O’Connell threatened to strip American Irishmen of Irish identity if they tolerated slavery

Evidence

In September of 1842, the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society had sent a letter to O’Connell and the L.N.R.A. replying in detail to the arguments of the New Orleans and Albany Repealers, in particular refuting the assertions of the happy condition of the slaves, and clarifying the abolitionist attitude toward unjust laws. The letter was read on May 9, 1843, at a meeting of the L.N.R.A. chaired by James Haughton. O’Connell rose and paid tribute to the writers of the letter, declaring that they had opened his eyes to the horrors of slavery. He had never considered the question directly before, but only through those who were trying to maintain good relations with the slaveholders. Now that the state of affairs was clear, he could only cast shame on any man in America who was not antislavery. Answering the charge that the abolitionists were actually holding up the progress of antislavery, he recalled that his opponents had said the same thing when he had begun his campaign for Catholic emancipation. And then he declared, “Over the broad Atlantic I pour forth my voice, saying, Come out of such a land, you Irishmen; or, if you remain, and dare countenance the system of slavery that is supported there, we will recognize you as Irishmen no longer.” — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 99

Categorization

• XREF: This is the pivotal O’Connell confrontation over Irish-American identity and slavery — the hinge between loyalty to Ireland and complicity in American racism that the whole chapter turns on. — connects to: Even O’Connell rebuked Irish immigrants who romanticized Southern slave conditions — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 89; Irish-American leaders feared losing native acceptance if O’Connell attacked slavery. — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 44; American and Irish repudiation of O’Connell coincided with abandoning antislavery — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 124 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Irish-American leaders feared losing native acceptance if O’Connell attacked slavery. #expands (0.82) — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 44
• Boston Irish publicly repudiated O’Connell’s antislavery stand to embrace slavery’s defenders #exemplifies (0.80) — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 120
• American and Irish repudiation of O’Connell coincided with abandoning antislavery #expands (0.78) — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 124
• Southern Irish repeal associations chose slavery over loyalty to O’Connell and abolition #exemplifies (0.78) — Noel Ignatiev, How the Irish Became White, 108