wish
that his conduct had been a little more consistent with our
ordinary notions of justice, of truth, and of honour; for while
Lacquit him, as far as Lam myself concerned, Eprovounce his
proceedings against the proprietor of the Register, as not only
wantonly oppressive, but as amounting to a breaeh of contract
which should have been more binding on an henourable mind,
from its being less direct than implied, "accuse Mr. Plunkett
before the tribunal of public opinion, (and in doing so, I ap-
peal both to Catholics and Protestants,) of having acted a part
utterly at variance with all customary conceptions of official
propriety, and for which even the annals of Attorney-General-
ship would not furnish a precedent. The facts stand thus.—
On the second of February the Crown Solicitor wrote to Mr.
Staunton that uoless he gave up the author of the Wolfe Tone
speech, he should be prosecuted. Having furnished a report
of the speech myself, f did not, for an instant hesitate in avow-
ing it. (Loud cheers.), Now mark the duplicity, the disinge-
huousness, and, let me add, the absolute meanness, with which
the prosecutors have acted. Upon ascertaining the publisher
of a specch printed on the 22d of January, they call for the
~ publisher ef anotger speech, purporting to be delivered by my-
self several days after, aod printed in the Register on the
Bist of January. Remember that it was on the 2d of Februa-
ry that they required the publisher of the first speech to be de-
livered to them. They had then the speech of the 3Ist of Janu-
ary, purporting to be spoken by the same person, before them.
‘They do not call for the publisher of both al once; but after
they obtain an avowal of the first, they demand evidence of the
second, I put ittoevery honourable Protestant whether this
be fair dealing. ((Cheers.) Is not this a stratagem, a paltry
expedient, & miserable trick, an unworthy artifice, fabricated
by aclumsy mind upon a bad heart? Why not ask for the pub-
lisher of both speeches at the same time? ‘Why, after entang-
ling the speaker by the admission of one speech, and obtaining
such a vantage ground, call for an admission of the second 1—
(Cheers.) To get evidence, drop by drop—to win out of a
newspaper office these piecemeal acknowledgments—to gather
up these drippings of admission (the image is a vile one, but it
» befits the object of its application), was, to say the least, an
exceedingly shabby proceeding. (Cheers.) But the devia-
tion from fair dealing did not stop here. . am about ta state
what will strike you with a feeling stronger than one of mere
surprise... Mr. Staunton being called upen to give up the spea-
ker of the second specch, stated, according to the fact, that I
had not sent him a report of the second speech, but that he had
copied it from-another paper.’ The simple troth is, that, the
second speech appeared in all the other morning papers before
it was published in the Register (hear hear.) It was published
on the 30th of Jaiuary in the Freeman, 10 Saunders, in the
Morning Post, in the Evening Post, and in the Patriot, before
it appeared in the Register; and yet. in consequence of the
“Kegister not doing an impossibility, namely, giving up a manu-
:seript which was not in their possession, for I never furnished
"them with any manuscript, the Attorney-Geoeral proseeutes the
»Megister, and lets all the other papers escape. The speech
> appears natecedently in Give newspapers, and Mr. Plunkett, in
'
the exercise of his official discretion, selects of all others, for
the purpose of prosecution, the journal in which it subse.
uently appears. "(Loud cheers.) $ do not ask what the
Irish Catholics will think of this: but 1 do inquire of every
Protestant gentleman in this country what ‘opinion should
be formed of this mode of conducting prosecutions, . [hear.]
