From William Wright   November 14th 1843.

Cincinnati | November 14th 1843.¹

My dear John

I once more resume my pen to address you after a delay of some weeks, which I did not intend when last I wrote to you² since then trade has been rather brisk and I have been constantly engaged. I trust you have received my letter which I sent you immediately after I received your welcome letter.³ I hope you have made up your mind to start in Spring. I repeat my advice and invitation for you to come out. Every day convinces me that you would be well suited for this country and that you need have no doubts but that you would easily obtain a situation that would return you a handsome recompense, I would not have you set out with the idea that you would be able to step into a situation they day you would arrive. Weeks or probably months might elapse before you would obtain one. But that should not discourage or prevent you from coming out as I offer you a hearty welcome and an earnest invitation to remain with me and partake of my fare as long as you may be unemployed. I do not believe it would be long. But then I would not wish to have you disappointed when you would arrive. I would also wish you to recollect your stopping with me would be no expense to me or should be none to you. As I have a family to board an additional member would not increase the expense six cents a week, provisions of all kinds are so cheap. And once more and again I would advise you to come out to this land of promise and freedom. But once you get under way the favouring breezes of fortune will swell your sails, the current of enterprise will bear you onward, and with perseverance and industry at the helm you would soon arrive at the Harbour of Independence. All the difficulties lie in coming up to the starting point; that once gained I might say all the difficulties are past. I have advised my folks to come out and they are satisfied to do it. I only wrote for Mary Ann⁴ as yet, but mother⁵ thinks she would be able to bear up against the dangers and fatigue of a sea voyage herself and she would like to come out I have a reply to a letter of Mary Ann’s advising Thomas⁶ and all to come. I do not know whether it will be practicable this season as it is I that will have to raise the principal part of the funds that will defray their expenses. However if I can accomplish it they shall come here in Spring I would be much obliged to you if you would let them know that you had a letter from me and that we are all in good health and in fair prospects of doing well. I now commence to address you upon a subject which here as well as at home creates a great deal of excitement I mean a repeal of the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland I have no doubt it will surprise you to learn that I am a strong advocate for a repeal of the iniquitous union. The last act of tyranny committed by the English Ministry⁷ has added many to ranks of the repeal. An act as unlawful as it is unprecedented. If it was unlawful for the people to assemble and petition for a redress of their grievances why not have put them down 12 months ago it would seem that it was just as unlawful then as now, one would suppose that they expected it would have worn itself out ere this or that it only existed in the brain of some wild theorist. But No it will never subside until its aim is accomplished and old Ireland is what God and Nature intended she should be:

Great glorious and fair

First flower of the Earth

And first gem of the Sea.⁸

Like the mighty river whose main fountainhead has attracted little notice, but whose course is onward aided by its numerous tributaries, swells into the majestic river throwing aside every obstacle and surmounting every difficulty until it mingles with its mother Ocean. So has been the career of the repeal movement, and now that its object is near accomplished do the English Ministry really expect that a mere Bull Rush⁹ – their opposition – impede its progress. As well might they expect that solitary Snagg would turn aside the Father of Waters.¹⁰ True it may, it may create a ripple on the surface, but it only helps (as in the present instance) to increase its velocity. It is not possible that the Ministry will be able to sustain their grounds or that the people of the 19^th century are to be told that after centuries of wrong and oppression they are not to assemble and petition for their redress. Every man who feels or thinks that he has any right worth preserving should at once stamp it with his indignation and contempt. If such was attempted here every man woman and child in the land would rise up against it in arms. But I forgot that Irishmen are adopting a new and untried experiment (and I trust in God a successful one). Peaceful means and striving to convince their oppressors of their cruelties. But I fear little is to be expected from the justice of England towards my down-trodden country. Oh Ireland, all the woe and wrong that has been heaped upon you for the last 7 centuries would have annihilated any other people under heaven. But no, the Irishman’s heart is ever with his country in weel or woe. See them here often a residence of 30 or 40 years and hear them talk of old Ireland in the most affectionate and endearing terms, in every instance calling it by the endearing name of Home. Now along with the news of O’Connell’s arrest¹¹ arrived a reply of his to an address from the Cincinnati repeal association¹² on the subject of slavery. A meeting was immediately called to hear the reply of O’Connell. To understand it rightly you may recollect that some time ago Mr O’Connell received an address from a Pennsylvanian gentleman¹³ who stated some facts upon what Mr O’Connell predicated some remarks of American Nation (not very courteous) and called upon his country men to come out of her. Some of the association addressed a communication to Mr O’Connell excusing the institution of slavery. The address was principally drawn up and written by a native American,¹⁴ a man generally opposed to the abolitionism and consequently contained a great deal that would have been better left out. Mr. O’Connell’s reply was more severe than his former remarks and it would give a good deal of offence to those opposed to abolition. However it does not contain one word that can be contradicted. It is one of the best arguments that can be made in favour of abolition. The American part of the Association endeavoured not to receive the reply, but it was received with approbation.¹⁵ The finale of the meeting was 600 Dolls. was collected to aid the furtherance of repeal. I do not expect to see you a repealer¹⁶ though I ardently wish it. But I ask of you only to look back at the course England has pursued towards her unfortunate sister it is but one long tale of suffering on the one part and oppression and tyranny on the other. Not only over their bodies and property but even the mind must be in subjection to their standard or else forfeit all right to its most important privileges. Look at it with an impartial eye, and I have no doubt I will see you a repealer yet. In conclusion I would say repealer or no repealer may heaven shower its choicest blessings on the head of you and yours, remember me to all of them and I hope they sometimes think of the wanderer.

Yours affectionately | William Wright

Direct your letters to me to 5^th Street between Vine and Dace Street Cin. | and do not be long about it if you please.

RI MS JT/1/TYP/5/1813-1815

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