Star. — London, England, 1825-02-04 00:00:00

Roman Catholics generally, and the Association in particular, from thecharge of illegal proceedings. The Catholics paid taxes, and fought the battles of the country like other people, and ought not to be put down, as seemed to be intended. He was surprise! that any Minister who approved of the Speech which had been delivered from the Throne, could think it ne cessary to propose a Committee to inquire into the state of Ireland. He wanted no inqui, y ; but would rest satisfied with the King's royal word, which declined that peace and tracquillity was restored to that pact of the kingdom. It was in vain to attempt to put down by Act of Parliament six millions of people who had real grievances to complain of. Why not let the Ca tholics of lielan'd talk? they proposed to do no mote. The Noble Lord concluded by stating, that in his opi tsi,n the Roman Catholic Association had done nothing uhich they ought not to have done. The Earl of RODEN rose to express his satisfaction 4d the hope held out in his Majesty's Speech, and re peated in the speech of the Noble Earl at the head of the Treasury—that Ministers would propose measures for putting down the Roman Catholic Assirciation, which had, for upwards of twelve months, been al loaed to pursue their dangerous course without mo lestation. He spoke in the presence of persons who Irrid passed the winter and summer in Ireland, and who could bear testimony to the baneful effe:ts which the Association had produced on the minds of the pea santry. The time had arrived, when it became neces sary for Parliament to shew that they would not be dictated to by the Roman Catholic Association. It was by decisive measures alone that the agitators could be made to crouch, and not by weak and variable pro ceedings, such as had lately been exhibited in Ire:and —he meant the prosecution of this and that individual, which tended to keep up the irritation which already was, unfortunately, but too prevalent in that country. Lord CLIFDEN argued, that the proceedings of the Catholic Association were perfectly legal, and that no legal quibbling could prove them to be otherwise. The Catholic rent was collected for, and applied to, various legal purposes; such as the education of the poor by Catholic Priests, the establishnient of Newspapers, to combat the abuse of Papers opposed to them, and the building of Chapels. The Speech from the Throne spoke of Associations; he concluded, therefore, that it was intended to suppress the Orange as well as the Ca tholic Association. It was extraordinary that Govern. ment should exhibit more intolerance towards the peo ple of Ireland than those of the kingdom of Hanover. His Majesty had lately issued a Proclamation, declaring that in the kingdom of Hanover the professors of all Christian denominations should be on an equal footing, with respect to civil privileges. When he recollected that the question of Catholic Emancipation was advo cated by Fox, Pitt, Burke, and twenty other great nien whom he might name, he could not but wonder at the obstinate folly of part of the Cabinet. The Address was then agreed to unanimouily. JOINT STOCK COMPANIES. The LORD CHANCELLOR would take that op portunity of reminding their Lordships, that at the clue of last Session he gave notice of an important measee which it was his intention to introduce. He alluded to a Bill respecting Joint Stock Companies, which had multiplied exceedingly of late, and which, although marry of them were not realized, or could tiot be realized, were so far matured, that shares in them had beCome subjects of public sale. The consequence was, that while the founders of these projects del ived enor mous advantages from the speculation, the community were subjected to severe iiski. It was his intention to bring in a Bill for the pui pose of checking those pro jects, the operation of which should commence from the first day of the present Session. What passed pre viously, lje should either leave to be dealt with by the common law, or he should introduce into the proposed Bill a declaration affecting them, of what he conceived to be the common law on the subject. SCOTCH JUDICA TUN E. The Earl of LAUDERDALE begged to say, that so many alterations were suggested last year in the Scotch Judicature Bill, that he intended to propose a renewal of the Conmsittee to enquire into the question during the present Session. The House adjourned at Nn.e o'Clock to Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The SrcAzea came to the House at a quarter past two. At half past two he was summoned to attend in the House of Peers, and was accompanied by several Members. The Sreasea returned to the House at a quarter to four, and in farmed the House, that be had issued writr for Cornwall, in the room of Sir W. Lemon, dece ased; and fur Cambridge, in the room of Mr. Cheere, deceased. Mr. EI.I.ICE moved for a new Writ for the county of Donegal, in the room of Lord Mountcharles, deceased. Mr. LOISHINGION moved for a new Writ fur Newton, in Lancashire, in the room of Mr. Claughton. The Clandestine Outlawry Bill was brought in and read. THE KING'S SPEECH. The SPEAKER said, that he had been in the House of Peers to hear his Majesty's Speech for opening Parliament, and that to prevent mi s t a k es h e h a d o b ta i ne d a copy.