But amidst the storm and rage of the nation, it became the law, and three Roman Catholic prelates of the highest reputation undertook the duty of its administration.
One party there was who regretted the Bill still more deeply, but in a different point of view.

At the head of these was Thomas Davis.

He regarded it as an instrument of dissension and weakness, cunningly adapted to that end by Sir Robert Peel, and he deplored the diversion of the public mind and energy from the grand national object.

Mr.O'Brien, to a certain extent, shared this feeling, but never obtruded the opinion or ventured to check the Association, while Mr.Davis confined his efforts to passionate warnings addressed through the columns of the _Nation_.
This question is introduced here because it was important and fatal in its consequences.

A still more important one taken in the same light must interrupt its discussion for a moment: Mr.O'Connell's Federal letter, already referred to.