The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-19 00:00:00

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Son of justice? This body proposes to levy monthly econtribu.
tions by means of Committees in each parish, regularly ap.
pointed to collect it. This of itself would raise suspicion, even if
not coupled with the other facts which I have detailed. Am [
to trust to the integrity of a body for whose responsibility I have
no Mr:her warrant than the payment of a guinea? Am I not to
feel alarm at the proceedings of a body who order that all lists of
subscribers, with the amount of subscription, should be posted up
as near the church as the clergy would allow, in order that every_
body might see those whd subacribecl and those who did not ? Am
I not to feel anxious on account of my country when I see such a body
devote a portion of its funds to the support of the liberal press, as
it was called. This Association, in this petition, is stated to be
composed of prelates, noblemen, merchant'', lawyers, &c. includ-
ing all the resptctable part of the community. This showed it!
respectability ; but I say the more respectable it is the
stronger are my objections. This body is not only not
content with instituting a prosecution, but mast also pub.
dish every statement it receives against the accused, and then
send him to trial with a prejudice ea isting against him in the
minds of his fellow citizens, which on his trial might tend to his
conviction. It is no answer to me. to say that there have been in-
stances uf a man having been acquitted under these circumstances;
for It does not lessen the offence against the spirit of the constitu-
tion. It is upon these reasons, Sir, drawn from the public acts
and resolutions of the Association itself, that I ground my assent
to the passing of tbis Bill. These reasons also influence me to
reject this petition ; and with this sense of right, I will boldly end
manfully give my vote against it.—The Honourable Gentleman sat
down amidst continued cheering.
31r. C. H CTC H INSON.—On account of the noise which pre-
railed for sonic time after the Hon. Gentleman rose, we were not at
first able to catch his line of argument ; but we understood him to
reprobate the practice, which too much prevailed in that House, of
introducing the names of individuals who were absent, and in con.
sequence not able to defend themselves. He would therefore give
his feeble testimony in favour of one individual who had been
attacked, be meant Mr. Hamilton Rowan. He (Mr. Hutchinson)
was in Dublin at the sime 31e. Bowan fled the country ; and he
would say in his favour, that no man ever left Ireland more re-
spected, end he did not think there was a better man ; although he
had not the honour of knowing him personally, and was not inte-
rested in his testimony, he thought it but justice to say, that the •
Association io the expression of its sentiments towards him did but
echo the general feeling of the people of Ireland. He would not
attempt is defend the conduct of those who have been condemned
as traitors; but he merely gave the House the information he
thought it should possess. An Honourable Member (Mr. Peel)
had alluded to the years 1793 and 1793, but he would tell him that
at that period some of the most respected names in the country were
enrolled in the Society of United Irishmen, who endeaveure I to di
all the good in their power to their country, and had tried to tura
aside the current of discord which led to the rebellion of 17118. The
losing party were always stigmatized ; some of the greatest cha-
racters in history—as Sydney, Hamptleo, and Russell, if their
party had not eventuall), succeeded, would have been branded
as whore. The Orange Societies and the Association were essen-
tially different in character ; nobody denied the illegality of the
former, and they were put down. It hhd been found that the
('a:hulic Association was not illegal ; but as the law would not
resell it at present they Were about td extend it, for the purpose of
abridging the subject of the liberty of petitioning Parliament. The
Association justly complained that Ministek. had libelled the
people of Ireland anti them ; and were now, under the pretence of'
putting down all aasociations, about to press and gall the people of
Ireland. in bringing in the Bill alinimers had atieted what was false
against the people of Ireland, and when Gentlemen came from Ire.
land to vindicate t heir proceedings they refused them a hearing before
the passing of this Bill of Pains and Penalties, which was founded id
error ; but the fact was, the liberal part of the Cabinet had been
dragged into the mire, from which it would be impossible for
their frinds to draw titan unsoiled. The Ministers had come
forward to make war upon the population of Ireland. (Hear.)
Lord 11"ellesley Would not persecute the Catholics, but that the
illiberal Orange faction had succeeded in their aim, and *ere now
carrying into effect the notasur r they bad planned fur putting
down thr, Catholic millions of Ireland, for whom he now pleaded.
It had been said that the Protestants of Ireland were hostile to this
measure • this he was reuared to deny. T. is -now ethic tv.