July 28th, 1846: The Young Irelanders leave the Repeal Association, led by William Smith O'Brien. O'Connell's "peace resolutions" are the means of either whipping his young critics into line, or getting rid of them. He insists that a pledge repudiating the use of physical force in any circumstances be adopted by every member of the association.
The great political debate in nationalist circles is not about the Famine, but what direction the Repeal movement is going to take. The Liberator is intent on a new Whig alliance. Although no one is seriously contemplating force at this time, the romantic nationalists see repeal of the Union as the panacea for Ireland.
Father Thomas O'Carroll's diary reflects the controversy. At a dinner in Cashel attended by 29 clergymen and the archbishop, "champagne and claret were passed about rather freely. Many of the clergy with whom I conversed appeared very sanguine about a meeting which they are to hold in Cashel on Thursday next, the object of which is to record a vote of undiminished confidence in O'Connell and declare their abhorrence of the `physical force' doctrine of the `Young Ireland' heresy.
"Though I concur in the objects of the meeting, still I do not purpose attending it or contributing a pound, as I am disposed to think that the resolutions about to be adopted will imply a censure on the conduct of Smith O'Brien and only tend to widen the unhappy differences that are at present distracting the councils [sic] of the popular party.
Besides I consider the manner and conduct of John O'Connell [a son of the Liberator] during last Monday's and Tuesday's debates in the Conciliation Hall extremely dictatorial and overbearing. Should I go to Cashel entertaining these views and perhaps provoked to give expression to them, I would be put down as a black sheep and persecuted as such merely because I dared to dissent.
July 31st: The relief committees have collected £98,000 to which the British administration has added almost £66,000.
A coast guard inspector intended going to Achill with Indian meal for sale, until he learned that those most in need are too poor to purchase it.
John Manseragh, secretary of Tipperary town relief committee, says labourers are living on one meal of Indian corn a day.
W.B. Cooke, of "Repeal Villa, Oulart, Co Wexford, accuses the Relief Commission of humbugging the "Paddies". He prays "From the insolence and ignorance of foreign legislators, alien commissioners and domestic cutthroats good Lord deliver us".
Sir Randolp Routh instructs his officials not to answer this letter.