They met in Dublin, resolved boldly, departed for London cheered by the nation, and crumbled there at the Premier's frown.

When the Tory Lord George Bentinck proposed that instead of pauperising the Irish by a vote of four or five millions for relief there should be a vote of sixteen millions for railway construction, the Premier, Lord John Russell, threatened the Irish members with his displeasure if they supported Bentinck, and the majority of them thereupon opposed the proposal of reproductive work for the people in lieu of pauper relief.
It was in these circumstances Mitchel put forward his policy in the Confederation of arming the people and bidding them hold their harvests.
The Confederation rejected the policy, still hoping to effect a national union.

Through such a union alone, it declared, could national independence be achieved.

Doheny strongly opposed Mitchel on this ground.

Mitchel's reply was simple.