the bar; and that he
had no right to be heard at the former. The debate on this point was
adjourned to the 18th of April; on which day it was finally ordered, on
Mr. Peel's motion, "that the member for Clare be heard at the bar, with
reference to his claim to sit and vote in the house of commons without
taking the oath of supremacy." On his appearance at the bar, Mr.
O'Connell maintained that the Act of Union with Ireland entitled him to
sit without taking the oath of supremacy; and that the act lately
passed entitled him to sit without taking the declaration against
transubstantiation. He claimed, under the spirit and effect of the new
statute, to sit without taking the oath of supremacy; and he claimed
also, under its positive enactments, to sit without taking any other oath
than what was therein contained. There were many points in his arguments
very strongly put, and they were delivered with a temperance calculated
to conciliate the good will of the house. Even the lawyers, also, who
were opposed to Mr. O'Connell, confessed that there were doubts as
to the true meaning of the oath of supremacy; but the house,
notwithstanding, came to the resolution, that unless Mr. O'Connell took
that oath, he was not entitled to sit or vote in that house. A motion to
that effect, moved by the solicitor-general, was carried by a majority
of one hundred and ninety against one hundred and sixteen. Mr. O'Connell
was then called again to the bar, and the speaker having put the
question to him whether he would take the oath or not, he replied:--"I
see, in this oath, one assertion as to a matter of fact which I know
is not true, and see in it another assertion, as to a matter of opinion
which I believe is not true; I therefore refuse to take this oath." A
new writ was now ordered for a new election, and Mr. O'Connell went back
to Ireland to be re-elected by his constituents. The decision had an
untoward effect upon his mind; for he now loaded ministers with the most
opprobrious epithets, as men who having been false to their own party
could never be true to any other. It caused him, indeed, to announce
his ulterior design to effect a repeal of the union by that system of
agitation which had already proved so successful. This purpose he has
deliberately followed up by the most inflammatory harangues, and various
other modes of popular excitement. From that day to this year, indeed,
his whole career has been one long course of agitation to e