He joined the Association in a time of great excitement.

The _Nation_ hailed the accession with the fondest joy.

The consistency of his politics, the purity of his intentions, and the unvarying rectitude of his life gave abundant assurance, not alone that he was deeply sincere, but that his purpose could only be changed by death.

But to those who looked beyond the expediency of the hour, those who had cherished fervently the passionate aspirations for true liberty his name and character became an augury of success: nor would they intrude for any consideration on the attitude of lofty dignity he assumed.
It has already been stated that elements of antagonism between Mr.
O'Connell and the Young Ireland Party had at this time (the period of the State Trials) manifested themselves.

It will be remembered that this period embraced a space of nine months, from the date of Mr.O'Connell's being held to bail in September, 1843, to that of his sentence the 30th of May, 1844.