Release Of O’Connell

Above : Richmond Prison, Daniel O’Connell Released From Here On The September 13th

The evident unfairness of the trial had excited comment, not only in Ireland and in England, but in the Catholic countries’ of Continental Europe, where O’Connell’s career had long been followed with interest. The matter was brought up in the House of Commons by Lord John Russell, and when, in the interval between the verdict and the pronouncement of the sentence, O’Connell visited England, he was received with the greatest honour at several large meetings.

The Repeal Association had at once begun proceedings for the reversal of the sentence, and in September the case opened before the Upper House. The judges were five “Law Lords.” The points urged by the advocates of the ” traversers ” were the error, if error it was in the preparation of the jury-list; the exclusion of all Catholic jurors ; the length and vagueness of the indictment, and the evident partiality.

On September 13th, O’Connell left Richmond Prison in apparent triumph. Mounted on a car of great height, he passed slowly through the Dublin streets, looking down on the applauding multitudes, to his house in Merrion Square. As he moved through College Green, the gesture by which he pointed to the old Parliament House was observed and understood. Far away, in remote glens and on mountain sides, bonfires hailed the “Liberator’s” release. Odes in English, and in the old Gaelic tongue which he had valued so little, welcomed him back to the leadership of his people.

In very truth, however, there was little reason for rejoicing. O’Connell was almost seventy years of age, he was already stricken with the brain disease of which he died, above all he was disheartened. His constitutional agitation had failed to produce the results which he had so confidently promised. He was too sagacious to believe that the reversal of his sentence by the House of Lords indicated any weakening in the resolve of the English Government to resist Repeal by all the means in their power.

Still, O’Connell allowed no sign of discouragement to appear in his public words or actions. No further attempt was made to hold Monster Meetings, but to Conciliation Hall crowds flocked to listen to speeches little less optimistic than those in which, a couple of years previously, a speedy triumph had been promised to the people’s cause.