-
1848
During the
latter
years of
the Great
Famine, in
1848, the
London
Times
reported,
under the
heading
‘State of
the
Provinces,'
on a
meeting of
the
Protestants
Inhabitants
of
Drogheda
and on a
local
Dundalk
newspaper
article
that
called for
the Repeal
of the
Union
between
Ireland
and Great
Britain.
The idea
for
Repeal,
however,
was
falling on
‘deaf
ears’. At
the end of
the same
report was
an Address
from the
Apprentice
Boys of
Derry and
the reply
given by
the Lord
Lieutenant.
Part of
that
London
Times
report is
as
follows:-
“STATE OF
THE
PROVINCES.
A
preliminary
meeting
composed
of about
150 of the
most
respectable
Protestant
inhabitants
of
Drogheda
was held
on
Thursday
evening at
the
Mayoralty-room,
in
pursuance
of the
following
circular:-
" You are
requested
to attend
a meeting
of the
Protestant
inhabitants
of this
town, to
be holden
in the
Mayoralty-room,
on
Thursday
evening,
at
half-past
7 o'clock,
to
consider
the
subjects
which are
at present
agitating
the public
mind, and
to
consider
the
propriety
of
declaring
our
sentiments
at the
present
crisis;
whether or
otherwise
a repeal
of the
legislative
union
between
Great
Britain
and
Ireland be
conducive
to the
advancement
of our
trade,
commerce,
and
agricultural
prosperity;
and to
take such
a course,
as a
Protestant
body, as
may be
deemed
necessary.”
At the
early part
of the
proceedings
several
Roman
Catholics
were
present,
but at the
request of
the
chairman
they
withdrew,
on the
understanding
that it
was the
wish of
the
meeting
that
Government
should
know that
it was an
exclusively
Protestant
demonstration
in favour
of repeal.
After some
discussion
the
subjoined
resolution
was
submitted,
but,
although
approved
of, it was
postponed
for
ultimate
adoption
until a
public
meeting
should be
held, of
which
timely
notice was
to be
given:—
Another
sample of
the style
of writing
indulged
in by the
"gagged"
press,
will be
found in
the
following
extract
from an
article in
the
Dundalk
Patriot, a
thoroughpaced
organ of
the moral
force
(bless the
mark!)
policy
preached
by Mr.
John
O'Connell
and Co. It
is very
appropriately
headed
"Make
Ready":-
"The
English
Government
is
sustained
only by
corruption
and
tyranny
here;
while the
people of
Ireland
have not
only truth
and
justice on
their
side, but
an
overwhelming
physical
force
also. Now,
to oppose
that
physical-force,
in its
present
state, to
the armed
despotism
of
England,
we would
look upon
as an act
of
sanguinary
madness
--destructive
not only
to the
people
themselves,
but to
their
cause for
a century
at least.
But to the
legislative
independence
of Ireland
we are
irrevocably
pledged,
and we see
that
England
scoffs at
our
claims,
and treats
us with
insult
--because
she has
the power
to put us
down by
arms
whenever
we assert
our
rights.
She is now
preparing
- to crush
us by
military
force.
What,
then, is
our duty?
It is
clearly to
arm as
soon as we
can, and
as well as
we can
--to
become
possessed
of such
weapons as
will
serve, not
only for
self-defence,
but unable
[enable?]
us, should
every
peaceable
and legal
means be
tried in
vain, to
assert our
rights as
freemen
with arms
in our
hands
against
the
tyranny of
England.
To such of
the people
as are not
yet armed
--and we
fervently
hope they
are not
many --we
say, get a
gun or a
pike
before you
go to bed
to-night.
But get
your arms
honestly.
Do not
stain your
holy cause
by
plundering
any man of
his arms.
If you
have not
money to
buy a gun,
get a pike
or a
pistol."
…….
As a
set-off to
the
treason
and
disaffection
preached
and
practised
in the
press and
on the
platform,
the
subjoined
address
from the
“’Prentice
Boys of
Derry,”
together
with his
Excellency’s
reply,
will be
read with
satisfaction:—
“Occupying,
as our
body does,
a peculiar
and civic
position,
and
abstaining
from
interference
in
questions
of
political
conflict,
we cannot
remain
unconcerned
at a time
like the
present,
when
sedition
and
disaffection,
under the
pretext of
freedom,
are
industriously
promulgated
among the
unthinking
and
discontented
--when the
constitution
of the
empire is
openly
assailed
from a
preference
for
republican
institutions,
and the
rights and
dominion
of our
Sovereign
over this
country
are
proposed
to be
permanently
annihilated
by popular
violence
and an
appeal to
arms.
