The Case of Ireland Stated (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847. Excerpt: ... beneficent statesman, this eloquent advocate of Irish commerce and negro emancipation, had been led away by the romantic visions of speculative justice and theoretical humanity, and was soon compelled to acknowledge the necessity of adjusting his original plan, by the vulgar measure of British liberality. The original plan, in the form of eleven propositions, had been warmly received, and hastily adopted by the Irish parliament. But, notwithstanding this approbation of the Irish parliament, which seemed at first to have also pervaded the country at large, the proposed arrangement, however specious and alluring, was, in reality, a covered attack on the newly-redeemed rights of Ireland, in trade and constitution. The sagacity of a few had at once detected, and marked the deception. But it became unnecessary to impress, by argument, their conviction on the minds of others. The nation was soon roused from its dream of British generosity, by a direct attack, too plain to be disguised or mistaken. The eleven original propositions were returned to Ireland from the English parliament, enlarged to the number of twenty, so changed and modified, as to excite in a large portion even of the corrupt and unreformed Irish House of Commons sentiments of horror and indignation, and some spirit of resistance. But, notwithstanding this partial demonstration of national feeling, these latter propositions, thus altered, containing a surrender of the lately-acquired independence of the Irish parliament in commercial laws and external legislation, together with a grant of perpetual tribute to England, and an abdication of Irish marine, these propositions thus injurious and insulting, thus restrictive of the infant trade, and mortal to the infant liberties of Ireland--these propo...