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

THE BM'

pH PRESS.

will draw down resentment and outrage : all means of conciliation
should be adopted. Who, with justice, can complain of the mate.
nen of a Levee of his own erea:ion ? There is no 'Object of com-
protniee; the claim rests on too sacred principles en be tampered
with i the Government remain neuter, or at least tantamount to it ;
sonic hahling out ambiguous promises of help, and others endless
prospect* of despair. (Cheers.) It is nor enough that on other
subjects they have the aspect of unanimity. Thus it is this difference
of opinion acenents for the exasperation which is said to exist. Will
bringing in thin Bill extinguish the animosity ? Let Government
not deceive itself ;It never will put it down. Is it pretended that
by suffocating it now it will not flame out again ? Will the angry
mind be prevented displaying itself ?_No while the cause of ir-
ritation prevails, it will show itself. A radical cure must beapplied,
if not, u it increues, the army wilt be required to put it down.
Then, as an Act of Parliament has not been able to succeed, force
must be resorted to, and i'arty tete can contemplate the contest,
do not envy hint ; the morbid strength of his nerves, or the weak.
nests of his head. In the year 1777, when a French fleet was in the
Channel, the Irish applied for autilanee, which was refused. At
the same time, however, relief from certain disabilities was granted,
and they evinced their gratitude by a yew of 20,000 men for the
navy, which men, if any thing could add to the display of the
feeling which pervaded the country, were raised, not by impress.
rnent, but as volunteers. The Honourable Gentleman forgot to
state what became of those who acquired the independence of
Ireland in 1782, and what followed ? Why wilt Ministers nor pro.
fit by experience, and make use of language of dignity and vigour?
In the year 1773 the repeal of the Stamp Act tont place, and no
sooner was that done than peace and order ensued in the country
which had called for it. The Irish people did not differ from others,
and would, under similar ciicumstances, take similar measures;
but let justice be done them—let thu cause of complaint by taken
away, and they would be disarmed. They should be aware of the
responsibility they were under to their country and to posterity,- of
the safety of the empire at large, and of person? in that House, if
they suffered this measure to pas.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. PEEL then rose, and said he would first notice an regd..
meet that bad been addressed to the House. An Honourable and
Learned Gentleman had exprouly said, he would not vindicate the
proceedings of the Catholic Association, and he stated it as his'
opinion thot no man could stand forward as the advocate of that
body, and yet he thought that it had a grievance to complain of.
Was the doctrine to be established, that if a subject of this count
try had a cause of complaint, that he had a right to resort to
illegal measures. If they did not take measures to remedy
that evil, they might as well abdicate their own power as
a legislative body. They must consider whether the acts
were unconstitutional or illegal; but if the doctrine were to
be recognised that they could not, in what a state would the
country be placed ? Many considered the representation of Eng-
land was so defective that the people were deprived of their just
rights, while it was still held they were not justified in rewriting
associations ; bit, according to this doctrine, associations might
remedy every grievance. But ibis was not his (Mr. Peel's) reading
of the law with respect to the Catholic Amociatien ; the Parka.
ment of England was the sole judge of the laws, and those who
considered themselves as aggrieved by the law had a right to resort
to petitions. Parliament had a right to apply a remedy if
it were ahewn to be an evil. They had a right to consider on
the proceedings of the Association. lie would first consider
it in respect to its proceedings as a political body. He
would found his conclusions on certain doctrines established
for the prosecution of offenders. It would be remembered'
that this question had been brought into discussion of late
years. About three years ago, there was an Association called the
Constitutional Association, but which was termed, by those who
now supported extreme liberty of discussion, " The Bridge-street
Gang." (Hear, hear.) It was no answer to him to say, that that
Association was not suppremed by law. The argument was merely
one ad hontinem ; but he (Mr. Peel) was not at all connected with
the Coaetitm tonal Association, nor had he ever, whilst in office,
lent. it the sanction of his authority; but he must my there was
every distinction to be drawn between the Constitutional and
Catholic Association. (Hear, hear, hear.) The arguments
which were applicable to one were not to the other. He'
should, to use • phrase of his Hon. Friend's, embellish his
speech by quoting precedents; he would advance general princi-
ples which would apply to all associations. Tile Hen. Member
who made the motion in the C 933 of the Constitutional Association,
was a name dear to every friend of liberty of discussion, and an
opinion from him still would tarry respect; the name was that of
Whitbread. Ile had always observed, even in the transactions of
private life, that men did those acts collectivly, which singly they
would have been ashamed to have owned. That Hon. Member
he had referred to, had said, he did not pretend to be much of a
lawyer, but that he certainly thought such an Association was
formed in opposition to the Statute of Maintenance, which
was passed to prevent oppression of a private individual, by
a prosecution In the King's name. Now it was certain that
the acts of the Association did come within that statute. He
(Mr. Peel) would now resort to legal authority, which was
entitled to great weight. The Honourable Member alluded
to commented on the difficulty a private individual would meet
with, to recover damages from an association, it' he had been ma-
liciously prosecuted. He would suppose counter-associations should
be formed, would it not be productive of the greatest mischief ?
Did any titan believe that, it the Howe did not interfere, it would
not be of the greatest danger? What security would the people
have? Would they submit to the proceedings of the Associa-