“Believing
that such
proceedings
are
fraught
with
mischief
to the
peace and
prosperity
of
Ireland,
and that
the
incentives
to outrage
and
insurrection
which are
so
perseveringly
urged,
upon the
minds of
the
unreflecting
and
misguided
of our
population,
should be
met by the
stern
assurance
of the
loyal and
well-affected
subjects
of Her
Majesty to
support
her throne
and to
maintain
her laws,
we desire
to offer
to your
Excellency
the
expression
of our
firm
determination
to
continue
in that
zealous
allegiance
to the
Crown for
which our
predecessors
have in
past times
been
famed, and
to support
the
constituted
authorities
of this
country in
the
maintenance
of peace
and order.
“We assure
your
Excellency
that we
have
observed
with
sincere
concern
the
insults
and
calumnies
to which
you have
been
subjected
from
mischievous
and
designing
men in
your mild
and
benevolent
exercise
of the
government
of
Ireland,
and we beg
to tender
the
expression
of our
thanks for
the
firmness
with which
you have
acted
under
trying and
difficult
circumstances,
and of our
readiness
to afford
whatever
aid may be
in our
power in
supporting
the Crown
and the
dignity of
our
gracious
Sovereign
and her
authority
over this
part of
her
dominions.
“In
testimony
whereof
the
official
seal is
hereto
affixed.
“JAMES W.
GREGG,
President,
“EDWARD G.
DOUGHERTY,
Secretary.”
"Gentlemen,---I
am
commanded
by his
Excellency
the
Lord-Lieutenant
to tender
you his
sincere
thanks for
the loyal
and
gratifying
address
you have
transmitted
to him.
Sedition
and
disaffection
are not
peculiar
to any age
or
Country;
in all
times and
in all
places men
may be
found more
desirous
of
profiting
by the
passions
or
prejudices
of their
fellows,
than of
pursuing
that
course of
honourable
exertion
which is
sure to be
rewarded
by the
possession
of comfort
and
independence
under a
free
constitution.
The
privation
and
suffering
through
which this
country
has
recently
passed,
have
rendered
the
popular
mind
peculiarly
susceptible
of
dangerous
impulses,
and every
friend of
law and
order must
be deeply
grieved at
witnessing
the
perverse
efforts
made to
stimulate
the masses
to deeds
of
violence,
which
would
inevitably
protract
the period
of their
privation
and
aggravate
the
intensity
of their
suffering.
"Lamentable
as are the
efforts
made by
the
evil-disposed
to excite
sedition
and
disaffection,
it is
still
gratifying
to find
that they
have
called
forth a
general
and
spontaneous
protest
against
such
abominable
doctrines
from men
of every
rank,
profession,
and
religious
denomination
in
Ireland.
The wild
incentives
of those
who seek
the
disorganization
of society
have been
answered
by a firm
assertion
of loyalty
to the
Sovereign,
attachment
to the
institutions
of the
country,
and
determination
to
maintain
at once
the rights
of
citizens
and the
duties of
subjects.
"His
Excellency
is willing
to hope
that these
demonstrations
made by
the
friends of
law and
order will
convince
the
seditious
of the
impotency
of their
means if
not of the
wickedness
of their
schemes;
but he
thanks you
for your
offers of
aid, and
begs to
assure you
that, in
the event
of its
being
necessary,
he shall,
with
confidence
rely upon
the loyal
subjects
of Her
Majesty,
of all
classes
and
denominations,
in defence
of the
throne,
and of
those
institutions
under
which our
country
has
attained
unrivalled
greatness
and
prosperity.
"His
Excellency
feels
grateful
for your
expressions
of
personal
regard,
and
confidence.
The
situation
he fills
is, at
this
moment,
one of no
ordinary
difficulty;
he cannot
expect to
escape
obloquy
and
misrepresentation.
But his
Excellency
derives
support
from the
proofs
recently
given him
by men of
all
classes,
sects, and
parties,
that
justice is
done to
his
motives,
that it is
known to
be the
first
object of
his
exertions,
as it is
the first
desire of
his heart,
to advance
in every
way the
welfare of
Ireland,
which,
with you,
he
believes
to be
essential
to the
prosperity,
the
permanence,
and the
integrity
of the
united
empire.
"I have
the honour
to be,
gentlemen,
your most
obedient
servant,
Source: The Times, London, dated 12 April 1848, page 8, Fingal County Library.
Link to
Home Page
© MP
McConnon,
MC
Research
Service,
Seabank,
Castlebellingham,
Dundalk,
County
Louth,
Ireland.
Last
update 26
October 2006