The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-11 00:00:00

gone through of addressing the Crown, that it might gine orders to
its aplialited law officers ; bet the Association iestituted its own
prosecutions, and adopted a sown., the coesequencio of which
were likely to be of the most objectionable nature.. It wu more
than probable these proceeeingi would lead to the formation of
counter Aseociatieta, to resist the effects of the parent enormity.
lie had heard it said, but ho would not believe what had so been ea-
Forted, he could not be brought to %tippets, there was so littleloyelty
existicg amongst the Catholic body, that it would requite triple
the present amount of our military force to envy the measures into
effect which this modem contemplated. Sufficient had been proved
to establish beyond doubt that a body so certstitutee ought not to
he allowed to ache ; and he trusted Parliament would perform its
duty unbiased by any other feeling than that of a desire to serve
the best interests of the country.
Sir H. PARNELL txplaieed,
Mr. DENMAN rose amidst bond cries of " Arlfnurn," and
said, he regretted to intrude on the paticace of Members, but
thought it a point of duty to advert to an a-minter% which. he had
been rather surprised to hear repeated. It might be his vanity oe
want of thought which had induced his conch-ion that he had
given a perfect *newer to those who would assert that the C.atholie
Association was tore considered similar in he prineiples to the Con-
stitutional Association. They were widely d fferent in they na-
tures. The fat er did not meet to corephOn of acts against their
own body ; they did not volunteer to the Atto-ney-Gmeral to one-
accute"in their stead, but they considered hi n insufficient or blind
to his euty, and thought proper to institute a aeries of despicable
jobs. The Catholics associated to repel aggressions against their
own body, under which he hoped no one lotted sit down.
The Constitutional Association, in fact, roamed and pub-
lished that tract which the Attorney-General acting with
more discretion, abstained from noticing. They were now
about to introduce measures which were acknowledged to be
merely of a temporary nature. Nothing could be more absurd,
more inefficient, than this unsettled species of legislation. They
would, by the way in which they were abeut to proceed, not de-
stroy the spirit to which they were opposed, but merely drive
It into a corner, there to grow in secret, under the mask of Clubs
and Societies, into greater strength. There were various Soclerties.
such as the Dissenter's Society, the Society for Suppression of
Swindlers, and the Methodist Conference; all of which were simi:
tar to the.Qatholic Association ; and it was therefore uejust to select
this as a special reason for new legislative measures. He cmild not,
'in sufficiently strong terms, ekpreas his surprise at the absolute no-
thingness of what had been advanced by the A•torney-Oeneral for
Ireland. There was a miserable destitution of all facts. The acts
of the Association which had been referred to as instances of their
prosecution, were to he supported throughout. In both eases there
was acquittal ; and in one at the instance of the party prosecuting.
In a ease alluded to, which involved the Constitutional Association,
the Chief Justice had held that it was legal for individuals to asso-
ciate for the purpose et prosecuting what was offensive to the lows.
(Hear, hear.) Surely this iudgment would apply to the legality of
Catholics, being an a esinciated body, when it was known their
object was to resift acts of oppression. (Hear. hear.) Mr. Denman
then adverted to the aeseeion that individuals, pending legal pro-
ceeding; had been injuriously parrigraphed in newspapers favour-
able to the Catholic cause, and regretted that this practice should
exist to such an extent as it did, even in England. which had be-
come conspicuous for its patrons of that foul and filthy clam of
libellers under the flag of the John 11111. He trussed that the
conductors of public papers were at last sensible of the is furious
prejulice which paragrephing individa ds previous to trial, tit.quently excited. Instead of the Association setting aside 5,0001.
to forward petitions, perhaps they world one day procure a
seat for a certain individual, and in a certain Assembly.
when their claims would be enforced with some pertinacity.
The Right Honourable Gentleman ( Mr. Canning) stated on a for-
mer evening that the feeling of this country was against fuither
concession to the Catholics. Ile (Mr Dolman) could not conceive
011 what this assertion had been founded. He rather thought the
feeling of the country was every day becoming stronger in favour '
of the mew:tire. The House of Commons was considered the re-
presentative of the people, and what did he find there? The
Members for the counties of York, Middlesex, and Durham—
the Members for the metropolitan place!' of London, Westminster,
and Southw.,rk, were without any exception in favour of the Ca-
rbolic claims. Anti who appeared on the othefside —of whom did
the minority consist 2 Of the Members for rotten boroughs—the
representstte s of nothing. of the Treasury, or their own property.
But the real representatives of the people of England were in favour
of the nwesure ; and yet the Right Hon. Gent, chose this time fur
pronouncing the cause of the Catholics to be desperate. The people
of England were not opposed to the measure of emancipation, the
feeline of the country was not against it--then why was it net
grin ed ? The Clergy opecteed the measure. There was greet
activity amongst the Arced aeons in getting up Petitioes—there
was much of a zorporation feeling amongst the Clergy; but even
the Church was not unanimous in opposing theclaints of the Ca-
tholic,. lie did not see why his adverse feeling should exist on
the part of the Established Corgy. The Established Church was
only tne younger sister, he (Mr. D.) thought, a sisterof a more
imitable description, to the Catholic Church. lie did not mean to
underrate the influence of the Clergy. They resided and collated
their tithes amongst the people, and no doubt the people desired to
lire well with them, and could have no objection to sign a petition
against the Papists, of whom they oely know, that they labour and
have laboured under disab lithe, which these simple people give the
legislature credit for having enacted upon some groundoOne docoine
which it was said formed a main objection to the Catholic religion.***
that by which the Catholic Clergy claimed the power of absolving
from sin. But in the proceeding in which a Protestant
Clergyman obtains the authority of office, he found these words—
"Vs hose situ you forgive shall be tergivee to them and whose sins
you retain shall be retained by them.' Thus the then,
Clergy
were instructed and impowered at their ordination to forgive sins,
and he believed the same words were used by the Catholic Priests.
