The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-22 00:00:00

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that befere this hateful mellewlfeH Ulf ildlb 1014011114 lieiondbil
act ae eothet 111mTeision had bees devised for extinguishing
the last yam of liberty that gilt shed its dtekering light on the
catao),,., of Ireland, there was but little community of fecling
between that body anti the Catholics of England—there was
but lic"e of identity of condition between them; their com-
plaints :on nut in the same channel, nor bad their comman
griever ens AS Yet excited a common sympathy ; bat no
sooner was this attack contemphsed, than a simultaneous union
was effered between them, all were touted to a sense of their com-
mon danger. sad only one feeling pervaded the whole class of
Engltdi Catholics, front the Lord High Marshal to the lowest
watds—from the illustrious names of Howard, Talbot, and Arun.
Jell, down to the meanest peasant who held to the same faith. It
had linked them in one unbroken bond of union. and had effectu-
ally pledged them all to promote the best interests of the Catholic
cause. (1, notwithstanding this, the present measure should be
perseveral in—if the right of free discussion were to be taken from
them, tl..at last plank of the shattered bark in which the dearest
interests of the Catholics were 'winched—his Majesty's Ministers
might be assured, that the whole of the crew would cling to it to
their eletring gasp. (Hear, hear.)
Sir li. KNATCH BULL said, he did not intend to occupy the
attention of the House at any length, as he was well aware lie
Scald not urge any argument that had not already been much
better put. Indeed, be felt he ought to spologite (hear, hear) for
steins st all, but that apology ha was sure would be very readily
limited when the important question on which he was 'called upon
vote was considered. The Noble Lord who had just addressed
House had asked, what were the reasons for passing this Bill ?
(dir E. Knatchbull) thought that very cogent reasons had not
say been afforded by his 3lajeaty's Ministers, but also by those
.ntereen who lied the most strenuously opposed the Bill. The
statements made by several Hon. Members for Ireland were io
direct evidence of .he change which had taken place in that country
since the formation of the Association, and that change from a
state of peace to a state of discord. Ile begged to remind the Hon.
dlsather for Lourth (Mr. I. Foster) of the statement which he made
em a (ostler evening. That Hots. alember haul Aid, that, in the
part of the country to which he belonged, petvitus to the exertions
of the Catholic body, every thing was peace. Bat since Melte:-
ma:ion ot that body, what had happened? Why, the Catholic Rent
was introduced, and from that instant the peaceable state of which
the Hon. Member had spoken immediately ceased, dissatisfaction
appeared. and discord followed in its train. Now be (Sir E.
knatehbull) would beg to ask, whether that was not a sufficient
ground upon which to form his judgment, and give his vote? But
there was another ground which hail been afforded him by an lion.
Member, who was opposed to this measure. That Hon. flembee
Tad said, that during the disturbances in Upper and Lower Or.
mond, among the Riblionmen, 3I r. O'Connell went into that part
of the country, and by his own influence alone-had entirely quelled
those disturbances.' Here then age a proof that this Mei:cues ex.
erred was ell powerful over a large body of men. Now he (Sir E.
Knatchbull) dW. not mean to say that the exertions of Mr. O'Con-
nell were not used on that occasion fur the public benefit, but he
would ask, was it not most dangerous that such a power should be
possessed by any individual? (Hear, hear.) %Cos it not most
perilous that any subject, be he ever so pure is principle, should
be Ole to wield smelt an influence over the minds and feelings of so
large a body of men ? For although the power thus possessed had
been to this instance exerted For good, yet who could be so bold as
to say that it might not at a future time be equally exerted for
bad ? (Hear, hear, hear.) These then were the grounds of his
vote in support of the present Bill. If he should be told that he
was inmisietent in giving this vote, he would say that all he had
hitherto done was front the confidence that the Protestants of Ire-
land had nu reason of alarm ; tut he confessed that these state-
ments had altered his opinion. ‘Vhen be presented a petition
a few years ago in favour of the Catholics, the Right Mort
Secretary of State, who, he believed, was not then in °face, had
de:lared is most unequivocal terms, that as a friend to the Pro-
t:anent ascendancy, he would never hare advocated the Catholic
cause if be had not felt it to be perfectly consistent with the in-
terest and safety of the Protestant Established Church in Ireland.
He (S:r E. Koatebbull) had not intended to base detained the
}louse so long, but since almost every Member had expressed his
sentiotents on the very important question now before the House,
he meld not, in the honest discharge of his duty to his constituents,
gives silent vote.