When Mr, Plunkett committed the rioters of the Upper Gallery
for high treason, the Irish Catholics were weak enough, in the
indulgences of. their own party animosities, to exult in that in-
glorious exercise of autocratic gower. ‘I thank my God, that
L, for one, said that a. bad precedent was established, aud that
instead of wounding the Ora3:e insterests, Mr. Plunkett was
striking a deep gash in the head and front of civil freedom it-
self (cheers,)’ ‘The weapon which we then used against our
adversaries, now recoils upon us, aud the man who exhibited
alacrity im crushing the promoters: of a common tumult, now
manifests the same readiness in seeking to overwhelm an in-
dividual, who has done no more than utter the very same sen-
timents, with scarcely a variation in expression, which Mr. |
Plunkett himself has repeatedly spoken, But without reference |
to the character of the imputed libel, or endeavouring to de-
fend himself upon any identity of conduct, or Mr, Plunkett's
participation in my own guilt, I complain of his uncandid and
most unusual manner cf dealing with the. aceused, and with
the adoption of a wretched artifice for the extortion of evidence
to sustain a charge of which he had previously obtained the
admission, upon an honourable‘ understanding that when an
ayowal to a specific extent had been made, no further confes-
sion would be required... Even the Inquisition, there is a
more upent and generous mode ih t3etire. ° The wretch who is
placed upon the rack, is informped in‘the first instance of all
to which he is required to depose} but Mr. Pluokett has impro-
ved upon that powerful system of cross examination; he puts
his witness on the wheel, and tells him that he only asks a sin-
gle question—the moment it is xaswered, this oficial Domini-
can gives a second turn to the wheel, and puts another interro-
gatory~and to whom? » To one who cannot give him a reply,
Taking then, the whole of Mr. Plunkett’s conduct in this busi-
ness together—looking at the spirit by which he has been ani |
mated—considering the traps and pit falls which he has laid,
when we find him making a specific demand, and then advan-
cing upon concession, demanding an ell where he frst only
required an inch, and prosecuting a popular journal for av
alleged libel, which first appeared in a Government paper, we
must—what should we say of him? | Nothing, but oh, fie! He
is, IT understand, about to proceed to England before this dou-
ble prosecution shall take place: | What! run fvom the Grand
Jury, and try to shift upon his colleagues in office, but not ia
sentiment, the Solicitor-General, the burthen of responsibility.
I trust he will not shew himself such a craven, and shrink from
the performance of his public duty.“ Let ns not be told that
he must proceed to England, iv order to vote for Ministers on
the Corn.Laws. [He throws-all. Ireland into tumult by his
preposterous prosecutions. Let bis not, while the dame which
he has excited 1s raging, and the whole country is involved in
it, desert his post, and leave to others the task of extinguishing
the fire... When the chief director of the great insurance office
of the State sets fire to the edifice, he should. at all events, re-
main to work the engine by which it is to be put out. I confess
that, although such poor abilities as | possess, must, in compa-
rison with the gigantic taleats of Mr. Plunkett, sink into dwar.
fish dimunition, yet | do not fear to confront him upon the sub:
ject matter of this prosecution.. (Cheers.) J cannot but en-
Joy an advantage over hit in the justice and the nobleness of
the cause whieh I shall have to maintain, and L know that the
consciousness of amoral superiority will do more than place
us ona level, [ can tura his .own weapons against himself—I
can cut dewn this Goliah with his pwn sword (cheers)~I can
ask him to his face and to his ‘beard, with what front he dares
to accuse me of sedition, whtn his wa speeches are fra ught
with faction, and teem with the game inflammatory matter? I
can remind him of the time where went far beyond the limits
which I have prescribed ty myself) and uttering ‘a sentiment in
which 1 do not participate, he spoke of “flinging British con-
nexion to the winds... | want his presence for these purposes,
for | know that he must quail, jn that appeal to, himself. I
therefore deinand of him, as a matter of justice, not to fy from
this prosecution, and seek to escape from the consequences of
his own indiscretion... This prosecutioss is his own official act,
it belongs,exclusively to him, and (do. verily believe that his
competence for hie situation will Le tried by this test. When
Master Ellis abandoned his ofice, and went to Parliament in
search of political renown, ‘Mr, Piunkett determined to
abridge him of his Parliamentary honours, and to withhald
from him ‘‘ the applause of listening Senates,”” which the wor-
thy Master isso erainently qualified to command. (Cheers,)
Mr. Plunkett insisted that it wag Guir for hima to ascertain and
report the Popish Mortgagees and Jndgment Creditors, upon
the Cromwelliaa Estates, which were brought to the hammer
under my Lord Manners’s decrees, Surely, when the whole
national miad has been raised into &n.unusual commotion by
Mr. Plunkett's prosecution, it is unbecoming of him to ran
from the scene of contention, which he has himself, produced,
lantean shoulders” of Mr. Soy. 1 would therefore catch the
official robe of Mr, Plunkett, like the bramble that canght the
gown of Demosthenes in the field of Churonea, aud prevented
him from running away (loud cheers.) | But itis notto his own
inflammatory orations, aione that I can eppeal. A‘pamphlet,
written by Mr. Spring Rice, has just come out; which contains
not only as strong matter as my speech, but exactly the same
matter, conveyed in a@ still more ardent expression than my
own. (Loud cheers.}, [hold that very able tract in my.
