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VOL. Th.
Sagassy'
VEW-YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 25,
AND WILL PREVAIL. :
1826. NO. 12
IRELAND.
MEW CATHOLIC ASSOcIATICH.
On Monday the 9th January, the New Catholic Association
aasembled at the great rooms in the Corn Exchange
Me. O'CONNELL opened the mecting by reading a letter
trom Mr. Evens M’Donnell, in which he strongly urged the ne-
cossity of an immediate und pressing appeal to Parliament.—
* MWe denied the truth of the reports that the Catholic cause was
losing ground in England; and‘ although the agitation of the
question at present, might embarrass some of its Parliamentary
“supporters at the approaching election, yet. however 5
circumstance might be regretted, it would be most unwise to
sacrifice the advancement of so important a measure to indivi-
dual interests, The letter concluded by urging the writer’s
peivions of the necessity of pressing their claims without any
loss of tii :
Mr, O° CONNELL then addressed the meeting. Te said in
‘had been reported that he had declared himself rejoiced at the
calamities of England: it was false! That report had been co-
pied from Saunders’ Ne ws Leller, a paper in w ich he had never
sven a fair report of two sentences of the proceedings of Catho-
Ne Meetings. It was through the medium of the same paper,
that an attempt had been made to prosecute him (Mr, O"Con-
nell) last year. He had no abstract delight in the calamities
- of that country, but be considered that Ireland had never de-
vived any advantage from England,.untess in her Sensons of
istress.
Mr, LAWLESS agreed with those who said they ought tobe
perfectly unanimous: it was, he said, with the desire of f promot
ing that union that he declared his intention of submitting to the
. consider: ation of an aggregate meeting of the Catholics « of Ire-
land, a resolution, strongly deprecating two measures which had.
‘been the canse of much disunion in their body. The words “un-
qualified and unconditional emancipation” were frequently used
Uy those who wonld take from emancipation its unconditionali-
ty and its’ unqualifedness, Tis Proposition was, that shonld
those measures be ever brought forward, either singly or con-
nected with their cause, all the Catholies of Ireland should €o-
operate with one common effort to put down any such attempts.
Mr, O'C. thought it an odd way to procure unanimity by cal-
ling on persons to stigmatize their own opinions, while they eu-
tertained them conscientiously. He was ready to pledge him-
selfto oppose the Wings, should it be ever aitempted to couple
them with their cause: nay more, he would oppose them on
any condition, or in any way they might be introduced, until
the Catholics shontd obtain theic emar:cipatioy
Mr. REDMOND saw with grief the dis Heeensions among their
Doty on these matters. As it was undeniable that Mr. O'Con-
nell had made many and great sacrifices for the common wel-
fare, he would intreat of him in the name of the living God, to
abandon what might be rhetorically right, for what was practi-
- ally gocessary. Let it be remembered, that united, they might
not be wrong, but that divided, they could not be right.
Mr, BRIC wonld only ask, had the voice of the couniry been
+60 eguivocally declared against the measures as to call on Mr.
O'Connell to abandon his opinions regarding them? . Had the
. weet of the clergy been raised aguinst the Wing which regard-
ed
Mr. ‘ton WAY did not think the present a proper time to dis-
fuss the merits of these measures, and he would submit to Mr.
Bre if it was adviseable to say any thing more with regard
o them.
.
Ir. O’CONNELL was of opinion, that if the Catholics of Ire-
Jan were polled, a great majority woul be found willing to ac-
on emancipation on the proposed term:
nm the motion of Mr, CONWAY, seconded by. Mr. O’Con-
nh the chair was taken by Stephen Coppinger, E
Me. CONWAY, as secretary, read the minutes of the last
day’ S proceedings. Ife then said, that in obedience to the or-
ler of the Association, he had written letters directed to the
Catholic Prelates, - ‘To those communications he had received
howe’ from Dr. Curtis, the ‘Primate,’ Dr. Crolly, Bishop of
tae nd Dr. Coppinger, Bishop of Cloyne; these letters he
fia Not think it expedient to read xt present. ' Dr, Co oppinger’s
‘ (ter states, that that Prelate fully concurred with the views of
he Ass: sociation, and that the clergy of his diocese were ready
ant Willing to take a census of the people. Dr, Crolly men
sewed that he would be in Dablin during the resent mouth, to
n sine other Irish Bishops, -when they would ci ome fo sonie
Fonlittion on the subject. From his Grace the Primate he had
tint tt a long letter, which, among other things, stated, that
vier any circumstances he would remain attached to
Pea’ Association of Ireland, (henr.) | After the miceting of the
on ates in Dublin, he (Mr. Conway) hoped they would t receive
. er communications on the subject of education, Mr. ©
ay concluded by moving, that the letters of these Prelates
coat be referred to the Standing Committee. —Carried unani-
veg A conversation of avery desultory nature here took place
ion, Wig ome Observations recently made in this Associa-
tatty wa \ respect to the Report of the Commisstoners of Edu.
