The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-12-27 00:00:00

THE "CLERICAL WING."

The following speed) wss delivered before the Com-
mittee appointeti to draw up the Resolutions for the late
Meeting of R•muni Catholics at Carlow, by the titular
Bishop of Kildare, Dr. Doyle, in reference to the part
which he took regarding the Clerical Wing, while on the
Deputation in London :
Mr. CHAIRMAN-1 wish to hear read the terms of the Resolu-
tion which is now being discused: as having t ntered the room only
a few minute. ago, I was lcd to infer from the observations then fall-
, Meg from my learned and much respected Irked. 111r.O'Connell, that
something was about to be done, whereby the resolves of the Ca-
tholic Bishoett would appear to be opposed to the evidence given b
them before the Committeesof Parliament. I was led to think
that you were about to adopt a Resolution which some Bibleroan
or Fanatic could use, in order to show that the Catholic Prelates
were inconsistent within themselves. But as the Resolution now
real is not a Resolution of the Catholic Bishops. but of the
Leineter Meeting—a Meeting coneiatirg of the Nobility, Gentry.
and Lay people, with some admixture of Ecclesiastics—even tf
it were opposed to our testimony, it would not follow that the
['mimes were inconsistent wilt themselves. But there is not
any opposition whatever between the Reeolution which you,
Mr. Chairman, have emoted to be read, and the evidence to
which reference has been made. As I was informed, before
I entered the room, that frequent mention had been made of
my came, and of the assent which I was supposed to have given
to the measure now under your consideration, I feel tnrelt called
upon to give such explanation, with regard to that measure as may
serve to remove from the minds of the gentlemen here present any
minfinception under which they may labour, or into which they
might be led. Ido so with great reluctance, on account of my
aversion to appear in the tumult of popular meetings ; but I do so,
as I feel myself called open in some measure to vindicate my own
character, and that of the Prelates with whom 1 co-operated. 'When
Mr. O'Connell observed that I assented to a provision being made
by law for the Catholic Clergy in Ireland. he has only said se, I am
well mauled, with reference to my evidence given in London ; from
that evidence it appear., that if our emancipation could not be obe
taint*, upon any other terms, I would aecepr of such provision, pro.
riding it did not trench upon the liberty orindepentlente of one
Church; but that if left to my own choice, I would prefer receiving
my support from the people for whom I laboured. Upon this de-
claration of urine there is no room for doubts ; I only wish to ex-
plain those circumstances which will nerve to place it In Its pm.
per light. When we arrived in Landon, we found that the bill
for your emancipation was in progress; that the ftceJont to
which you had so long and so justly aspired, and for the at-
tainment of which you had made such powerful exertions,
wan for the first time placed, perhaps, within your reach. We
saw that an ecclesiastical arrangement was about to be annexed to
it, which, if we directly opposed, we would take upon ourselves an
_awful responsibility—inasmuch as your opponents, yetis friends,
and yourselves, would attribute to such opposition on our part the
failnre of the Bill for your relief. %Ye saw your numerous Depu-
tation in London, and your still more trumeroaa Association la
Ireland, (for the Association was still a legal body), both silent
with regard to these arrangements, and that if we approved of the
measure in question, all the consequences of your defeat would rest
upon our heads. We saw that a pit was dug for us, and our duty
was to seek how to get beyond it without falling into it. (Hear.
To this point I confess I applied all the energies of my mind. The
several documents which came before me, and all the information
furnished to me, clearly proved that the Reginin Donnni, and
nothing but the Regions Domini, was the precedent, the:torm, and
the model, by which the provision for the Catholic Clergy was to
be fixed and regulated. On my return from one of the Commit.
ten of Parliament, I fumed fully my opinion on this matter to my
colleagues, and I then ree.ilyed, eontegnieoute, if mach a plan were pro.
ceeded with, that I Would denounce it to the country, and seek among
the Irish people at home some support in resisting it. Before I would
have recourse to such a mode of proceeding I thought it my duty
to do every thing in my power to avoid the consequences which
would then ensue ; and to the exertions of the Bishops alone it is
owing the basis of the measure was altered, and a resolution
taken that the provision should not emanate from the bounty of
the Crown, but be (minded on a law, anti secured by it. This
principle was adopted and set forth In the Resolution which passed
the *louse of Commons. The next object to be attained was,
that time should be given to the Prelates and Clergy anti people
of Ireland to deliberate on the measure. This was also gained ;
whereas it was agreed that the proposed arrangement for making
the provision could not be settled or proposed to the Legislature
untii the following year. A whole year then was given, that all
the prelates in Ireland might consult their clergy, the clerg7 the
people, and then the pr ilates assembled decide upon the whole
merits of the project of the law. What may opinion was I de-
elated in London to my brethren ; I repeated it since in Dublin--
I may have sometimes mentioned it in private conversation;
but it was this—that if the prelates approved of a provision ema-
nating from the Treasury, if the Ministers of Christ were to
he paid by tine Minister of State for dispensing the Mysteries of
God, in that case that I would not create dissension amongst them,
but that sooner than my hand should be soiled by it, I wuuld lay
down my office at the feet of him who conferred it, for that if my
hand were to be stained with Government money, it should never
grasp a crosier—or a mitre ever afterwards be fitted to my brow.--
(Loud and continued cheering.) This was and is my heal deter-
mination. But as the principle or a legal provision intglit be ap.
proved of ; as I did not know but the Catholic Prelacy might ac.
cede to an arrangement such in substance as that which was lat-
terly contemplated, we thought it our duty to render it as salutary
as it was possible for us to render it. We therefore suggested many
improvements, and excepted to some things that were objectionable
in what was submitted to our consideration. But as I intended, if
ever the matter came before the bleb Prelacy, to object to the ac-
ceptance of any provision emanating from the Treasury, I wished
to justify myself from all liability to an imputation of bad faith. I
was anxious that I should not hereafter be reproached by some
person on the part of Government saying, " In London you gave
us to understand that you would accede to this arrangement, and
now, having obtained your Emancipiztion, you refuse to do so."
To be free, then, at all times, from snob a reproach, I give
in, through the only channel by which communications reached
us. or could be made, a contre poke, a copy of which I now
hold in nay hand, and by which at all times I would be willing
to abide. If we gained the principle of having the provision to
be made by law—if we also gained a year for deliberation in Ire.
land, tipm the merits of the arrangement; by this counter pro.
jest, I also gained for my own vindication, should it be necessary,
the power and right of saying, "I never acted with bad faith ; I
agreed to the% principle of a legal provision—I am ready to abide
by that agreement, but here is a copy of the only plan upon which,
as I long since conmiunicated to you, I can approve of that princi-
ple being carried into operation. Agree to this, and I am ready to
meet you ; if you adopt any other, 1 shall not create dissension;
I will retire, but I will not agree to what you propose." Tide,
Mr. chairman, is the explanation I offer of the assent which I gave
in London to the measure on which you are now deliberating; this
is the vindication (if I be obliged to vindicate Myself) which
offer of my conduct. I hope that I crave satistied this Committee
of the punty at least of my intentions, and that I have sustained
that character which I have always been anxious to maintain—the
character of an upright and honest man.—(Great cheers.) As to
the Resolution 'which has been read, I know there is a division of
sentiment about its adoption or rejection; I shall not throw the
weight of my opinion, whatever it may be, into either scale ; it is
my ditty rather to withdraw, and beseech tire God of Peace to
banish all dimensions from amongst you.—llere the Right Rev.
Prelate withdrew, amid the warmest and most heartfelt testimony
of esteem and admiration.