—(He then read the Speech, far which see the STAR of yesterday.) • . Loid FRANCIS LEVISON GOWER, the Mover of the Address, spoke to the following effect rise, Sir, for the purpose of moving au Address to his Ma jesty, to express to his Majesty the sense which this House entertains of the gracious Speech which we have just heard. 1 believe, Sir, there are sometimes periods in a nation's career when the national prosperity issither raised so high, or depressed so low, that but one gene ral sensation as to the real state of the country pervades every class of the community ; when one uniform feel ing, springing vp spontaneously, and arising from no process of reason or argument, exists in every bo. som; when those who are uninitiated in the mys teries of Government, or the details of Adminis tration, are conscious of the same great truths as those to whom the direction of our political machinery is committed. I believe the present epoch, to which it has fallen to, my lot to direct the attention of the house, to be one of those to which I have alluded. Classing myself among the uninitiated persons—having no clam to that ex,ent and accuracy of knowledge with regard to the interests of the country, which I respect and envy in so many whom I see before me, and around me. it is my own share of that general feeling which I believe to pervade the country, on which I ground my confident anticipation, that this House will meet with its cordial concusrence the language of Hs Speech, with Respect to the general prospe rity of the country. I am happy to think that the present circumstances of the country tench - it untie crirary for me so enter into aay minute details. In speaking of the general prosperity of the country, 1 1111 'w or no local or geographical exception, if I ma) be allowed that expression. I know of no exception -as_ to any particular district or province of the Bi itish do whether in England, Wales, Scotland, or, I 4 m ii•!vy to add, lielaud. Hoilourabie Gentlenien bare been in accustomed to the voice of lamentation, lrbssever the state of Ireland has been alluded to, that some may feel disposed to start it language more cheering and consolatory. I think, however, that the indications of improvement in that country fully bear, out the language of his Majesty Speech.— British enterprise is already beginning to exercise a sa lutary operation in that country, by giving increased energy and activity to those pui suits which tend to the improvement and civilization of mankind. British ca pital, the instrument of that enterprise, is already insi nuating its salutary juices into the exhausted veins of that country. Above all, that tranquillity, which is the only basis on which improvement can permanently rest, reigns in Ireland to a degree which is almost un paralleled in our recollection. These are the indications of improvement which warrant us in indulging the hope that ere long the tide of afflireece and prnsierity which is fertilizing the land in this country, will flow in all its strength and richness on the shores of Ireland. But it cannot be disguised, Sir, that there are features in the present situation of Ireland, that there are topics con nected with its present circumstances, less pleasing than those to which I have hitherto adverted. As a friend to every measure which can promote the happiness of that country--as a steady friend u one measure, which, though not a panacea for all its evils, ranks high among the remedies which may be applied to them ; as a friend to Catholic Emancipation, I cannot omit the opportu nity which the present occasion a fford s the of expressing my feeling with regard to the Catholic Association—of expressing, not any animosity, not any unbecoming contempt of that body or its members, nor, I will add, any undue degree of fear of its power and influence, which I believe to have been grossly exaggerated, but my regret, my sincere :egret, at its existence, and my ardent wishes for its speedy I grudge the orators of tint country no vent for the exuberance of their diction, and the richness of their imagination, which so honourably distinguish them,bti t I anticipate no possible beneficial result from the proceed ings of this body, but I see many evils likely to arise from a continuance of the power of indulging in the flow of their eloquence, and the richness of their pe riods. I hive no wish to exaggerate, on the one hand, the indications of improvement which I think may be observed in the aspect of Ireland, or, on the other hand, to exaggerate the evils which may spring from the