“Mr. O’Connell rose amid loud cheers, and said:—­Our usual course of proceeding in this hall is to commence with handing in money, and then to go on with business of inferior importance, the business of making speeches (hear! hear! and laughter); but among the passing events of the day, there is one of such signal importance, that I am sure you will readily admit that I am right when I claim for it, on the present occasion, a right of precedence over any donation or subscription, no matter from what quarter they may come.  The matter I allude to is a menace held out for the intimidation (as it is supposed) of the Irish members who are given to understand that there is about to be a call of the House, and that it is intended that the Speaker’s warrant shall issue to compel them to go over to London.  Now, sir, I think it right to apprise the Association and the country that, having considered this question attentively, I have made up my mind that the Speaker has no constitutional authority whatever to issue any such warrant.”

But what pained Mr. O’Brien the deepest was the apparent coldness, apathy or cowardice of the Irish people.  Among them, and them only, he calculated an enthusiastic sustainment.  But those who felt the deepest in his regard were constrained by the responsibility of coming to an open rupture with Mr. O’Connell, at a time when union in the ranks of the Association was indispensable to even partial success.  A vote was proposed to the committee, approving of Mr. O’Brien’s act, and pledging the Association to an identification with the principle by which his conduct was governed.  That vote was resisted by the whole of Mr. O’Connell’s family, and personal friends and by all the pensioners and employes of the body.  It was carried, nevertheless.  But a motion to consult Mr. O’Connell as to its legality was passed, and the resolution was transmitted to him accordingly.  His reply was an urgent remonstrance against the resolution on the ground of illegality.  Meantime, representations were made that a certain party in the Association, intolerant of Mr. O’Connell’s sway, were using that occasion to undermine his authority and overthrow his power.  The great responsibility of causing disunion determined the supporters of the resolution to compromise with its opponents, and it was finally shaped thus:—­

“Resolved, That having learned with deep regret, that by a resolution of the House of Commons the country has been deprived of the eminent services of Mr. William Smith O’Brien, and that illustrious member of this Association himself committed to prison, we cannot allow this opportunity to pass without conveying to him the assurance of our undiminished confidence in his integrity, patriotism and personal courage, and our admiration for the high sense of duty and purity of purpose which prompted him to risk his personal liberty in assertion of a principle which he believed to be inherent in the constitution of his country.”