"To be invested with power without a will, is as great an insult to the understanding, as it is an injury to the interests of mankind. Nothing can more effectually tend to induce the people to abandon their claims to the first privileges of nature and society with disgust."-Oldfield.

66

Among the best laws of recent days, are those which have annulled the legislation of former times."-Lord Clarendon's Reply to the Corporation of Dublin.

PREFACE.

THE design of this Work is to exhibit the cause of the feature incident to the social condition of Ireland, that the tenant must vote as the landlord orders; and to point out the remedy for this painful state.

The cause is the dependant condition of the Irish tenant.

The sure remedy would be such a modification of the feudal laws bearing on land as would introduce free trade in land. Free trade in land would soon cause large portions of that property, now in hands of a few great proprietors, to flow into the hands of the many. These having what they could call their own, would soon think and act independently.

When feudalism became established in Ireland,

that grim power addressed landlords and agents,

saying

And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every cottier tenant, and every tenant at will that moveth upon the earth; into your hand they are delivered, that you may use them on occasion of elections to advance the interests of your families and friends; into your hand they are delivered.

You in Ulster will recognise tenant-right. The recognition of that right will entitle you to the votes of your tenants. Having done them much good by recognising the tenant-right, you will draw them towards you with chords of love, and the bands of a man. Forget not to recognise tenantright. The moment you break the compact the tenants will then be free to vote as they please. Viewing you as covenant-breakers and false, they will no longer on their shoulders carry you into Parliament; but will be longing for the opportunity to vote against you, and to return men good and true.

Whilst thus, by means of feudalism, the landlord in Ireland can control the tenant in the matter of his vote, it is pleasing to observe there are many landlords who do not avail themselves of their privilege, but allow their tenants to vote as they please. Instances of this nature, however, are the exceptions to the law of constraint which is the rule.

May the Lord grant unto our nobles more enlightened views of their duty as landlords, and to our Parliament wisdom to devise, and power to execute a measure calculated to restore to the electors of Ireland that free and unhindered exercise of the franchise, which is their birthright, but of which they have been hindered hitherto.