The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-26 00:00:00

CATHOLIC CLAIMS.

The Order of the Day being read f(r taking into consideration t!st
Catholic Claims, the Earl of DuNOUGHiSteRe opened the debate with a
speech of great length, in which he revieweel the
.question in all its bear-
togs, and contended, that the Catholics were emitted to the prayer of
their Petition on every principle of honour, policy, and iustice. It was
the wish of the whole Irish nation that the Caholics should be emend).
pated, and the hour could not be far di.tant when their utmost wishes
mutt be consummated. Ile Noble Lord concluded by neetieg, " That
a Committee be appointed to t .ke into consieeratiee the propriety and
expediency of repealing the restrictive lays still in torte against his Ma-
jesty') Roman Catholic subjects."
Ihe Duke ot Sussex rose. His Royal Highness l' gao by obsr•rving,
that whether-1- the subject foend himself aggrieved, 1, wax a elutary
and acknowledged principle of the constitution. that he was enti•leo to
submit the statement of his grievances to that vertex' where he should
naterally l'o k for redress. That was one of tee noblest and most gle-
ci..us privileges of the. constitution, and one that he hoped, would tie-
, ver be al)andoned or denitel. Remonstrance and representatiens of
that nature, respectfully drawn up, it was the duty ot Lit. Legislatere
to attend to, and it was likewise their duty to afford a reme.' y, wheri
such could with wisdom and propriety he yielded. With the•e nepreie
sions in his mind, he thought that it would well hecoa.e tecr Lord-
ships to take the Petitions into their most serious eu.eideiet ton. All
impassioned feelings should be disntissed feint their rt inds, and they
ought to come to the eltscussioet with tempers as celin, chastened. and
philosophic as that of Plato or of Soctetee !livery should be utterly
excluded; expediency ne further dwelt on than was ceutpatible
fairness and justice, and thus, under the guiee.mee of troth, wisdom,
end lib• ettity, he should not tear hut ;he ve e 1 of the St ee, how o .
ever tossed and agitated at present, mi,bt be be ugh • sot n I .to a sk.; tne
anchorage. He had heard much unmeaning t.. k t new etra,
and abundance of conjectures, ea .tte.,, ions end inuendoes •e- of tn.;
from the idle gossip of tea-talites. Front such a c s ..nd terti:e
source of intelligence. ft was no 'vender Lira frightft 1 tees, and tip.
prehension,' of teurders and enormities, and extravaga cies of all kinds
should proceed, and that Protestants should be made to cry ()et egeinst
the merderous Papists. But the resent sera, the c. Lenten efttent of
the nineteenth century, he hoped would be marked, lettl...d, ;eel di's.
' tingnished by tol; ration and true eva tgelical chari(y. Inste id ot Up-
. holding stabr and exp!odiel prejudices at tee present dare, it would r.
come the Parliament of this enlightened country, to c •e.-ince i urope
are! the worhi that we are yet exeeinge. ee na•ion, Oise.... .All
the dark, dismal and peeiferous clouds of prejedi •e tied persectit!. n,
could perceive, ack eewledge, anti woe» ip the b.•;:efieent God of ell
Chrieia••s, who cameinto the world to ee•e. not to •o: .(t or ecoroy
hese rt•h:p?.7,. Whatever were the difficulties of the times, what-
ever the I csettr t by ha,: :de , by week ones, las
trusted there .tees le) want of the actor Fat lice in t.•e country ; but
that if such an mergence, should occur, ate., would be many
p rip
anyiancCulers-
tets reele to m ere in the guiph. He r toile w cte.
which intru.hictO. and placed on the throne of that kins,:om the Wilily