Catholic Association, hut I cannot but express my hope that neither the violence of this body, nor the equally pernicious virulence of Orange insanity may long be allowed to check the progress of improvement in that country. But we may be told that fresh troops are to be raised—'tis true fresh troops are to be raised, but not for Ireland ; and I believe I shall be correet in stating, that it is not in the contemplatioh of his Ma jesty's Government to increase the forces in Ireland by a single man. The observation which I have just made leads me to that portion of his Majesty's Speech which I think calculated to excite considerable interest ; I mean that in which his Majesty announces his. inten tion ot requesting this House to supply the means of increasing the armed forced of the country—(llenr). In India a large force has been necessarily put in mo tion to repel the unjust aggression of a barbarous neighbour. The distance of the scene of operations, and the want of information in consequence of that distance, have precluded us from obtaining any minute details; suffice it, however, to say, that wherever Bi itish arms have been raised. either to smite or to save, our reputation has been upheld in that as in every other quarter of the world. It is to he observed to the House and the country, that a war, such as that which existed in India at the time the Fast accounts reached us, called for arrangements by which the ordinary system by which exchange of regiments between this country and India was conducted, must necessarily be deranged, and I am sure the House will see the necessity of supplying the vacancies which would be produced from this cause. The increased supply of troops destined for the service of India will not, however, add to the burthen of this country, since India is capable of supporting her own expenditure. In examining the numerical strength of the forces in other parts of our foreign possessions, we shall be equally convinced of the expediency of the proposed increase. Wires a war was raging in the immediate neighbourhood of our possessions in the Me diterranean, it might be supposed expedient, that, with out attempting to rival the standing armies of the Con tinent, we should have some more disposable force than would he just necessary for mounting guard at Gibral tar, and doing garrison-duty at Malta or Corfu.— In other quarters of the world—for instance, in the West Indies—troops would naturally be drawn away from the complement which was necessary for the protection of Canada. Upon these local grounds I feel confident that the House will fully concur in the neces sity of a further increase of the forces of the country. There is, however, no reason to suppose that there will be any interruption in our amicable relations with other Powers. The House will have pleasare in hearing, that the mediation of this country has been successfully ex erted between Russia and Turkey, and that the efforts of this country have been gratefully acknowledged by both those Powers. The House must also have learnt with pleasure, that his Majesty's endeavours to effect the abolition of the Slave Trade in every part of the world, have continued unremitted and unabated, and that a treaty between this country and Sweden has been concluded for the promotion of that object. It cannot but be lamented, that an obstacle arising from the nature of the Constitution of the United States of America should have prevented the completion of a similar treaty.— I proceed to notice a part of his Majesty's Speech, which, cannot fail to excite the most inteuse interest in this country, and in every part of the civilised world— I allude to the announcement of his Majesty's intention to enter into commercial treaties with certain newly organised States of South America, wlikh have estab lished their own form of Government. The object of these Treaties issone of which I need not point out the necessity to the Representative Assembly ot the greatest commercial Nation that ever existed in the world ; it is that of consolidating those commercial interests and re gnlations without which the merchant is apt to assume the character of an adventurer, and trade becomes a speculation. It. is needless to remind the House, that, in her just attention to her interests, England did not interpose during the struggle between Spain and her Colonies. A Bill, which has undergone repeated discussion in this House, whatever may be its merits, clearly demonstrates that England had no sual inten tion. Ministers foresaw that a period would arrive when measures of this kind might become necifsn ly. Lithe meantime their course of policy istas left to malte its way ; answers and explanations were freely given wall who required them ; and now, in, the fulness of time, we see those political predictions *progress of tattoo:). plith ment—(fiear , hear.) This is er4.o, j feel as to the manner in which the transactions were coaducte4, gad I