The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-17 00:00:00

ROMAN CATHOLIC PROCLAMATIONS-THE

ROYAL PROCLAMA'T'ION.
Mr. KEOGH-1 rise for the purpose of putting a ques-
tion to the right hon. gentleman the Secretary for the Home
Deportment, of which I have given notice. Iwe in the
papers of this morning a royal proclamation addressed to
those clauses of the Relief Aet which were introduced into
it from some very old acts, end directed against the habit
of Homan catholic ecclesiastics wearing the dress of their
orders in politic. Those clauses have remained dormant
ever since the passing of the Relief Act. The government
of the Duke of Wellington did not press them, the govern.
awn. of Earl Urey did not peas them, the government of
Lord Melbourne did not enforce them, and the government
of Sir II lied did not coronet them; sod I believe I am
right in saying that this is the first time any intention has
been ennoanceel of putting that met in force against Roman
catholic ecclesiastics. (Hear, hear.) I observe in a mora-
ine journal, conducted with great ability, which defends
the acts of the present government, and is generally supposed
to be its organ—l allude to the Morning Herald—
I observe in that roper the following observations in
eeferenee to this proclamation This is an act by which
the government, in the immediate prospect of an election,
dares to offend a large class of religionists. We need not
my that Sir Robert l'eel, in hie whole life, never once was
guilty of such a piece of manhood. And what earnest pro-
testant, ought to do is to take tan that those who mean
honestly to carry out the laws do not suffer for their manli-
ness and sincerity in en doing." Now, sir, having reference
to the approaching dissolution of parliament—having re-
ference to the announcement on the part of the governmeut
organ and the facts I have stated, I wish to put to the
right hon. gentleman these questions—tint, is it intended to
pethlisk this proclamation in the Inib!ito Gavite, and
thereby ice it the same effect in Ireland as it will have in
lgegieed ? (Hear.) Is that intended by her Majesty's
pearammet ? (Cheers.)
Mr. HUME—A proclamation does nothing.
Mr. KEOGH—My hon. friend the member for Montrose
ens • proclamation dues nothing, and in this case I am
aware it has no legal effect. (" Hear, hear," front Lord
Naas.) My noble friend opposite clearly does not apprehend
the d-stinction. (Hear.) But there are eases in which pro-
elamations are at cessary to give effect to the law, as untie r the
('rime and °titre T Act—(hear)—but, as I understand it,
this proclamation is intended to prevent the politic being
taken by surprise in reference to the revival of a dormant
act of parliament. Nor the question I have to put is,
whether it is intended to give the same publicity to this
proclamation in Ireland as has been given to it in this
country, by publishing it in the Dublin Gazette, and that
' being done, woether it is then the intention of her Ma-
jesty's government, with that manliness and sincerity for
which this newspaper niece them credit, to direct the
Attorney-General in Ireland (~nd I am glad to see the right
hon. and learned gentleman in his place) to prosecute Roman
catholic ecclesiastics in that country for doing that which
they hive been permitted without observation and without
punishment to do ever since the year 1829, by every
government, or whether the issuing of this proclamation is
merely intended u a set off to the dropping of the May-
moth debate ? (Livid cheers.)
Mr. WALPOLE—Before I answer the two questions the
hoe. and learned gentleman has put to me, I think it right
to state, on the part of the government, that I am not
responsible nor is the government responsible, for any pet-
Reuter observations contained in any particular newspaper.
[Mr. Keogh: But it is their organ.] I think it right to
state to the house, also, that the hon. at d learned gentleman
has not accurately, because; not fully, explained the law in
regard to this subject. Now the statute of Geo. IV. applies
to two purposes--to It -man catholic ecclesiastics wearing
the habit of their order, and to ecclesiastics celebrating the
rites and ceremonies of their religion in other plasma than
those of private worship. Having explained this matter, in
order that the facts may be clearly understood in reference
to the law which her Majesty's government think it right
to enforce, I will proceed to answer the two questions which
the hon. and learned gentleman has put to me. First, the
hon. and learned gentleman asks me tf we an going to pub-
lish a similar proclamation in the Dublin Gault* to that
which has appeared in the Lcmdoes Gazette! Now my answer
to that is, that two months ago the government received in-
formation of processions of Roman eatholies taking place in
Ireland, in which a Roman catholic bishop took part, and
the moment we heard of those processions, which I believe
to be entirely new, we sent an intimation—l may call it a
friendly intimation—to the bishop, pointing his attention to
the statute of Geo, IV., and stating that we believed he had
taken part in such processions inadvertently, and without
any intention of violating the law, and that under these
circumstances we should take no further motive of those
proceedings, but that we hoped the law would not be vio-
lated in that way in future, or that if it was, we should feel
it oar duty to take notice of it. (Hear.) Sines then we
barn not heard of any repetition of these offences in Ire-
land, and not having heard of it, we do not wish to give a
more special warms; is Ireland than is contained in this
I,proclausation. which applies to all her Majesty's subjects,
or to ism a Mailer porderatioa in Ireland after the pri•
rate weraiag we lave se ghee, unless a similar occasion
shoa:d arise. (lieu hear.) dad now, with regard to the
snood question. The Ma. mad learned geatiensen wishes
to know whether we a ski to eaters a hen which he
nye Ms Ida Menait kr snarl
bee mot beam diemant,
be the hen Mile ammo to the 'iamb* af the genera-
meat WO/111 hall or a way portlier amme—M, that
Iles= midwife, ran gars to revive thine pnereisme
&keg the guide higliways of this emirs which
bad boa dam away with for time hundred
yam, „akar beer.) These an the wade taken down
▪ erillomr—lbat May were grog to de the by marching
Mm 0111 w to veep with Mum aad million, is honour
Mlnd et the hest et the Viola Mery. And
pearrioa eihlib ibis toodeatedea woe oartieularly
who% I am halbepsda owed lip wooled inir miles
ekes the higloseidi..4oll h mated et Ile ,
=ibms110111“11 cad Makin at thir Ad; =rearing
with Arm et •Ikodeeo epos ihre. and
Wise et the Virgin end es Woe eassoloned
so sea Immerse to elhousholt eahlests,
dna all did Wok is dela to to ppm' en viola-
tive et km la ilds mom An Oat. I meet
Lea ibis that Awe wee ea Meal dew eta Wes& of
pease Lead I ea nee thee bash tab home sad the
oforky wit ammo et the iamb eft ipmedemetlea, in
ewe we owe Not, whMe we we fee nalateia for
*easy membbe et the Seem oaths* vale m the undis-
turbed iattypwat ikYpel rights, cad the Aal sad free
Meta al lb rellorisal salaam, we axe deteinised at the
eeM NM to we that the law is observed-4eboses)—or, it
ertalsemood, that it will aseessarily diem lowa paneh-
=ft spa these who, after this wank& shell wilfully
Wisp the lew—inbesee)—nose it is *views that the
everisoli*Let sash inlidaesemate of the law hosed of
allaying Wigs= dillwelesei=leuresee then mate.
rially, end may bemuse la of the public peace.
(Loud cheers.) _ _