There the voice of reason for a while held sway.

The forbearance and respect for conflicting opinions which preserved its dignity were, with the one exception, extended to the proceedings in the Hall, where even the most unscrupulous were checked by a petition which recognised and welcomed the principle of united education, but strongly deprecated the objectionable provisions of the "Godless Bill." To this petition was affixed the signature of almost every educated lay Catholic in Dublin.

The number of Catholic barristers alone whose names are found among those signatures amounts to seventy-two.

At the same time, a remonstrance addressed personally to Mr.O'Connell was signed by the leading Catholics of the Association.
Its object was to preclude all discussion on the subject of the disputed principle in Conciliation Hall.

It was signed for the most part by men who theretofore had taken but little part in the dispute.