y
justifies me in entertaining a sentiment of honourable pride,
which I am not ashamed to avow.

"Nor shall I attempt to disguise the satisfaction with which I
receive this address.

"If you had approached me with language of condolence, I could
scarcely have dissembled my grief and disappointment; but you
have justly felt that such language would be unsuited to the
occasion, and unworthy both of yourselves and of me.

"On the contrary, you _congratulate_ me upon being subjected to
reproach and indignity for having aspired to vindicate the
rights of my native land; you deem, as I deem, that to suffer
for Ireland is a privilege rather than a penalty.

"In acknowledging your address, I shall not dwell upon the many
important considerations which are involved in my present
contest with the House of Commons. I cannot but think, indeed,
that the constitutional questions at issue are of the highest
moment, not alone to the Irish people, but also to each member
of the legislature, and to every parliamentary elector in the
United Kingdom. Upon the present occasion, however, I am
contented to waive all reference to collateral issues, and to
justify my conduct upon the simple ground upon which it has
received your approval--namely, that until a domestic
legislature shall be obtained for Ireland, my own country
demands my undivided exertions.

"Be assured that those exertions will not be withheld so long as
life and liberty remain to me, until Ireland shall again _fiat_
the Declaration of 1782: 'That no body of men is entitled to
make laws to bind the Irish nation save only the Monarch, the
Lords, and the Commons of Ireland.'"

On my way home I was invited to address a public meeting of Repealers in
Liverpool. I accepted the invitation, and in the course of my
observations, emphatically repudiated all compromise on the subject of
my country's deliverance. I disclaimed the idea that any concessions,
any equalization with England in political franchises, any amelioration
of our political or social condition, could ever be accepted by Ireland
in compromise of her inalienable independence. When I arrived in Dublin,
I attended the Association, and, happening to read a letter from the
Rev. Mr. Walshe, of Clonmel, couched in the warmest terms of admiration
of Mr. O'Brien's purity and heroism, the cowardice or jealou