The Protestant Clergy, too, first received their authority from
Priests. Through these the authority may be traced tip to the
Apostles, from whom whom both Clergies claim to have derived.
He asserted, therefore, that tbsolution was not • distinctive doctrine
of the Church of Rome. If perverted, it was • gross abase, to which
all establishments are subject. If the Protestant Church does not
think it necessary rigidly to enforce its doctrines, it is because it is
nut bowed down by a rival Church. and its professors oppressed
because of theii religious pricciples. He would, it' the
Catholics are unfit for a full participation of political
rights, attribute it to yourselves. It was said, he thought
with bad taste, that' the Ass, elation put forth a document,
in an affected' tone of moderation, pretending to preach peace.
But the Association did preach peece, and produced tranquillity
and prosperity, if his Majesty's speech may be relied upon; yet
this was the time when iiew penml 'enactments were proposed,
to destroy the good which had been effected. Gentlemen at
his (Mr. Denman's) side of the House had smiled the other
evening. when an Honourable and Learned Friend of Ilia said,
that by the hate you bear." might lot admit of the same inter-
pretation in irehted which it did in England. A newspaper (the
Dublin Eveniey Mail) had since fallen in his way, which in-
duced him to conclude that this remark was founiled in truth.
The Editor, alluding to Mr. O'Connell, said, " the acrimonious
and indelible hostility we have ever borne to hint." Now put
this expression as • set-off to that which excited the Right lion.
Gentleman'', indignation, and taking into consideration the ex-
cited feelings of both parties, there will not be much to censure.
But b 'sides the compact and well-regulated power of the church,
there was another power oppoeiit the Catholic claims. The
Lord Chancellor, after thirty years enjoymeut of place and power,
with fortune in his hands and law iu his mouth, strenuously op-
posed the memure They had heard much of the serpentine line,
that waving linel of beauty which no geometrician could describe;
he was satisfied that such a line existed in the Cabinet, but he was
equally well satisfied du,t on one side of it stood the Right Hon.
Gentleman, and on the other the great and distinguished laywer,
illustrious and eminent for the talent he had spews In retainiog
office, which tnade his character deeply interesting to society. lie
did not know why he should abstain from alluding openly to this
individual. Medici not see that because one party received favours
from the Lord Chmcellor. and the other scarcely received fair
play, all should be silent upon his conduct and mea-
sures. No person could put his hand on his bean, and say
that the weight and influence of Lord Eldon hail not a consi-
derable effect in preventing the Catholics from obtaining their
just right. About two years ago • friend of his brought in a Bill,
granting the Catholics the smallest loan—putting then' on the
same footing as the Irish Catholics, whose violence he could
scarcely blame, when he considered how little their Englielt
brethren had gained by moderation, (Hear, hear.) This Bill
passed through the Home of Commons without uppositioa. The
Right lion. Secretary did not feel the least alarm; and the
Ilan. Member for Corfe Castle, who is known not to be a
great admirer of any thing like innovation, allowed the Bill to
pass without opposing it. (A laugh.) The Bill went to the
Lords, acid was thrown out. The Bill for satisfying the scruples
of Dissenters with regard to marriages was disposed of in the same
manner—it was thrown out by the Lord Chancellor's active
influ-
ence. Could not the Noble and Learned Lord recollect what was given
on high authority--" If your enemy be hungry, give him food—if
he be thirsty, give him drink, and so will you heap hot cads of tire
on hie head." Could not the Catholics be made irked.' by kind-
neve by permitting them to a full participation of the privileges of
the Constitution ? The Lord Chancellor was • lawyer, but yet he
had great examples of enlightened and liberal feeling in individuals
filling the same situation which he now held. There was Rosalyn,
and Hardwicke, and liumer and Hawn, and though last not least,
Sir Thomas More, who left a rare example for the imitation of
future ages. He had imbibed rather too strongly the religious pre-
judices of his time; but when Isis country demanded the aacrifice,
he war ready to resign his office and his life. Theo were bright
examples. The country had observed the conduct of the Lord
Chancellor with respect to the Marriage Bill. At first he apparel,
but stooped when he found the House of Commons determined to
go through. Don the Catholic Question the Howie stood boldly
forward and showed a determined tram, it must lead to the same
mutt, and the Catholic question would be carried in spite of opposi-
tion. Whatever might be his reputation as a lawyer, as a political
chatacter,and as a statesman, he was not entitled to that weight which
it was attempted to Rine to it. With the talents which the Right
Hon Secretary for Foreign Affairs rammed, with those fibs ral
principles which are naturally allied to such Were; he (Mr.
Denman) was Sorry to find him not make a stand on the Catholic
question. The remgeition of South America had been woke° of
as merit in the Right Honourable Gentlemen to compensate
for the other Members of the Cebinet for the introductioa
of this measure. That recognition hail been in his (Mr. Denman's)
opinion six years too late. Instead of introducing an Enlistment
/till at that period to check the growing liberties of Soath
that wu the moment best suited to the recognition. This would
have been the proper course of Mee, instead of sending out persons
tunaltflloSatocatmnetinquireofincooto
itphteowsthiseste
be conceded ;
,ansioluhethisgeonditionahowskif these Colonise.