COUNTY LOUTH
 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:—
"Resolved --that we, loyal
subjects to Her Most Gracious Majesty our beloved Queen, not
having hitherto expressed opinions publicly on the questions
which at present agitate the public mind, and viewing with
deep regret the deplorable condition of our country, the
destitution of its inhabitants, our trade annihilated, our
artisans idle, the over-whelming taxation upon our
shopkeepers and agriculturists, and the abject destitution
of our countrymen who are become paupers upon other favoured
nations, --are convinced of the necessity of a domestic
Legislature. And we now respectfully, legitimately, and
fervently seek from the British Parliament a repeal of the
Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland."
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:”
"TO HIS EXCELLENCY GEORGE
WILLIAM FREDERICK EARL OF CLARENDON, LORD LIEUTENANT OF
IRELAND.
"We, the apprentice boys of Derry,
feel called upon to address your Excellency at the present
momentous crisis, and to offer the assurance of our respect
for your personal character, and our dutiful submission to
that high office which our gracious Sovereign has selected
you to fill.
"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,
"CORRY CONNELLAN."
"Mr. J. W. Gregg; Mr. E. G.
Dougherty."
(Source: The Times, London, dated 12
April 1848, page 8, Fingal County Library.)
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