ction, or the
rash zeal of the other. That Ireland has been badly ruled by England,
ever since its conquest, is an historical fact; that the efforts
toward redress have usually resulted in worse than failure, is known.
But the prudence of O'Connell seemed to promise as favorable results
to the _repeal_ question, (reasonably considered,) as they had wrought
in favor of emancipation. He had age, talents, learning, experience,
prudence, fore-sight; he knew when to withdraw and when to press his
claims; he could not, of course, please all who desired the same
object with him, because all could not comprehend the powerful effect
of prudent restraint, or, as a southern statesman says, of "masterly
inactivity." And his death allowed those of more zeal but less
discretion to obtain an influence which he once possessed; and Ireland
is now plunged into the miseries of a _civil_ war.

Whatever may be the power of private feelings, our intention is to
refer to the insurrectionary movements in Ireland as to those of other
countries, namely, as the consequence of the growing sense of human
rights, and as that sense must increase, must constantly augment, it
is impossible that Ireland can remain in the same situation in which
she has been kept. It is known, however, that a galling sense of wrong
stimulates the Irish; that it is not the ordinary effects of an
oppressive government that produces rebellion, but injury that extends
to the domestic hearth, injury that strikes at the rights of
conscience, injury that makes even the wise man mad. The end is not
yet.

All is quiet in Holland and Belgium; and all is awaiting the
melioration which time and wisdom must bring.

This year has seen the close of the Mexican War, in which our army
gained fame, and our nation gained territory. And now the great
question is as to the uses of that territory, and the character of the
institutions that are to be granted to these new acquisitions soon to
become sovereignties. We do not mean to take any share in what may be
considered the party politics of the country; but we may allude
_historically_ to measures as well as to events, and therefore we are
at liberty to say, that the question now pressed upon the people of
the United States by the acquisition of new territory, is that of the
extension of the institution of slavery. Shall the new _territories_
be allowed by Congress to authorize slavery within their borders? and
on that question there is