tion? He would now bring forward the opinion of a Learned
Member, who sometimes presided in the character of a Judge—he
meant the Common Sergeant, which was decidedly against all Aso
sociations; but still he t Mr. Peel) must say that lie did not think
the Constitutional Association would have published es parte state-
ments, as had been the ease with the Catholic Association. The
prosecutions of the Constitutional Association were confined to
libels, whereas those of the Catholic extended to all criminal of-
t-onces.—(llear, hear )—The arguments which were used for the
Suppression of Vic • Societies did not apply to the Catholic Asso-
ciation--their objects were different The Association was evi-
deetly erected for party purposes; and if anything could increase
his (Mr. Peel's) alarm, on account of the proceedings of the
Association, it would be the very argument used to defend it.
They had the concurrent opinion of all the great authorities he had
named, that it might be legal, but was not constitutional. He '
would now call their attention to • circumstance which happened
sonic years ago. The present Lord Mayor of London was in 1821
Sheriff: the Constitutional Association prosecuted a man named
Dolby for a blasphemous libel : the Sheriff, Mr. Garrett, had
been a subscriber to this Association ; he returned the pastel front
which the Jury was to be struck, and the array was challenged.
It was objected on the part of the Sheriff that he had withdrawn
front the Association on coming to that office ; notwithstanding
which it was held, that as he had once subscribed, the challenge was
held valid. Now this disqualification extended to the Jurors as well,
which would have the effect of depriving the subscribers to the Ca-
tholic Association of the privilege of being Jurors on the trial of what
was in fact their own cause. It had been urged that two cases only
were cited ; namely, that of the murder and that of the soldier;
but it did not hollow that two hundred might not have been pro-
duced : this was only a sample of their general proceedings. He
then held in his hand an Irish paper of Wednesday last, which
eonteined a Report of the Committee of the Catholic Association,
on the propriety of trying the Hon. and Rev. file. Cavendish,
and of presentmg a petition to Parliament against him. Wu!
this proper, to publish the accusation against a man who
was afterwards to be tried? (Cries of " flear, hear, hear.")
Ile held also a letter in his hand from the Earl of Donoughmore to
the Catholic Association on this very subject, which he therein
strongly reprobated, and he could not be supposed to be prejudiced
against them, as he (Lord Donouglimore) had always advocated
Catholic emancipation. ( Hear, hear). This body was at hut
formed under the pretence of being a medium to present
petitions, but now the real character of the Association was
known by all its acts. It is adjourned in the summer, and
meets in the winter, in the same manner as the Houses of
Parliament, which accounted for an observation that hail been made
by an Honourable Meniber, concerning the state of quiet he had
left Ireland in the enjoyment of in the month of September, but
that'when he ieterned in ;November he found every thing in confu-
sion, and the whole country in a state of agitation ; but the fact
was, that the Association had met on the 16th of October. and
had [emu siding near six weeks when he arrived there, which was
sufficient to put the country in agitation. (Hear, hear, hear.)
The Hon. Fearonet had attributed to the term Orangeman a signi-
fication which was hardly fair. Did he not know, that Orangemen
meant, in Ireland, what Protestant signified here? that it was •
term not of necessity, involving all which had been occasionally
attributed to it. This appellation was meant to distinguish those
who were known to advocate the Protestant cause. The Ho-
nourable Member had himself made the proper distinction when
he declared he expected some Orange Member to rise. The
Catholic Association had established a regular organization
and this orgohized system had been iustly viewed with con.
siderable suspicion. The very essence of our public Institutions
was suspicion. The acts of public bodice always were, and
should be, watched and looked upon with a suspicious eye. That
this was a body so to be observed could not be denied. It had
extended its influence in every possible way —it had established
an agent in every town : its object might be good, or it might be
bad, but it was fairly watched with * jealous eye. The worthy
Baronet had said, "Abstain trout legislation. That he could
state, en the authority of a Bishop—the Association only had it
contemplation to collect a little sum, with a view to contradicting
the Earl of Liverpool." This assertionett the Rigid Rev. Prelate,
whose name had not been mentioned, was, however, not strictly true:
on the contrary, the Association stated its desire to obtain 40,0001.
or 60,0001. a year. Of this sum, 60001. was to be devoted to en-
lightening the public press in England ; 60001. to prepare petitions
to tins House. In this item of expendifure, however, he recom-
mended time most rigorous scrutiny, for indisidtiala should know
that the only expense incurred in sending petitions to this House,
was simply that which would be demanded for parchment ; even
the carriage, if the parcel were addressed to • Member, would be
avoided. Another sum of WOOL was to be appropriated to the
maintaiuing of an agent in London ; another sum of tile same
amount was to enable them to send Priests to America. And there
was yet another, with which it was intended to convert their
haughty neighbours in England. Surely such a body as this
called largely for the interference of the Legislature—its es •
istence was absolutely incompatible with the safety of the State,
and that just administration of the laws which it was the duty of i
the legislature to support. No one could suppose a body so exten-
sive in its operation and influence could exert unless it had some
definite object. The popular parts of our Constitution were justly
admired and venerated ; and any thing that invaded them must be '
looked upon with jettiousy. What was the nature of their pro-
ceedings compared with those adopted by constituted authorities
When it was thought advisabl,: to r,stitute proceedings against Arty
individuals, where the /louse ocouionally lent its high authority,
with what deliberation; dad it proceed. The fora) was sometimes