d well on this part of the subject Witt, tae Wre . . anxiety, because there was another manner which Might have been adopted, by Which the right,. of the mother country would have been invaded-- I can suppose a case, in which the British Government . might have t a k en a course w hi c h wou ld h ave g i ven j us t cause of offence to Spain, which might have irritated the pride of the Monarch and Ministers of that country.' and justified them in calling on their allies to make comfnon cause with them against our aggression ; and which might have raised the standard of war upon a principle which, next to a religious conflict, might be the most, inextinguishable source of miseries to man kind. We might, when the struggle was in progress, have proclaimed a Consq!ution, when the insurgent flag was hoisted, and in so doing we should have committed an essential act of hostility. I wish to set the conduct of Government in its proper light, and with this view I would appeal to history ; I would place it side by side with the conduct of France in the American war, at the time when she tampered with our envoys; when, " Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike," her timidity forced us into the struggle. I would re peat the speeches and declarations of France, the answe• of Gibbon, and the declarations in the House of Gor vernor Turner—(Cheers).—l hope when these treaties come to be read, they will tend still further to increase the commercial prosperity of the country, which is at present at a height unexampled in history—(Hear).— Of our internal trade, it is impossible to furnish any test whereby we can ascertain with accuracy the extent of its improvement; but if we can form a judgment from all the inJications that sort ound us, it was never before carried to so great an extent. Or our foreign trade, we can speak with accuracy, and that branch of our national prosperity, o e can confidently de clare, has undergone a considerable augmentation— (Hear, hear, hear). On the subject of the newly acknowledged States of South A arerica, I wish to make one observation, which I have seen in two woe ks which were written on the subject. The one was the produc tion of a Frenchman, the other was written by a citizen of the United States, and in both these there is a very strong, and at the same time a very natural national jealousy expressed at the direction of trade towards England. I sincerely hope that the perusal of those treaties will increase this fortunate tendency—(Cheers). Our commerce is now happily freed from those silly re strictions, which, bottomed upon false principles, im peded its free course. Those absurd enactments are now expunged from the text-book of political economy— (Cheers). To what extent our commerce may reach, what or whether any limits can be affixed to the spirit of British industry, is a subject for the s; ' eculations of the political philosopher, or ingenious traveller. - I shall therefore leave these matters to the Halls and-the Huns boldts of the day ; for myself, I shall remain satisfied, with the conviction, that England has not yet run her course: that the soil is not yet exhausted, out of which the sturdy growth of this great empire has sprung up, and that many rich harvests still remain to be reaped by generations yet unborn—(Loud Cheers) The Noble Lord then read the Address, which was an echo of the Speech. Mr. Alderman THOMPSON rose to second the mo tion. In presenting himself to the notice of the House, a he felt conscious that he stood in need of large por tion of its indulgence ; but, at the same time he must acknowledge, in justice to the- Honourable Mover of the Address, that the very eloquent manner in which he had illustrated the various and important topics con -Wised id his Majesty's Speech, relieved him from much of the task he had attempted; distinguished as that Speech had been by matter of the deepest interest, and 'furnishing cause of congratulation more gratifying that ever fell to the lot of the Ministers of this or any other country. It was highly satisfactory that his Majesty continued to receive from foreign Powers the most con. dial assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country, and that there was no prospect of interrupt. ing the peace now subsisting, and which had so mainly contributed to raise this country to its present unexam pled state of prosperity. Here he could not help refer. ring to what had lately occurred in France, the circum• stances connected with which afforded a strong proof of a happy change in the feelings and dispositions of the people of that country-&-he alluded to the demise of the late King of France—..an event which was con e templated by the people of every State in Europe with a considerable degree of anxiety. The termination of the life of Lours XVIII. was regarded as the last hope of happiness: but, thanks to DIVItaIPROVIDENCE, men's expectations had been deceived. We had beheld the