if., M. FITZGERALD said, that not having taken any part
in the present discussion, he trusted he might be allowed to offer a
few words to the House upon so important a subject. It was not
hisinteation, nor could he think of abusing the patience of the
House by going over the same ground which hail been already so
ably trodden, nor attempt to repeat the same line of argument
which had been so powerfully and eloquently enforced. He should
endeavour to avoid touching any of those topics, because he should
feel it would not only be trespassing upon the time of the House,
but it would be weakening the effects which the previous speakers
fed produced. All, (het:time, which he shook, do would be, to
endeavour to suggest some practical modethat might be applied to
tha great question, which he (31r. M. Fitzgerald) thought would
be worthy of the serious notice of his Majesty's Ministers. The
revel ground o 1 the present measure waste extensive danger
which was involved from such at Association existing in the coun-
try, possessing so great a power in the management of any large
body of persons whatever. This induence in the direction of the
feelings and opinions of such a body was the groundwork of the
pretest proceeding. He admitted that there way a danger to be
apprehended from sueh a cause ; he had fairly and freely
acknowledged it; it was a very dangerous risk to which the
peace of society was exposed. He lamented it ; indeed it would
be an abuse of words if he were to contradict it. It was
on
that ground that the present measure was proposed ; and it was
an that ground that he also felt some measure to be necessary. lie
would say then, was there not another method by which ail the
good sought after by this Bill might be effected, without any of
those ill consequences resulting from it, which would almost in-
evitably ensue by the Bill passing into a law ? The truth was, it
appeared to hint that, from the very outset, his Majesty's Ministers
had wholly misunderstood the evil to which they were so desirous
to apply a remedy,—they had mistaken the effects for the cause
--they had forgotten the history of past years, and had contem-
plated things only as they presented themselves now, without in-
quiring whence they originated. The present awful state of Ire-
land, which .made the weak tremble, and almost dismayed the
strong—thich revealed a latent power, of which the very Catholics
then:rives were till now unconscious—this state was not a cause, it

was the effect; and the effect of what ?—why the postponement of
that act of common justice which this country owed them ; the de-
lay of awarding them that right to which they had an undeniable
claim, and which had been moat unwisely, and by a most perverted
policy, withheld from them. Did Honourable 31embers suppose
that the Homan Catholics of Ireland loved, or were wedded to die.
order ? Did they believe that that body of men voluntarily
sought to continue in that unhappy state ? If not, then
to whom were we to attribute it? With whom did it on
and by whom kept on? Ile ever had, and ever should,
trace it to the administration of Mr. Pitt. That Minister, five
and twenty rears ago, told the Catholics of Ireland—" If you will
admit a union to be effected between the two countries, then we
via admit your claims." lie represented to them, that those
claims could not be listened to, so long as they maintained a
separate government; no concession could be granted while they
possessed all the characterialics of a separate people. " Consent
to the Union," said that 31itiater, unite your Legislature with
ours, and then all bar to a full, tree, and fair discussion of your
claims will be removed." This was sufficient ; their confidence
was placed in the word of the Minister, and the union was efFected.
Bat their claims were immediately neglected ; from time to time
had the Catholics of Ireland appealed, but they had not had this
promise performed to them. Their appeal was now becoming
irresistible; but it was 3fr. Pitt who suggested it, and it was to him
to traced all the ills and all the misery that now reigned throughout
that country, and which at length had produced this formidable
oadensation of power in the Catholic Association. It was to that
Minister's harsh measures that the Catholics owed all their troubles.
Nor were these conseqoences unforeaeen. Had not the Opposition
in that House all along predicted this state of things? Did they
not affirm that the Catholic affairs would arrive to that condition in
which they now were? But venous as that condition was, end
!nest threatening to the repose of the country, who would say that
it would stop here ? Who would say that the ill-consequences of
that breach of faith at the Union would merely attain to an Asso-
ciation like the one now to be suppressed, and " there an end" ? Ile
Cdr. M. Fitzgerald) could see nothing in the measure now beret.:
the House, that would allay the discontent, or satisfy the minds
of the Catholics ; nay, he rather judged it calculated to aggravate
their feelings, and provoke worse ills than those now existing. The
great danger was, that tile Catholics of Ireland were at last firmly
united in the demand of their just claims. (Hear, hear.) A
feeling of sympathy had been excited among every class of that
body, and a sense of their wrongs had made them alive to their
own power. Now, the measure before the House did not in any
degree touch this union, or apply itself to this danger. It
might, indeed, dissolve the Association, but it could not up-
root the feelings out of which that Association was formed,
atd by which it was supported, although it might drive
them to other means less equivocal in their nature (hear, hear,)
and which they now might never have dreamed of. (Hear, hear.)
Good God ! Was this, then, the wise measure devised by his Ma-
jesty's Ministers during the recess, and to be brought down by
them at the beginning of the Session to assuage the ills of Ireland,
and restore peace to that unhappy country? This House had
been told that Ireland was increasing in prosperity, that her
trade was extending itself, her manufactures reviving, and that
Peace and plenty were returning to her shores. All this might
he true ; but we could not believe, that while her people were en-
during such Injustice from our hatids, this flourishing state of
things was either fur the benefit of Ireland herself or for this
country. We could not be so blind as not to perceive that all
this, instead of being a blessing, might become a Curse (hear),
instead of giving ir.creased riches to ourselves, might become
the very storehouse of the enemy. His Majesty's Ministers had
exulted at this unusual state a Ireland, and some Honourable
Members had also responded the same exultation ; but did they
not see that possibly there might be much latent danger beneath
this supposed security ut theirs ? His Majesty's Ministers had,
by their constant opposition to the moderate and just demands of
tie Catholics, taught them to unite, and, by uniting, had taught
them to know and estimate their own strength ; they had driven
them most unwillingly to cherish a hope--deriving itself from very
despair. He (Mr. M. Fitzgerald) feeling that never in the whole
annals of Parliaroentary debate was &subject so important to the re-
pose of this country before discussed in so patient, so able, and so
inumphart a manner, yet he must still acquit his mind by disclos-
ing the full extent of what he felt on this question. With respect
to the present state of the Catholic mind, in order to judge properly
of it. we must first, for a taw momenta, consider what was the state
of the Catholic mind at the time of the Union. The Catholics, at
that time, were all looking with confidence to England, fur a full