Me. o O'REILLY stated his surprise at tthe observations said
to have heen made by Mr. Bellew, with regard to that report,
which he (Mr. Bellew) seemed to consider a fair and valuable
"Nir. CONWAY thought it rather indiscreet for gentlemen to
make charges against that commission. He (Mr.
Catholic Prelates in this country, that it was probable arrange-
ments might be made between the Catholic Prelates and the
members. of that commission, which would be highly satis-
factory to the Catholics of Ireland. Here the conversation
dropped.
Mr. 0" CONNELL said, that the meeting of the Association
for 1826 would certainly take p lace on the 16th instant, Ifa
the meetings of that body hese measures, of whieh so match
had been said, were unequivocally condemned, he would give
up his opinion in deferenee to that of the Association. He would
move that the dinner to the friends of civil and religious liberty,
intended to be given on that occasion, should take place on
the 2d day of February. If that resolution were cart ied, the
necessary invitations could be forwarded by Monday’s post.—
They would invite the Bishops of Norwich and Rochester, and
the 69 Peers, whose resolutions were so much applauded, but
whose advice they seemed resolved not to follow, They should
also invite the liberal members of Parliament in this country,
Baty oted for Emancipation, and other friends to religious li-
tee LAWLESS thought that the day named by Mr. O'Con-
nell would interfere with the arrangements now making for the
Ulster meeting, which it was intended should be held cither on
the 24 or Sil of February.
Mr. O’Connell put his motion, thatthe Grand Dinner be given
on the the 2d of February, which was carried.
me members were admitted, when Mr. D. Lynch was
called to the Chair, and on the motion of Mr. Lawless, thanks
were returned to the former Cisiimany Mr. Coppinger, and
the meeting adjourne ed,
Another meeting of the Catholic Association was held on the
16th January, at the usual place of assembly, the Corn Ex-
change, Luke P junkett, Esq. in the chair.
Mr: Curran acted as Secretary, and read the minutes of the |
last day’s proceedings,
Mr. O'Connell, after sotne arrangement respecting the place
where the dinner i is to take place, referred to: his motion for a
Committee contradicting the charges brought by Mr. John
Wilkes, . candidate for Sudbury, against the Catholic
religion. e had received letters from differ ent parts of Eng-
land, stating that Mr, Wilkes was a person | with some little mo-
ney 8 anda agreat deal of bigotry, who was steking to traffic by a
seat in Parliament. He hoped the meeting would agree with
him in leaving such a man in his littleness, and take no further
notice of him. “Mr, O'Connell adverted to Mr. Dawson’s era-
sade in this country; but he was from Mr. Peel’s office, in
which a matrimonial alliance, not any talents he possessed,
placed him. © He concluded hy moving, that the order for a re-
98
e@ con-
"Goonies oa lable time oat be lost ii in raising
such a fellow from the obscurity to which he ought to be
signed.—Carri
“Mr. O° Connell gave notice that atthe nextmeeting, he would
bring forward a motion for the appointinent of two persons in
each parish to collect the New Catholic Rent.
ome conversation took place regarding the funds and expen-
diture of the Associatio
Mr. O'Connell said, he had sent letters of invitation to several
of the sixty-nine Peers.
Mr. Conway as Secretary, reported feom the Flucation Com-
mittee, that several letters have been received from the Bishops. |
AS the. prelates were now in town, it was likely the Committee
would ha i“ fall Feport to lay before the Association within a
short
Re Ovee “Connell thought the enumeration of the people w ont
be of service to the purposes of Education; he would therefor
now give notice of a motion, that a return of the Population be
made from each parish,
Mr. Lawless was called to the Chair’ Thanks w ere returned,
to Mr. Plunkett, and the meeting adjourned.