sceptre of the King of France descend into the hands of his successor without the slightest commotion—thus satisfactorily exhibiting to the world that the dynasty rested on the most solid basis. It :hewed how perma .nent were likely to be the advantages we now enjoyed, and was a satisfactory pledge of a lasting peace. It also stewed how rapidly this country was approaching that state which might be viewed as affording indemnity for the past sacrifices it had made in the accomplish. ment of the great work, the general peace and trim. quility of Europe. The opinion of the present King of France had been strongly exemplified by his resto ration of the liberty of the press. During the contest between France and Spain, England remained, as it was her policy to do, completely neutral. She was then enabled to lay down the foundation of those-diplomatic arrangements which she had since been enabled to carry into effect. She was enabled to enter into commercial alliances with Buenos Ayres, Colombia, and Mexico, where she found the Governments respectively esta blished. Having .thus given a sketch of our foreign relations, he would proceed to the next topic embraced by his Majesty's most gracious Speech. The House had been already apprised of the intention of the Govern.' ment to augment the military strength of the country. It was highly gratifying to be able to state that this in. crease could be made without imposing any great bur den on the country. The persevel ance, the wisdom, and sound policy evinced by the Ministers in the admi nistration of the country, would justify the House in continuing to afford them their confidence and support.. The next subject which claimed their attention was thtt state of Ireland. Ireland was a topic which had been , epeatedly recommended to the attention of the House; but it was much to be regretted that, whilst British capital was diffusing itself throughout that country — whilst the blessings arising from her commercial inter course with this country were developing them selves every day—and whilst measures were in pro gress for ameliorating the condition of the Irish popu lation—it was, he would repeat, to be - regretted that those beneficial effects should be retarded by the obtru sive interference of certain individuals—he would say, misguided individuals, who inflamed the people by their addresses, and levied a species of tax on the population, with no other object than to enable these mistaken per sons to overawe the Par4anierit. Under sneh circUm- / stances he saw but one course for the House to take: for . • - hit own part, he would take this opportunity of 'de claring, that he was-adverse to any further corierssiOns to the Roman Catholic. body ; and he would avail him self of a future occasion to state the reasons for this opi nion. The worthy Alderman then orocceded to ob serve on the vast improvement in the agriculture arid trade of the country. Surely it mu.a excite a feeling of the greatest pleasuie in the minds of every one who heard him, to find that, after so long a war, and after such an immense expense as we • had incurred, the country had not merely recoverd from a state of ex. haustion, but that she h id raised herself to a height of prosperity and glory not equalled by her at any former period. The best proof of which this observation was susceptible he had an Opportunity of laying before the House—namely, the increase of our Revenue. The improvement in the Excise branch of the Revenue af forded the best criterion of the increased pro-perity of the country. The improvement in this department for the year just concluded was equal to 1:1,100,000, as compared with the Excise returns r f 1823: In the Customs these had. been an increase in the same pro portion. In-all parts of the country the population was happy and contented, following the peaceful pursuits of agriculture or mechanism. The Honnurable Goole man then dwelt on the advantages which aceruedltithe country from the ilitroduction of a liberal system of commerce, which had been happily estabished and per severed in, notwithstanding the gi eat opposition eine!' had been given to it from various quarte: F. The ex ports this year were in amount half a tr iilion moo: than those of last ytir, being the iarg.:.t aniouia of ex, orts ever made from this country. Sac') was the natural result of a course founded oil unto ing principles. Let the Government then proceed steadily in this course let them invite tl.e foreign merchant to their shores, by granting him the necessary lacilities in his vegociations, and by a liberal system of intercourse impartially and steadily acted on. Thus shall they improve the re sources of the country, and consolidate her prosperity. Thus would Ministers beenabled to make some further reductions in the taxation. Ministers had acquired the confidence of the Public; the Public naturally enter tained high expectations from them; their hopes would not be disappointed, and