Tenant Right League
Encyclopedia
The Tenant Right League, established in 1850, was an organisation which aimed to secure reforms in the Irish land system. Formed by Charles Gavan Duffy
and Frederick Lucas
, it united for a time Protestant and Catholic tenants, Duffy calling his movement The League of North and South.
The political background to the movement was the Encumbered Estates Act and the resultant change in land ownership at landlord level. In the North of Ireland, Protestant and Presbyterian ministers feared that the new landlords would destroy the "Ulster custom
" of tenancy, which compensated tenants for any improvement undertaken. Concurrently, in the South of Ireland politically minded young Catholic priests were agitating for the adoption there of the Ulster custom as a measure of reform.
The League was founded in Dublin at a meeting attended by representatives of the Tenant Protection Societies, 9 August 1850. Its support came initially from the Ulster Tenant Right Association led by William Sharman Crawford
. The support was short lived because of the involvement of Catholic clergymen from the south. As a constitutional movement, the league sought to secure the adoption and enforcement of the Three Fs
, namely:
For the larger tenant farmers fixity of tenure was the priority; on the other hand the league never had the support of smaller tenants, their prime concern was fair rents. The founders strove to establish a parliamentary party of Irish members who would oppose any government not prepared to grant "Tenant-Right
" also known as the Ulster Custom.
The Tenant Right League met with considerable success under its national organiser, John Martin
. It had the support of the surviving Repealers in the British House of Commons
; and of a number of English Radicals. It was agreed, all around, that a Land Act
embodying the three F's would be a real gain. In the 1852 general election
, some fifty Tenant Right candidates, including Gavan Duffy, Lucas and John Sadleir
, were returned to parliament, where they sat as the Independent Irish Party
. Its manifesto read:
The League's success was short lived and was ultimately destroyed and weakened when a number of prominent members broke away and established the Catholic Defence Association
(the Pope's Brass Band). Supporters of the league were also intimidated by hostile landlords. The most serious blows to its success came when Lucas decided to take his complaint about the Archbishop of Dublin
Paul Cullen to Rome, which alienated clerical support. Lucas died in October 1855 shortly after the failure of his mission, a month later Gavan Duffy emigrated to Australia.
The League finally petered out in 1859, and the Independent Irish Party had disappeared by 1860. The demand for tenants rights was however taken up again as a popular cause by the Land League in 1879, when the "Three Fs" were anchored in the Land Law (Ireland) Act (1881), previously pursued rigorously by Michael Davitt
.
Charles Gavan Duffy
Additional Reading*, Allen & Unwin, 1973.*John Mitchel, A Cause Too Many, Aidan Hegarty, Camlane Press.*Thomas Davis, The Thinker and Teacher, Arthur Griffith, M.H. Gill & Son 1922....
and Frederick Lucas
Frederick Lucas
Frederick Lucas was a British religious polemicist and founder of The Tablet. His brother Samuel Lucas was a newspaper editor and abolitionist.-Biography:...
, it united for a time Protestant and Catholic tenants, Duffy calling his movement The League of North and South.
The political background to the movement was the Encumbered Estates Act and the resultant change in land ownership at landlord level. In the North of Ireland, Protestant and Presbyterian ministers feared that the new landlords would destroy the "Ulster custom
Custom of Ulster
The Custom of Ulster gave tenants of this province of Ireland a reasonable expectation of security of tenure so long as they paid their rent, and also allowed them to sell the right to occupy their holding to another tenant acceptable to the landlord. It was believed to be one reason for the...
" of tenancy, which compensated tenants for any improvement undertaken. Concurrently, in the South of Ireland politically minded young Catholic priests were agitating for the adoption there of the Ulster custom as a measure of reform.
The League was founded in Dublin at a meeting attended by representatives of the Tenant Protection Societies, 9 August 1850. Its support came initially from the Ulster Tenant Right Association led by William Sharman Crawford
William Sharman Crawford
William Sharman Crawford was an Irish politician with liberal and radical views; he supported Catholic Emancipation and the rights of tenants. He was a Member of the British parliament for Dundalk in 1835–1837 and for Rochdale in 1841–1852. He was High Sheriff of Down for 1811.He died at...
. The support was short lived because of the involvement of Catholic clergymen from the south. As a constitutional movement, the league sought to secure the adoption and enforcement of the Three Fs
Three Fs
The Three Fs were a series of demands first issued by the Tenant Right League in their campaign for land reform in Ireland from the 1850s. They were,...
, namely:
-
-
- fair rent;
- fixity of tenure;
- free sale. (These would all have aided Irish tenant farms, all of whom lacked them.)
-
For the larger tenant farmers fixity of tenure was the priority; on the other hand the league never had the support of smaller tenants, their prime concern was fair rents. The founders strove to establish a parliamentary party of Irish members who would oppose any government not prepared to grant "Tenant-Right
Tenant-right
Tenant-right is a term in the common law system expressing the right to compensation which a tenant has, either by custom or by law, against his landlord for improvements at the termination of his tenancy....
" also known as the Ulster Custom.
The Tenant Right League met with considerable success under its national organiser, John Martin
John Martin (Ireland)
John Martin was an Irish nationalist activist who progressed from early militant support for Young Ireland and Repeal, to non-violent alternatives such as support for tenant farmers' rights and eventually as the first Home Rule MP, for Meath 1871-1875...
. It had the support of the surviving Repealers in the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
; and of a number of English Radicals. It was agreed, all around, that a Land Act
Irish Land Acts
The Land Acts were a series of measures to deal with the question of peasant proprietorship of land in Ireland in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Five such acts were introduced by the government of the United Kingdom between 1870 and 1909...
embodying the three F's would be a real gain. In the 1852 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1852
The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...
, some fifty Tenant Right candidates, including Gavan Duffy, Lucas and John Sadleir
John Sadleir
John Sadleir was an Irish financier and politician.He entered the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1847 as a Member of Parliament for Carlow...
, were returned to parliament, where they sat as the Independent Irish Party
Independent Irish Party
The Independent Irish Party was an Irish political party founded in July 1852 by 40 Liberal Irish MPs who had been elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It is sometimes mentioned as the Irish Independent Opposition Party, and colloquially known as the...
. Its manifesto read:
The League's success was short lived and was ultimately destroyed and weakened when a number of prominent members broke away and established the Catholic Defence Association
Catholic Defence Association
The Catholic Defence Association was an organisation founded in 1851 by William Keogh, John Sadleir and George Henry Moore to defend the rights of Irish Roman Catholics and tenant farmers.-Other uses:...
(the Pope's Brass Band). Supporters of the league were also intimidated by hostile landlords. The most serious blows to its success came when Lucas decided to take his complaint about the Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)
The Archbishop of Dublin is the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Church of Ireland has a similar role, heading the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. In both cases, the Archbishop is also Primate of Ireland...
Paul Cullen to Rome, which alienated clerical support. Lucas died in October 1855 shortly after the failure of his mission, a month later Gavan Duffy emigrated to Australia.
The League finally petered out in 1859, and the Independent Irish Party had disappeared by 1860. The demand for tenants rights was however taken up again as a popular cause by the Land League in 1879, when the "Three Fs" were anchored in the Land Law (Ireland) Act (1881), previously pursued rigorously by Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt
Michael Davitt was an Irish republican and nationalist agrarian agitator, a social campaigner, labour leader, journalist, Home Rule constitutional politician and Member of Parliament , who founded the Irish National Land League.- Early years :Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo,...
.