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character of disaffected and republican. But I will give you a strong proof that he was not so: the morning that he fought young Burton (of which no doubt you heard) I was saying to him, that I much feared the duel would be imputed to politics, as I-knew he had the name of being a republican. His reply was, "If such be the character they give me, it is most undeserved; and I call upon you as my friend, if I fall, to clear my memory from so unfounded a charge, as I am a steady friend to the constitution of king, lords, and commons, with a parliamentary reform, striking off the rotten boroughs." These sentiments, uttered on such an occasion, by a man. whom, in a long course of most intimate acquaintance, I never knew guilty of the minutest falsehood, must be admitted as the genuine effusions of his heart; and that he did so express himself to me, I declare on the word of a Christian clergyman. Was he then a republican? No. His own declaration a little before he suffered, and which I read in his own hand writing, clears him from the imputation of being a member of any trea sonable society."

ply it to the use of a disorderly idler, or useless fool, protected by power, often uniting every vice that disfigures society, under the specious cloke of religion. By leaving every minister of religion on the bounty of his hearers, you generally find the people choose men of education and morals, as objects of their esteem. If there were no other advantages than that of adding the church lands to the national stock, and relieving the people from tythes, it would be of sufficient utility to abolish church establishments.

Q. Let me hear your reasons for a representative government?

A. By giving a power of voting to every man who has not forfeited his right by any crime, you create such an immense number of electors, that no candidate can ever purchase their suffrage.

Q. Would that be sufficient to promote your plan?

A. No: I mention it as the first towards true representation: besides the justice of universal suffrage, it has that beauty which must make every man its advocate.

Q. How would the poor see the advantage of it?

A. As every man, in a free state, votes to secure his liberty and property: the poor man has but his labour, yet it is to him a property: he should have represenVOL. II. Ff

tatives, who would be careful of the value of labour, and watch, with a vigilant eye, the different and combining circumstances occurring in legislative assemblies, lest the labour or employments of the artizan or husbandman should be made uncertain or unfashionable.

Q. Should there be any qualification for a representative?

A. None but honesty and abilities; as every man should be eligible.

Q. Might not a representative betray the trust reposed in him, and be an accomplice in the destruction of his country?

A. By limiting the existence of representative assemblies, to the period of one or two years, the people have a frequent check on the conduct of their representatives, and should any displease by ignorant or treacherous conduct, he could be replaced; by that means corruption or tyranny could be prevented, as near as human wisdom can devise.

Q. Were we to regain our freedom, would not the power of England be dangerous to our existence as a free state?

A. By no means. As power principally consists in

ERIN GO BRAGH!

Proclamation of the people of the county of Wexford.

WHEREAS it stands manifestly notorious, that James Boyd, Hawtrey White, Hunter Gowan, and Archibald Hamilton Jacob, late magistrates of this county, have committed the most horrid acts of cruelty, violence, and oppression, against our peaceable and well-affected countrymen :

Now we, the people, associated and united for the purpose of procuring our just rights, and being determined to protect the persons and properties of those of all religious persuasions who have not oppressed us, and are willing, with heart and hand, to join our glorious cause, as well as to shew our marked disapprobation and horror of the crimes of the above delinquents, do call on our countrymen at large, to use every exertion in their power to apprehend the bodies of the aforesaid James Boyd, Hawtrey White, Hunter Gowan, and Archibald Hamilton Jacob, and to secure and convey them to the gaol of Wexford, to be brought before the tribunal of the people. Done at Wexford, this ninth day of June, 1798.

God save the People.

VOL. II.

Gg

ERIN GO BRAGH!

To all Irishmen and soldiers, who wish to join their brethren in arms, assembled for the defence of their country, their rights and liberties, these few lines are addressed.

WE, the honest patriots of our country, do most earnestly intreat and invite you to join your natural Irish standard. This is the time for Irishmen to shew their zeal for their country's good, the good of their posterity, and the natural rights and liberties of Ireland. Repair then to the camps of liberty, where you will be generously received, and amply rewarded. We know your hearts are with us; and all you want is an opportunity to desert those tyrants who wish to keep you as the support of their oppressive and hellish schemes, to enslave our country. Done at Wexford by the unanimous voice of the people, fourteenth June, 1798.

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