every fresh measure of the Government, he was assured, would only justify the good opinion of the peoples and would excite them to continue it. He would wish to see the restrictive sys tem gradually removed, whilst he would protect the interest of the farmer ; he was an advocate for the re peal of the Corn Laws; but he would not wish to see them removed unless a duty was imposed which , would be equivalent to the amount of the Poor Rates. It was a happy.consideration that those who had been most interested for the continuance of monopolies, and who had been the last to discover their injurious tendency to the commerce of the • country, were now amongst the foremost to disclaim the system and to assist in-its abo lition. The merchants who invigorated the national industry acknowledged the inexpediency of monopolies. In short, the country, in her commerce, her trade, and her agriculture, in every department of _industry and arts, exhibited that happy state of prosperity which jus tifiedhim in applying to her the language which was addressed by the people of Rome to one of their Em perors, IYiI ortuns alias, nil oriturum tale ententes. (Hear.) Mr. BROUGHAM rose to address the House. He regretted to state, that he was under the necessity, not only of expressing his dissent from, but also of entering his solemn protest against some, and those not the least important, parts of the Speech which had just been read to them. He, at the .same time, seas bound to state, that other parts had his :cordial and willing ap probation. Neith.t could he, in making that statement, lay claim to any excess of candour, as the measures to which he alluded had been urged from his. side-of the House upon a:succession of. A dministratiens. The doc trines that he and his friends had advocated had long been treated as a visionary code, and at times been termed jacobinical ; but those doctrines had not only been adopted, but made the subject of congratulation in the Speech from the Throne. He had himself, eight _ years baclwrocemmended the repeal of the Navigation Laws, though that measure had only been carried into effect within the last two years. Other- changes pm posed from his-side had also been treated as mere theories; but Ministers had taken a leaf out of the blackest book to him and his friends, and lie, for one, re- joiced that just, and philorphical, and statesmanlike principles had at length been recommended in the Speech from the Throne. He trusted that Ministers would persevere in the course they had commenced,: It had been said, that at the Customs two and two did not make four; and it had appealed, that by a lower rate of duty the revenue had been increased. He trusted that a reduction would take place in the duty on wine, and an equalization of .the duty on foreign wines would lead to a better arrangement with the French Government, by which the total of the revenue would be increased. He (Mr. B.) also approved of the liberal policy adopted by Ministers, in r:crgnizing the great empires of South America. It would to= in. vidioss to examine minutely into the motives of such conduct, and to appreciate exactly how much was due to Ministers, and how much to public opinion. But all must admit that much was due to the exertions of his Hon. and Learned Friend (Sir J. Mackintosh). Still he wai disposed to give just praise to Government for yielding to the voice of the Peoi.le. When tonching upon this branch of the Speech, it could not fail to recur to him, that many a long yc ar before Mexico, Colombia, Buenos Ayres, or Peru, had even dreamt of nobly struggling for, and establishing their independ. ence, there was a struggle for liberty, a fighting stand to conquer national independence, made by another people, who had embarked in a successful con:est for personal and individual freed Im—he meant the great island of St. Domingo, which had long and long since succeeded in establishing its entire independence, upon a more peaceable, and now a more assured footing, than even Buenos Ayres or Colombia, the best estab. lished of the new South Americ to States. His belief was, that at the onset cf the St. Domingo hvolutieti, England was hostile to the interests of the natives of that island ; she became so from the cruel situatibn of her people as slave-nsasters. This it was which blindly led her to dislike the emancipation of the slaves of St. Domingo. But a new state of things had since arisen, and the question of slavery could be connected with i' rest ; for the natives had selves, and the island had , ful empire, one which had prosecting branch of the he woald ask was liberal Was all justice to be confined chance hams* it was very, so Iry as S. Dotpiago it, had been lcng since set at d entirely emanospated thew I become a thriving astpsaver. id a right to be iocladetatisstba British colonial system Bat eral policy to stop short bete? fined to spaaish Anweide. peei , beneficial to poilkil.Wal,lo. Sc • :v •