hand, and I beg the Atlorney-General’s attention to the folluw-
ing passage. After stating the conduct of England towards,
this country, Mr. Rice, in his letter to Lord Liverpool, which
is greatly admired at the Castle, proceeds thus :—
“The feeling which that conduct excites, is hatved} you
teach us to look upon England as an oppressor. The measure
of emancipation, carried trizmphantly so far as the votes ot
the Irish Peers and Commoners are concerned, is rejected; and
by what influence? By your Lordship’s iafluence in the House
of Peers, The refusal is that of England; the demand being
that ofthe Irish nation. The Union is naturally considered as
having afforded the means of this refusal; and England and
the Union are fast becoming words of reproach amongst us.—
But while Great Britain is thus considered ima light of a cruet
parent, who refuses to bis child his birth-right, third parties
are notidle., There are, who express, though they may not
feel, a sympathy for our misfortunes. Thereare, who affect 1a
love us, because they deeply hate you.” The eyes of foreigners
are turned towards Ireland, and voices ate raised as if reat
sympathy was felt for our afflictions. France tells us, that she
detests the intolerance that excludes the public spirit, the spiric
that claims admission. America maintains the same lang .
prompted and made mere inveterate by the suggestions of the
exiled republicans of 1798... Your Lordship’s text to Ireland
is, view in England your inveterate enemy—look abroad for
your sympathising friends. My Lord, this is a dangerous les-
son; and if it acts upon hearts but too much disposed to receive
the impression, its consequences may, at some future time, be
not orly seen but felt, ‘Che manufactories of Pittsburg may
yet change angry discontent into armed resistance; and the
steam boats of Havre and Brest may prove dangerous visitants
upon the Irish shores,” | (Loud and continued cheers.) ’
Will any man, will the Attorney General himself, will the
veriest pleceman that ever clung with & miserable tenacity (o
office, and immolated every principle and every feeling to a
love of dishonourable power, venture to allege that I have spo-
ken one half so vehemently as Mr. Rice has written? Ts not.
this passage a thousand times worse than any thing that has
passed my lips? And let the public, let the Irish Protestants
observe, that what I speke in. the ardour of popular harangne
was set down in all the deliberation of studied and systewatic
composition by Mr. Rice. I spoke, if 1 may so say, by the
torch, while he wrote hy the lamp (cheers.) But unfortunate-
ly there is a still greater difference between us. Ife is a mem-
ber for Limerick, and voted for Mr. Plunkett against Lord
Farnham. He may be used for another turn, whilst [, who.
can be of no Parliamentary use to the Attorney General, am,
for the very same language, to be made a victim, arg) sacrific-
ed to the interests of this illustrious placeman (loud cheers,—
Bot there is yet more in Spring Rice’s pamphlet—let me read
the conclusion of it to youand to the country, After describing
the civil wars, Mr. Rice eloquently proceeds as follaws:—
“ Sir W. Petty computed, that jn his time the loss of human,
life, during eleven years of war, exceeded 600,000 At that
period the population of Iretand amounted to 1,466,000, it has
now swelled to 7,000,000. The forces then employed in lres
land (80,000) were four times the military strength now- stas
tioned there, and their expenses reached the sum of £13,200,-
060. Thedestruction of property, in houses alone, is. calcula.
ted to have exceerted £2,000,000; and the total loss, in wealth, .'
to have amounted to £37,600,000, f shall not alarm your?
Lordship by calculating what, might be the: loss of lives and
property, supposing similar events to take place at present,
My Lord, Sir Wiliam Petty concludes his summary of this
carnage by stating— ‘For this blood somebody should answer
to God and to the King’ Do not let this awful responsibility
rest with your Lordship; avert whilst there is yet time these
horrible calamities ; secure the happiness of Ireland by d.
her people justice: secure the strength of Britain by preservine
the integrity of the Empire.’ Yeta moment is given for reflece
tion and for repentance— the night cometh, whem no man can
work.’ (Loud and continued cheers.) ~ - o
Gracious God ! (exclaimed Mr. Sheil, after reading
sage) gracious God ! is the writer of this passage to
mitted to escape: nay more, is he to be lauded in the language
of Parliamentary. cant, as “‘ his eloquent and honourable
friend,” by the Attorney General; and xm I ?— Oh, shame oa.
Mr, Plunkett to act such a part as this !~(loud ‘cheers,)—to
let the wealthy, the useful, the convenient, the high, and the
Parliameatary, go by not ovly with impunity but with honour,
and to fasten upon me, who am guilty of no other offence than ~
speaking with ardour what I feel with intensity, in order thar
he may throw me with a fecble frame iato prison, and depriv.
ing me of my livelihood, by locking me up from my profession, -
joing
this pas-
be per-
and to throw jhe whove aus ef his nrocegdinggopon thy Ap
leave me (o" live pou the vepopr of a dupgcom,” Put“ ou tag,
‘
‘