3
The following letter, addressed to the Editor of The Carlow
Morning Post, we e extract fromthe columns of The Belfast Trish«
nt a
SIR—Though my absence from a political meeting requires
no explanation to those who know me; and though my y presence
or absence cannot be of pouch consequence to the public ; yet,
as I think that at such a ‘crisis as this, nu one who believes the
removal of Catholic disabilities to be a measure of vital impor-
tance, should shrink from the avowal of his sentiments, ! ‘beg
eave to trouble you with the present letter,
othing [have heard, and vothing 1h
iadvenee’ in producing the least chang
@ seen, has had a any
a my opinion ou this
interesting subject.’ As to any intemperance, or even violence
(if the latter term be preferred) discovered by the Catholics in
their late proceedings, I consider those principally responsible
for it, who, as far ag-they were able, have extinguished the hope
ofa favourable i issue to their application for civil equality. De-
liriuma is a natural symptom of fever, and no physician at all ac-
quainted with his business, would consign his patient to bedlam
because, in the paroxysm of his disease, he may rave and threat~
en. He discriminates between the transient and removeable
effects of present disorder, and the permanent iniications of
constitutional character, and in his treatment of the case, he »,
proceeds accordingly. ‘To me it is evident that those who would
make Catholic intemperance a reason for denying the reason-
able claims of the body, do not consider the subject either on
christian or philosophical grounds. ‘ Christian principle, in my
hnmble judgment, requires us to give that measure to our
tholic fellow subjects, \which we would ask for ourselves. Now,
if we were labouring under civil disabilities, we should think it
hard, if we were condemned for secking relief: and, if our ap-
plication for redress were unsuccessful, and the refusal of her
claims accompanied by aggravating circumstances, we should
expect to be treated with consideration, and to be allowed, with-
out severe castigation, to express our feelings, and to give ut-
terance to our complaints, even though we might transgress the
bounds of moderation and prudence. Again, sound philoso-
phy; in my opinion, would teach us to avoid what, in the nature
of things must produce an aggravation of those evils of which
we complain, and lead us to the adoption of healing measures
as the surest method of producing that calm which we profess _
aim at.
Bat Lam asked, “ Would you give the Cathoties’ power?” i
answer without hesitation; Yes! if the act that communicates
that power furnishes a reasonable security for its legitimate ex-
ercise. But, what do you fear from the admission of Catholics
into Parliament? Is it the restoration ‘of their religion to its
| political ascendancy? What! is it in a country, where it is
| found so easy to alarm the people cgastaen the most distant
approach of such anevent! But I Are they serious who
meet the question in this way? 1 somaticnes doubt it. But of
one thing I can entertain no doubt—it is this: that the follow-
ing is @ most certain recipe for the communication of power—
“ Place the hody, ich you wish to render powerfal, near
enough to the object of their reasonable ambition, to give them
a distant view of it—keep them subject to the continual morti-
fication of sceing others enjoying a monopoly of that, in whici:
they consider themselves as having a fair title to participate —
let them, from time to time, have their hopes raised, and let
those hopes be as often blasted by disappoiniment—let the re-
jection of their claims be accompan’ by an intimation, that
there is something in the natare of their principles that unfits
them for civil communion with their more favoured fellow-sub-
jects—and, finally, tet their exclusion from political rights hinge
upon the peculiarities of their religious professivu.”” “Te this be
not the way to raise ordinary men to the level of heroes and mar-
tyrs, or in other words, by adding moral and physical force, to
render them as powerful as they can be, I confess I have profit
ted but little by the experience of halts centur;
Tlaving no party interests to think of, I feel no > temptation to
give either a distorted, or an exa; ggerated view of the subject. T
wish to sce Ireland peaceful and happy. I wish to have a fair
opening afforded for the expansion of her intellectual and moral
persis, And this I do not expect to see, as long as the Catho-.
ic body continues in its presenf state of civil degradation.
jo not wish to see the Catholic tr iumph over the Protestant; but
I wish to see the Protestant convinced, that, when the Catholic
becomes incorporated with the state, the interests of the whole
commauity rest npon a basis much more secure than they do—
r can do—-under our present circumstances. If I were a Catho-
ie, and wished for a triumph over Protestants, the last thing 1.
should think of would be, the promotion of any atlempt {o pro-
eure civil equality. [should do what I could to hinder it, un+
der the fullest conviction, that sectarian objects are best se-
cured by exclusion. This I consider so obvious, that nothing
convinced me so much, that the Catholic leaders wish for the
consolidation of the empire, as their desire for civil eqality,—
And, it is but justice to say, that they show no inclination to ex:
clude the Protestant from a fall share in their triumph. They
invite Protestants to make the cause a national ane; and, not-
withstanding past disappointments, and present irritation, [ani
much deceive dif the Catholics would not be found very tracti-
ble, ifthey saw, on the part of their Protestant fellow-subjects, 2
decided disposition to treat thelr pretensions With that consider-
ation to which, surely, they are well entitled... I must not, how-,
ever, omit fo | says that many Protestants are restrained from
acting in fav f their Catholic fellow. scountrymen, not from
any feeling on hostility, or any unwillingness to share with them
every civil privilege, but from an apprehension (in my jiedg-
ment, an unfounded one) of danger to the state, from the a‘lmis-
sion of their claims. They want ouly to be sat! isfied that con-
cession is safes in order to give it thei tire approbation.
My prayer is, that our domestic div ons and animosities may
- terminate in the establishment of m#ual kindness aud corti.
dence, Lam, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
Kellyville, Dec. 19, 1825, + THOMAS KELLY,
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