The National Register. — London, England, 1811-12-01 00:00:00

*411114% • -,4;•• . r .. w • Our /tins*, Congititution, anb iLabus. • PRINTLD AND PUBLISHED AT NO. 5, PICKETT-STREET, STRAND, NEAR TEMPLE BAR. • Y. .v N°. 205. - Pnicz 9d. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1811. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. No. 192. • TRIAL OF THE IRISH DELEGATES. pm 1%•••••• The public eye is once more turned with anxiety towards Ireland. The result of the trial of Dr. SHE RIDAN, one of the Catholic Delegates, has revived a popular feeling which, as it is a blind impulse, ought at all times to be allowed quickly to subside.— Reflection will lead to cool examination ; and the latter will show that what is deemed a triumph at the moment of party exultation, is,.in fact, a decided discomfiture. To men in general, who are accus tomed to be carried away by the example of the multitude, this assertion may appear singular and unfounded, we shall therefore endeavour to lay open the merits of the case with the strictest impar tiality. The great point at issue between the Irish. Cath olics and the Government, was the legality of the measure adopted by l * imp ma i isi establish a house at Dele gates empowered to discuss their claims and prepare a Petition, praying the repeal of all disqua lification whatever. No objection was started against the avowed intent of the Catholic Assembly, but against its formation in that particular manner ; as both, in opposition to an Act of Parliament, and likely to afford an opportunity to the evil-disposed and designing of boldly re-ascending the political stage, and perverting the ends of the meeting. As in many counties, and in most country parishes, the appointment of Delegates would depend on the choice of unlettered persons, a class whom every impostor may deceive and lead astray ; and as the existence of many traitors, clad in the garb of pa triotism, but in the pay of NAPOLEON, cannot be doubted, it was certainly very probable that such men would exert all their skill, means, and influ ence, to become Members of an Assembly, which; if allowed to be established and to act, would, by its acknowledged authority, sanction their proceed ings, favour the execution of their secret designs, and screen them from discovery, and their heads from danger. As the activity of the wicked in compassing their ends has generally been found greater than that of the good, duplicity and treach ery would, in many instances, triumph aye, and truth and, to the exclusioA of the VOL /1 1 : No. CCV. spectable and loyal Catholics, would many rebels or ,spies obtain a share in the delegation of the peo. pie. An Assembly so composed, would, it is true, not be able to preserve the esteem of the enlightened Catholic classes LIT ; but in consequence of the discredit into which it would speedily fall, the se cession of all its honest and honourable Members would naturally take place, and thus treason would remain alone and embodied in the State ; authorised by the forbearance of Government in - not preventing the formation of a house of Delegates, and to be annihilated only by one of those explosions which .always endanger the safety, and have sometimes occasioned the ruin, of empires. That such might be the consequences of allowing delegation in Ireland, in the present unenlightened state of the greatest part of her population, and for the purpose of discussing a question which brings into play all the wild passions and rooted preju dices of the lower Irish classes, it would be unrea sonable to deny. To repel the possibilitZ of such dangers, must therefore, by every impartial man, be deemed an act of foresight and prudence. The manner of avoiding it can alone become matter for a difference of opinion ; and whether the measures adopted by Government to 'ecure so important an, object, have been such as best suited the case, and were likely to be effective without being unjust, forms • the sole ground on which its conduct can be praised or blamed. Investigation alone can enable us to ascertain, whether we ought to censure or to commend. What was most likely zo induce men of sense and sincere patriots to desist from any course which they may have adopted ? A conviction that their con duct was illegal. What have been the means which Government hits employed ? Those most cal culated to produce that conviction. Were they measures of harshness and severity ? No sooner had the system of Delegation been put into execution, When bills of indictment were preferred against the first Delegates, in the hope the public notice thus given, would have the effect of suspending further elections, until their legality should have been de. cided by the approaching trial. This attempt at preventing r;:e extension of criminality, should it afterwards he found to have been such; does not wear the character of severity ; but seems to soothe and comiliate, whilst it fulfils all r hones , rtainly I E' Ith SnT- ~• ed 4 • , 4f . " . I . *IPM %~, yr .